The Link between Spring Allergies, Indoor Air Quality, & HVAC Maintenance

Spring has finally sprung, which means one thing: Spring Allergies. The flowers and trees are in full bloom and allergy sufferers are doing just that, suffering. At least the indoors provide some relief, right? Well, not quite. If a building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is not regularly cleaned and maintained, the Indoor Air Quality of a building could be just as bad, if not worse, than the outdoors. In fact, according to a study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor exposure to harmful air pollutants could be up to 100 times greater than outdoors.

Just think about it; the HVAC system is the primary pathway for air movement in a building. So when an HVAC system is riddled with allergens, those allergens are transported through the ductwork and the entire building.

Sources of indoor air contaminants in an HVAC system include:

1. Dust, dirt, and allergens throughout the ductwork and system components.
2. Microbiological growth, such as mold, in the coils, drip pans, and other components.
3. For sound insulation, some systems are insulated with fiberglass, which easily traps dirt, dust, and allergens.
4. The improper venting of combustion products.
5. Refrigerant leaks.
6. And more!

For all of the reasons listed above, indoor air quality experts have estimated that an incredible 70% or more of all indoor air quality problems involve the operation or maintenance of HVAC systems. HVAC systems are susceptible to moisture-related microbial problems during the warmer months, especially when air conditioning is used. Therefore, it’s critical to schedule ongoing preventive maintenance to clean heating and air conditioning systems, increase airflow, control indoor temperatures, and provide adequate dehumidification. HVAC preventive maintenance measures should include:

• Cleaning coils, eliminating dirt and mold
• Checking for adequate airflow to prevent premature compressor and heat exchange failure
• Checking for leaking ductwork or dirt or dust in ductwork or other components
• Checking for refrigerant leakage
• Replacing air filters
• Checking for any microbiological growth in drip pans, humidifiers, ductwork and coils
• Maintaining proper chemical treatment in cooling towers to prevent microbiological growth, algae, and Legionnaire’s disease

Properly maintained HVAC systems isolate and remove odors and contaminants though pressure control, filtration and exhaust fans. In addition, the HVAC systems will then distribute adequate amounts of outdoor air to meet ventilation needs of all building occupants and provide thermal comfort.

Commercial HVAC Cleaning & Preventive Maintenance from Crockett Facilities Services Inc. (CFSI)

CFSI provides facilities management, operations and maintenance, and HVAC cleaning and maintenance services to over 14 million square feet of commercial and government buildings throughout Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Our HVAC preventive maintenance programs help extend the life of your building’s HVAC equipment, reduce energy costs, maintain tenant comfort, and improve indoor air quality.

If you have any questions, please contact Crockett Facilities Services by calling 202.600.2787 or email sales@crockett-facilities.com and see how our MSCA GreenSTAR certified service technicians can help you. Since 2000, our customers have trusted us to run their high profile government and commercial buildings and mission critical data centers, giving them peace of mind. Contact us today to get a FREE assessment of your HVAC equipment. We’re in this Building Together!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 at . Both comments and pings are currently closed.