Why Worry About Indoor Air Quality?
In order to maintain acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ), cleaning HVAC systems provides many benefits. Cleaning lessens the likelihood of indoor air pollution in the building and may help to alleviate health and comfort complaints by occupants. With growing awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and sick building syndrome, public concern for the cleanliness of ventilation systems has led to a significant increase in demand for HVAC system cleaning services.
IAQ can be defined as the measurement of air as it affects the health and well-being of building occupants. People spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. The amount of time spent indoors is a great concern, given the fact that studies conducted, show indoor pollutant levels may be 10 to 100 times higher than outdoor concentrations.
The economic benefits of solving IAQ problems can also be significant. Improving air quality can reduce worker absenteeism and increase productivity. The government estimates that absenteeism cost more than billions of dollars a year in lost productivity and medical costs, and medical researchers have found that 50 percent of absenteeism is due to upper respiratory problems, which is a common symptom in sick buildings.
In most cases HVAC system cleaning alone will not solve IAQ problems. Solving IAQ problems requires a team of professionals, such as mechanical contractors, filtration experts, test and balance specialists, and, of course, professional HVAC system cleaning contractors. It can, however, greatly reduce the threat of indoor air pollution when performed in conjunction with a program of regular building maintenance and IAQ evaluation.
The Benefits of Cleaning Indoor Air:
A building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system provides conditioned air to occupied spaces within the facility. Typically, air from within an occupied space, along with fresh air drawn from outdoors, is drawn in through ductwork to an HVAC unit, where it is conditioned. Before the air gets to the unit, it usually passes through a filter designed to protect the mechanical equipment from becoming contaminated by large particles of dust and debris. Many filters commonly used today will not prevent the introduction of small particles of dust and debris from the air stream into the system. Over time, these deposits may form sizable accumulations.
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have been shown to act as a collection source for a variety of contaminants that have the potential to affect health. These contaminants include mold, fungi, bacteria, and very small particles of dust.
- Cleaning lessens the likelihood of indoor air pollution in the building, and may help to alleviate health and comfort complaints by occupants.
- Clean HVAC systems perform more efficiently, which may decrease energy costs.
- Well maintained mechanical components are likely to last longer, reducing the need for costly HVAC system replacement or repairs.
- The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system should be considered as one component in an overall plan to improve indoor air quality.
- Since ordinary cleaning is not able to reach the very deep inside of the air ducts, only professionals with special equipment can help you thoroughly clean up the air conditioning system.