Hire a licensed contractor to service and maintain your HVAC systems.
HVAC technology is changing constantly, and often general maintenance staff is not equipped to get the best performance out of your system, leading to more frequent failures, and an uncomfortable environment. Utilizing a licensed contractor specializing in HVAC can ensure your system is operating at peak performance.
Improve ventilation.
Circulating fresh air from outside with interior air can dramatically reduce the spread of contaminants. Industry experts recommend that five cubic feet of fresh outside air be circulated for each person in a building every minute.
Use effective filtration. Regularly replacing filters not only improves indoor air quality (IAQ), it reduces wear and tear on your HVAC system. Look at MERV ratings on filters, and use filters designed to work with your system. While a higher MERV rating may filter more particles from the air, not all HVAC systems are designed to work with them. Consulting an HVAC professional will ensure you make the best choice for your system.
Utilize UV light treatment. Installing UV light sources in your existing duct work has been proven to inactivate a variety of biologic contaminants, including COVID-19, MRSA, and influenza. Installation is simple, and can be done during normal work hours in many cases.
Control humidity. Maintaining a humidity level of 40-60% in your building has been proven to make viruses less viable. Additionally, properly managed humidity levels eliminate musty odors, mold, and mildew growth.
Use ionization in the circulated airstream. Ionization causes particles to accept positive and negative charges. When oppositely charged particles are near each other, they clump together and either fall to the floor or become trapped in the filter. This process dramatically improves filter performance, eliminating the spread of contaminants. Note that not all ionizers are the same, and poorly performing models can generate excessive levels of ozone.
