Indoor Air Quality

 

Indoor Air Quality

Most people know that outdoor air pollution can impact their health, but indoor air pollution can also have significant and harmful health effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels. These indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. For this guidance, the definition of good indoor air quality (IAQ) management includes:

  • Good IAQ contributes to a favorable environment for occupants, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being. These elements combine to assist a facility in its core mission.Control of airborne pollutants;
  • Introduction and distribution of adequate outdoor air; and
  • Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity.

Temperature and humidity cannot be overlooked because thermal comfort concerns underlie complaints about "poor air quality." Furthermore, temperature and humidity are among the many factors that affect indoor contaminant levels.

Outdoor sources should also be considered since outdoor air enters school buildings through windows, doors, and ventilation systems. Thus, transportation and grounds maintenance activities become factors that affect indoor pollutant levels and outdoor air quality.

 

Commercial duct cleaning can help your business save money on energy and improve indoor air quality by removing dirt, dust and debris from your HVAC system.

Commercial duct cleaning also improves airflow, allowing your facility's HVAC system to run more efficiently, and help reduce the risk of fire in HVAC Systems. Dirty ductwork can load filters quickly and lead to more stress on the air handler and potentially higher energy costs.

Indoor air quality is important for everyone, not just you. A dirty duct could make your employees sick and contribute to lost productivity while also increasing their costs of healthcare through higher premiums or out of pocket expenses due treatment accidents at work. Keeping up with your commercial HVAC maintenance is also crucial to prevent equipment breakdowns, which saves money on repair bills associated with machine usage frequency. Commercial HVAC maintenance is a comprehensive process that involves the use of specialized equipment to remove all the dirt, dust, and debris from your ductwork.

A clean and healthy indoor environment is essential for both employees and customers. Not only does it help to improve air quality, but it also helps to reduce the spread of illness and allergens. However, keeping commercial space clean can be a challenge, especially when it comes to ductwork.

Dirty coils can cut the life expectancy of your HVAC equipment by making your units work harder than normal to do their job. When HVAC units are forced to work harder than necessary they: increase the cost of your utility bills, effect output air quality, and impact the comfort level of your facility's occupants.

The U.S. Department of Energy claims that compressor energy consumption can increase by as much as 30% due to dirty compressor coils. How does this happen? Over time, foreign particles can build up on the condensing unit coils and evaporator coils of your HVAC units. These foreign particles act as coil insulators which inhibit the free flow of air through the coils and decrease the rate of heat transfer between the coil and the air. The more efficient your HVAC system is (higher the SEER rating), the more likely it will benefit from regular cleaning to maintain peak efficiency.

Every business, from restaurants to retail to office buildings, relies on HVAC year-round. Maintenance, as simple as cleaning coils, has tremendous bang for the buck, with some of the highest return on investment of any preventive maintenance service.

It's pretty straightforward: being proactive with routine coil cleaning of your commercial HVAC system pays for itself. Not only in terms of avoiding drastic equipment issues down the road, but also in regards to a more controlled budget and consistent air quality in your facility.

6 Solid Reasons for a Preventive Maintenance Coil Cleaning Program

1. Extend the life of your commercial HVAC system.

Product longevity is a major factor in keeping equipment costs down. The less often you have to repair or purchase a new unit, the better it is for your facilities budget. And one of the best ways to achieve product longevity is through scheduled preventive maintenance. Neglecting the coils in your HVAC system leads to an accumulation of dust and debris, and over time all that 'build up' can cause your unit to have to work harder and run longer. This results in issues like overheated motors, raising the chances that the unit breaks down or dies sooner than it should.

Investing in planned commercial HVAC coil cleaning can actually save money on your overall HVAC investment because you won't have to pay for unplanned repairs or the purchase of brand new units.


2. Reduce your energy costs with better unit efficiency.

When you're in charge of facilities, you have to consider more than just the cost of equipment: you have to contend with ongoing energy usage and the associated costs as well. Commercial HVAC units with dirty coils won't be running at peak efficiency. In fact, just the opposite. The accumulation of grime on coils reduces the amount of airflow, limiting heat transfer and degrading the dehumidification process.

