A nice breeze flowing through open windows can breathe new life into an otherwise stuffy home or office. Particularly as it relates to the spread of viruses, even a light wind quickly disperses the number of germs and harmful pollutants in the air. But what happens during the colder months when those windows get sealed shut?

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends the following solutions to keep the air inside your building as healthy as possible as we move into the fall and winter months:

• Regularly check your building’s air filters. Not only do clogged filters make your system work harder, but they also fail to filter dust, dander and other pollutants that can cause occupants to become sick. Make sure all filters are sized correctly for your building’s needs and are within their recommended service life.
• Inspect rooftop units or vents. Cleaning leaves, sticks and other debris that has accumulated on or near your condenser unit and other outdoor equipment will help keep your system function properly.
• Use fans (weather permitting). Strategically and safely placed fans in windows work wonders to help circulate air during nice weather. Overhead fans are another good option, especially when it’s too cold to open windows.
• Consult with an experienced HVAC professional. We’re trained to perform the regular maintenance your system needs to operate efficiently. We’ll be able to evaluate your system and make necessary adjustments, like opening outdoor air dampers beyond minimum settings and rebalancing your system to increase total airflow.

Improved ventilation is always an important prevention strategy — but becomes especially vital in a pandemic environment. Call us today to improve clean air delivery in your building!