How Commercial HVAC and Air Duct Cleaning Services Preserve People’s Health

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: In a commercial facility, a clean HVAC and clean air ducts are essential to protect the health of employees, customers, and visitors to the facility.

SERVPRO of Atherton / Redwood City recognizes that a clean HVAC system is crucial for respiratory health in the work environment. The HVAC system, including the air ducts, must be kept clean and operationally sound to maintain high air quality standards, which are vital for the health and safety of employees and customers.

Poor air quality in the workplace can have health effects on the workforce and customers. Proper maintenance and cleaning of the HVAC system and the ductwork can improve air quality and protect the staff, employees, and clientele. Clean, pure air is especially important in environments where the staff and customers are exposed to the same air for long periods of time. Examples of facilities where individuals may have extended exposure to impure air quality:

• Healthcare facilities
• Laboratories, factories, and warehouses
• Daycares, schools, and churches
• Call centers and office complexes
• Retail stores and service outlets

NADCA, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, comments on the importance of air quality, writing, “We generate a lot of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the ductwork. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school, or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health effects or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems.

Key Indicators That the HVAC System and Ductwork May Need Cleaning

When the HVAC system, including the ductwork, needs cleaning, key indicators signal that the air quality is poor and may have health effects on the people who have to breathe the contaminated air.

The leading indicators of compromised air quality include:

• musty odors that are most noticeable when the system starts circulating air
• mold that is visibly present in the building, on vents, and in the ductwork
• dirt and debris buildup inside floor vents
• dust buildup on flat surfaces such as desks, computer screens, countertops, and display cases
• ducts infested with rodents, insects, and their droppings
• new construction or recent renovations
• unexplained increases in energy costs
• two or more years since the HVAC system has been inspected by a professional

Certain health effects can also indicate poor or contaminated air quality. 

Employers, business owners, and facility managers should act quickly to address any health complaints from workers, customers, clients, and vendors.

The experts at Consumer Reports offer the following advice on how often to have an HVAC system inspected: “Once a year, have a licensed professional perform a full inspection on your air conditioning units. This will involve cleaning and flushing the condenser coils, draining the pan and drainage system, vacuuming the blower compartments, and checking the refrigerant and mechanical parts. It’s also worth asking them to check the ductwork, especially if your cooling bills have been higher than normal. Up to 30 to 40 percent of energy can escape through leaky or uninsulated ducts.”

What Are the Benefits of a Clean Ventilation System and Healthy Air?

Clean air circulating through a commercial facility offers several advantages, including the following five benefits:

1. An odor-free environment improves mood and attitude.
2. Clean, fresh ventilation creates a pleasant space for customers and helps them relax.
3. Contaminant-free ventilation reduces workforce illnesses and absenteeism.
4. Healthy air improves worker productivity.
5. Fresh, clean air improves the quality of work performed by employees.

In addition to the five benefits listed above, higher levels of fresh air and oxygen improve brain performance. Research conducted at Harvard University identified a connection between better air quality and better decision-making performance.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals routinely inspect commercial HVAC units and the entire air duct system. Keeping the ventilation system clean can extend the life of the equipment, saving the business money and providing cleaner air to breathe. Trust SERVPRO of Atherton / Redwood City for commercial air duct cleaning in the Redwood City, Atherton, and Palo Alto areas.

For more information about commercial HVAC cleaning in Redwood City, CA, and the surrounding area, call SERVPRO of Atherton / Redwood City at (650) 800-3448 or email the company at office@SERVPROpaloalto.com.