This reduced efficiency adds up quickly in higher energy costs, such as 5-ton units barely operating at a 3-ton level. As a result, you're drawing more amps to push the same amount of air through your system, and a higher amp draw means higher utility bills. The U.S. Department of Energy warns that “a dirty condenser coil can increase compressor energy consumption by 30%.”

A dirty coil can devastate your energy budget, with long-term costs far outweighing the cost of a thorough cleaning - not to mention the environmental impact of excessive energy usage.


3. Improve facility conditions with a system that works as it should.

Commercial HVAC systems that haven't been cleaned will start to have a pretty noticeable impact in your facility. If you're setting the temperature to 70 degrees, but the system can't seem to cool the room past 74, it's a clear indicator that your HVAC isn't operating at peak performance. And beyond the fact that dirty coils can cause uncomfortable temperatures in your facility, they are also a hotbed for mold, bacteria and other contaminants that can adversely impact indoor air quality. Cleaning coils can resolve those issues quickly, ensuring that everyone who relies on that HVAC system is comfortable, satisfied and safe.


4. Lessen your chances of system downtime.

Coil cleaning is essential preventive maintenance for commercial HVAC systems, and without it, your units are far more likely to require costly repairs or replacement altogether. System downtime is never convenient, and in fact, can be devastating for a business. Not only is the productivity of employees impacted when the HVAC is down, but a customer's decision to return to your place of business is far more likely if the air is clean and the temperatures comfortable.


5. Spring cleaning involves cleaning up spring debris like cottonwood.

The best time to get coil cleaning underway is at the start of the year — spring to be more specific. Airborne pollen and plant debris, like cottonwood and dandelion seeds, are notorious for making their appearance in the spring season. These clinging outdoor contaminates are everywhere, and they can be a nightmare for your commercial rooftop HVAC system. The buds clog up the condensing coil, which dramatically affects heat transfer and prevents your units from cooling effectively. If you don't thoroughly clean your HVAC coils, your units simply won't be able to run at peak efficiency once the warmer temperatures set in.


6. Clean your system thoroughly to reduce maintenance needs later.

The fact is, commercial HVAC systems need to be cleaned at minimum once per year. However, not all coil cleaning methods are created equally. Most commercial HVAC cleaning services recommend cleaning coils two or more times a year to ensure peak efficiency, in spring and fall. But with a high-quality cleaner and a thorough process, you can clean once a year without worry, making maintenance less of a budget issue.

In commercial spaces, clean air is not a luxury; it's a necessity. The quality of the air we breathe directly influences our health, comfort, and productivity. Regular HVAC air filter replacement is a simple yet significant step toward enhancing your quality of life while staying mindful of your budget and the world around you.

5 Benefits of HVAC Air Filter Replacement

  • Improved Health and Allergy Relief

    Regular HVAC air filter replacement enhances indoor air quality, reducing allergens and irritants. This offers significant relief for individuals with allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions, promoting better health and overall well-being.


  • Enhanced Energy Efficiency

    Consistently replacing your air filter boosts energy efficiency, resulting in reduced energy bills. Over time, the savings can accumulate, making it a cost-effective choice for facility managers and business owners.


  • Prolonged System Longevity

    HVAC systems are substantial investments. Regular filter replacement ensures your system's longevity and optimal performance, delaying the need for expensive replacements.


  • Consistent Comfort

    Proper filter maintenance enables your HVAC system to maintain steady temperatures throughout your commercial space, ensuring a comfortable environment year-round.


  • Cost Savings

    You save money in the long run by avoiding HVAC repairs and maintenance related to dirty filters. Preventative measures like filter replacement are often more cost-effective than addressing HVAC issues.


When your filters get clogged up with dust and debris, they really put a damper on airflow. This can make your HVAC system work inefficiently, and sometimes, it can even lead to equipment problems. The best way to avoid all these headaches, simply set up a regular schedule for changing your air conditioning filters and ensure you have enough replacements. It's a straightforward way to keep your HVAC systems running smoothly all year round.

