Regular HVAC maintenance is an important aspect of keeping employees healthy and happy. The process of cooling hot air creates humid air that has to be expelled from the building. If an HVAC system can’t do this, then bacteria and fungi may grow in the system.
When employees have sick building syndrome — they only feel sick while they are in the office — it can be caused by a poor HVAC system. Symptoms of sick building syndrome include headaches, fatigue, nasal congestion, and breathing issues. These can be caused by dirty or contaminated air running through the HVAC system. You can get a new boiler. Or you can maintain and keep your HVAC system in good repair and upgrading to new technology will create a more productive and healthy environment.
Removing or Controlling Pollutants
Some methods to control or eliminate pollutants include regular cleaning or replacement of filters, replacing wet carpet or tile, and venting contaminant sources outside. A little effort goes a long way to ensure that your employees will have fewer sick days because the pollutants that cause allergies and flu-like symptoms will be greatly reduced with an up-to-date HVAC system.
Improved Air Quality
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Maintaining your HVAC system will improve your indoor air quality. The air that your employees breathe will be clean and free of pollutants when you invest in the replacement of filters, ventilation improvements, and a modern HVAC system. A heating and air conditioning professional who specializes in HVAC maintenance can guide you in the choices that are best for your situation.
Employee Education
Creating an environment where employees understand the importance of breathing clean air can help them identify when problems arise. Set up meetings to educate employees about symptoms and how to discuss this with their employer. Keeping employees healthy benefits everyone in the long run. Employees can communicate their concerns about possible sick building syndrome symptoms that could be attributed to an old or dirty HVAC system.
Increasing Ventilation
Improved air movement is better for overall air quality. The even distribution of air throughout a building can help reduce indoor pollutants. Your HVAC system should meet the local building code minimums for ventilation. If your business works with strong pollutants, specific ventilation may be needed to vent those pollutants outside. Areas where it is highly recommended to have exhaust vents include bathrooms and printing rooms. The increased ventilation also helps to reduce airborne illnesses.
Health Problems That Arise Without HVAC Maintenance
Health problems that can arise from poor HVAC maintenance include headaches, coughing, muscle aches, and fever, as well as allergy symptoms like congestion and sinus irritation. These symptoms are isolated to times when employees are inside their work environment. Although the research is ongoing, there is already enough evidence that our air-conditioning systems can have health effects on our body.
Humidity causes bacteria and fungi to thrive inside your HVAC system. Without proper maintenance, this can grow to be a huge problem over time. Maintaining all aspects of your HVAC system will keep your work environment a healthy place to be.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
