In a previous post, we talked about improving indoor air quality in your home. Indoor air quality is essential, especially for homes with infants, older people, or pets – all of whom can be much more vulnerable to the effects of polluted indoor air.
However, there is another situation where air quality is crucial: At your business.
When your HVAC system is not functioning the way it should, it can cause a dramatic impact on your workers. In fact, the EPA estimates indoor air is frequently 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Concentrations of some major pollutants are up to ten times higher.
If you have an indoor air quality crisis in your business, it’s important to get HVAC maintenance as soon as you can. But how can you tell if it’s really a matter for HVAC maintenance, versus a seasonal case of the sniffles or other ordinary health hazard?
1. Check Your Maintenance Schedule
Your HVAC system acts as the “lungs” of your building. Routine HVAC maintenance is essential to optimizing airflow. The larger the structure is, the more important the HVAC system – especially in older buildings with narrow ducts. If a pro hasn’t serviced your HVAC in more than a year, your air filters and other components need immediate help.
2. Check Your Heating and Cooling Bills
Air quality is directly related to airflow, but a stagnant feeling and musty odor aren’t the only hints that circulation isn’t all it should be. When air circulation is cut off, the HVAC system must work harder to bring the temperature down or up. Gradual increases in your cooling bills may go unnoticed: Compare last month’s bill to the same month last year for a better perspective.
3. Check with Human Resources
When air quality goes down, people can suffer from a number of symptoms. Yes, colds and coughs become more likely – but so do sinus problems, headaches, asthma, and much more. Especially in winter, this can lead to a noticeable spike in absences. When the team is suddenly dipping into sick days, there could be a good reason.
4. Ask Around
Symptoms brought on by air quality issues are usually transient. They can be hard to spot, since they tend to clear up shortly after stepping out into the fresh air. If it seems like everybody is taking their breaks outside these days, a few quick questions can get you on the right track. If air quality is the culprit, people are usually quick to point it out.
For a business, bad air quality means low productivity. Luckily, there’s a quick way to resolve the problem: Professional HVAC maintenance. Once the maintenance issue is taken care of, your HVAC system will naturally do the rest and restore your clean air within a few days.
East Coast Heating and Air Conditioning can help you no matter the size of your building or the complexity of your HVAC system. When you choose us, you’ll get better performance at lower cost and keep your system working longer before replacement. To find out more, contact us today.
When your HVAC system is not functioning the way it should, it can cause a dramatic impact on your workers. In fact, the EPA estimates indoor air is frequently 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Concentrations of some major pollutants are up to ten times higher.
If you have an indoor air quality crisis in your business, it’s important to get HVAC maintenance as soon as you can. But how can you tell if it’s really a matter for HVAC maintenance, versus a seasonal case of the sniffles or other ordinary health hazard?
1. Check Your Maintenance Schedule
Your HVAC system acts as the “lungs” of your building. Routine HVAC maintenance is essential to optimizing airflow. The larger the structure is, the more important the HVAC system – especially in older buildings with narrow ducts. If a pro hasn’t serviced your HVAC in more than a year, your air filters and other components need immediate help.
2. Check Your Heating and Cooling Bills
Air quality is directly related to airflow, but a stagnant feeling and musty odor aren’t the only hints that circulation isn’t all it should be. When air circulation is cut off, the HVAC system must work harder to bring the temperature down or up. Gradual increases in your cooling bills may go unnoticed: Compare last month’s bill to the same month last year for a better perspective.
3. Check with Human Resources
When air quality goes down, people can suffer from a number of symptoms. Yes, colds and coughs become more likely – but so do sinus problems, headaches, asthma, and much more. Especially in winter, this can lead to a noticeable spike in absences. When the team is suddenly dipping into sick days, there could be a good reason.
4. Ask Around
Symptoms brought on by air quality issues are usually transient. They can be hard to spot, since they tend to clear up shortly after stepping out into the fresh air. If it seems like everybody is taking their breaks outside these days, a few quick questions can get you on the right track. If air quality is the culprit, people are usually quick to point it out.
For a business, bad air quality means low productivity. Luckily, there’s a quick way to resolve the problem: Professional HVAC maintenance. Once the maintenance issue is taken care of, your HVAC system will naturally do the rest and restore your clean air within a few days.
East Coast Heating and Air Conditioning can help you no matter the size of your building or the complexity of your HVAC system. When you choose us, you’ll get better performance at lower cost and keep your system working longer before replacement. To find out more, contact us today.