The frequency of replacing commercial HVAC filters largely depends on the environment and specific factors affecting the system's workload. In relatively clean settings, like office buildings, it's typically recommended to replace or clean HVAC filters on a quarterly basis. Filters serving these spaces can usually maintain peak efficiency for around three months. For businesses with heavy machinery, chemicals, grease, and oil, HVAC filters should be changed more frequently. These environments introduce chemical byproducts and debris that can quickly clog filters, obstructing airflow and straining the HVAC system. Changing filters as often as once a month is advisable to avoid potential equipment burnout. In businesses generating significant dust and debris, it's crucial to replace filters regularly. Filters should be changed before they become too clogged to function effectively.

HVAC coil corrosion is costly. Protecting HVAC equipment from corrosion is not costly. Or time-consuming. By leveraging the power of anti-corrosive coating solutions, facility managers, industrial and HVAC contractors, architect-design firms, construction companies and business owners on municipal, industrial, government, and private sector projects, can unlock substantial savings and avoid potential headaches.

To ensure long-lasting performance while increasing the lifespan of your products and HVAC coils, there are many different coating options that provide an additional level of protection against corrosive environments including, but not limited to, automotive paint houses, chlorinated pool facilities, coastal sea areas, industrial manufacturing plants, locations with high sun exposure, and medical / pharmaceutical environments.

A maintenance plan identifies the specific tasks necessary to minimize failure mode consequences. It also contains information that guides work order scheduling, informs spare parts management, and provides pertinent information for budgeting maintenance resources and communicating downtime requirements to operations. The elements of the maintenance plan can be broken down into three categories of information: asset, task, and support.

As part of the equipment maintenance plan (EMP) development process, we will work with your maintenance teams to create a preventive maintenance (PM) and maintenance (PdM) plan.

A preventive maintenance plan is a systematic approach to maintenance in which equipment, machinery, or systems are regularly inspected, serviced, and repaired to prevent breakdowns, failures, or other issues. Preventive maintenance is proactive, which is the opposite of reactive maintenance which responds to equipment failure after it occurs. The goal of preventive maintenance is to save time and money in the long run.

Organizations that implement a preventive maintenance program minimize unexpected equipment downtime, reduce maintenance costs, improve safety, and maximize the reliability and efficiency of their equipment and facilities. Preventive maintenance programs can include anything from scheduled visits by a maintenance technician to deep cleaning of facilities.

Key components of a PM Program

  • Scheduled Inspections

    Regular inspections of equipment to identify any signs of wear, damage, or potential issues.


  • Routine Servicing

    Performing routine maintenance tasks such as lubrication, cleaning, tightening of parts, and replacing worn components according to a preventive maintenance schedule.


  • Predictive Maintenance

    Using data and analytics to predict when maintenance is required based on factors such as equipment condition, usage patterns, and historical performance data.


  • Record-keeping

    Maintaining detailed records of maintenance activities, including inspection reports, service logs, and repair histories, to track each asset's maintenance history.


  • Training and Education

    Providing training and resources to maintenance personnel to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to carry out preventive maintenance tasks effectively.


  • Priority Setting

    Prioritizing maintenance tasks based on factors such as equipment criticality, safety considerations, and potential impact on production or operations.


  • Continuous Improvement

    Regularly reviewing and refining the preventive maintenance program based on feedback, performance data, and emerging best practices to optimize its effectiveness over time.


Other advantages of preventative maintenance:

  • Extended Equipment Lifespan

    Regular maintenance and servicing can help prolong the lifespan of equipment and machinery, reducing the need for premature replacements and lowering overall capital expenditures.


  • Improved Reliability

    Well-maintained equipment is more reliable and less likely to experience unexpected breakdowns, which increases productivity and efficiency.


  • Enhanced Safety

    Regular inspections and maintenance help ensure that equipment is functioning properly and meets safety standards, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace.


  • Optimized Performance

    By keeping equipment in optimal condition, preventive maintenance helps maintain consistent performance levels, ensuring that production targets are met and quality standards are maintained.


  • Decreased Energy Consumption

    Equipment that is regularly maintained uses less energy and releases fewer greenhouse gases than equipment that is not part of a preventive maintenance strategy.



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Duryea, PA 18642


 
 

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