Using air conditioning in the Covid-19 pandemic: 5 safety tips
Covid-19 has caused us to adjust our routine, everyday practices in ways we could never have imagined.
“A well-maintained and operated system can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in indoor spaces by increasing the rate of air change, reducing recirculation of air and increasing the use of outdoor air.
Recirculation modes (which recirculate the air) should not be used. HVAC systems should be regularly inspected, maintained, and cleaned.’ 1 So the first thing to note, is that your air conditioning can still do its job. However you do need to check the settings on your air conditioning system to ensure they are optimised for safe use during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Here are 5 tips to ensure you use your air conditioning safely during Covid-19:
1. Optimum performance: The result you want to achieve is plenty of outside air coming in and internal air going out.
So firstly you need to ensure your air conditioning system is working properly because you will want it to power up its filtration, external air intake and air flow capabilities to deliver the maximum performance you need right now.
If your system hasn’t had a service or any maintenance done in a while, now is the
time to get it done. Dirty filters and parts will not only reduce the performance of your
air conditioning, they will also send contaminated air round the system and you don’t
want that.
If you are in a busy hospital or other healthcare environment a breakdown in the air conditioning system is not something you want to deal with right now, particularly in a pandemic of a resilient infectious disease so it’s a good idea to get your system
checked over.
2. External air: To promote the intake of as much air from outside as possible
programme your air conditioning to come on much earlier than usual (ie. a few hours
earlier) and remain on for longer or you can leave it on all day and night.
The reason for this is to ensure the air is constantly moving with clean air pumped in and indoor air pumped out. If you do want to leave the air con on after hours, you can set it so the ventilation is lower because there are no staff present. Of course, this ventilation level needs to be back up to the original level hours before the first staff start arriving in the morning.
If your system uses SMART technology to increase the airflow in line with the number of bodies in the building, you’ll need to override the settings, using your manual so the high intake of air is consistent regardless of the amount of people in the building.
3.Humidity levels: Keep an eye on the humidity levels of the filtered air as the weather
turns colder.
The recommended humidity level indoors to deter the spread of pathogens is
between 40 and 60 percent. However, when the cold weather sets in, that level can
drop by 20% or more. The colder it is, the lower the humidity level will drop so this is
something to keep in mind as the winter progresses.
4. Quality filters: As we are talking about preventing contamination, your filters are
really important here so now is the time to check the quality of our filters. Make sure
they are able to filter out the tiniest particles and ideally you’ll be looking at HEPA or
UVGI filters for the most rigorous cleaning capabilities.
For this and all other steps here, consult your manual before taking any changes.
5. Recirculation: Although some companies use recirculation of air in certain spaces
for energy-saving purposes, during the pandemic, recirculation of air in your system
is a no-no.
Do not use recirculation settings so that means no mixing of air because you will
make your environment unsafe by sending internal air back into the system.
Now is also a good time to double check the exit and entry points for air into and out
of your system are placed far enough apart to avoid any possibility of interaction,
particularly during strong winds.
Even if you feel strongly about saving energy, leaving recirculation settings on for just
one room will put everyone in jeopardy so keep those functions off until the pandemic
is over.
Air conditioning services during Covid-19
Despite the pandemic and intermittent lockdowns, we continue to serve all of our customers across Ruislip, London, Essex, Slough and other parts of the South East.
As experienced providers of servicing, installation, maintenance and repairs to hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, clinics and other healthcare settings, we understand how to work to the
highest quality standards.
We have a robust range of safe working practices in place to ensure the health and safety of both your community and ours. You can find more about our safe working practices on our home page or give us a call today on 01895 540 565.
Whether you need air conditioning installed, repaired or serviced - we can help. Our expert engineers work with homes and businesses across London and the South East.
With decades in the industry and specialist knowledge of how to work across the medical sector, you can be sure we have the experience you need at this challenging time. Get in touch with our friendly team today on 01895 540 565 or visit our home page now.
