Council Post: The Importance Of HVAC Tech Safety, Even As Employees Work From Home

 Karl Pomeroy, President and GM, Motili.

In many ways, 2020 was an extraordinary year. For many professionals, there was a shift in working from the office to working from home. And so, interest in functional HVAC systems with improvements in indoor air quality (IAQ) is growing significantly.

IAQ increased in significance steadily over the course of the year as Covid-19 concerns and questions about air quality continued to be raised. IAQ is of great importance, and there are several HVAC best practices for employers to consider.

The Key Aspects Of IAQ: Source Control, Ventilation and Filtration

Source control is the ability to manage the source of the pollutant, whether it’s bacteria, allergens or other types. This is typically done through ultraviolet (UV) filtration, which removes a considerable amount of harmful substances from the air.

Ventilation is fairly straightforward. You are trying to remove stagnant air and keep airflow fresh. In the most basic ways, this is accomplished by opening windows and doors. In more complex applications, HRV heat recovery ventilation or ERV energy recovery ventilation are utilized.

Air filtration is the removal of harmful particles from the air which may not be affected by UV filtration, such as dust. This advanced HVAC filter can be implemented to remove even very small particles.

Ensuring personal safety remains an important consideration, and in our increasingly digital world, the most ideal solution to this is to have IAQ technology in place that keeps hands-on work to a minimum. There are a variety of solutions that can remotely handle many property management tasks, even those that up until recently always involved in-person meetings, can now be completed from a remote office.

The Unique Workspaces When Working From Home 

This past year has taught us how important it is to be connected to the work that is important to us, and to the technology that keeps everything moving forward. As so many of us have shifted to a work-from-home environment, we have adjusted our living spaces to accommodate the work we need to accomplish.

Today’s office may be a spare bedroom, a basement or a garage that has seen better days that provides needed privacy. All of these require a properly functioning HVAC system to keep occupants comfortable as they accomplish a day’s work. Because many people are spending significantly more time in their homes during the day, the need to address filter management and maintenance is critical.

One of the best ways to ensure the efficiency and longevity of an HVAC system is to regularly replace the air filter. Dirty filters mean that the HVAC is working less efficiently to move air. Additionally, system malfunctions can happen if the airflow is blocked, and a poorly functioning HVAC system can increase energy consumption by up to 30%. A good rule of thumb is to change the air filter every two months in any type of building, but certainly before the cooling season and the heating season. Upgrading to high-efficiency HVAC units can produce substantial savings for homeowners and businesses.

Today, devices like smart thermostats provide significant energy and cost savings as HVAC appliances represent close to half of a business’s energy usage. When energy-consuming building systems are optimized with the latest research and technology, there is a significant amount of energy savings that can be accomplished. Smart thermostats, widely available and easy to install, are optimizing how HVAC building systems are operated.

The Importance Of Preventative Maintenance

In 2020, many more of us have been working from home more than ever. There may be fewer miles on our cars’ odometers, but the HVAC systems in our homes have been called upon more vigorously as many of us left our offices behind and stayed at home for the balance of the workday.

For those that have made it back to their office environments, similar HVAC considerations are important for business owners to address. HVAC systems require regular inspection, especially in an environment where an office may have been vacant for some time, to ensure proper function. HVAC systems should be at the top of business’ preventative maintenance lists, ensuring that air quality is comfortable and safe. 

Preventative maintenance is of paramount importance. HVAC repairs predictably jump during the months of extreme weather, such as in the winter when the heat is turned on and in the summer months, especially after the first heatwave when air conditioning systems are called upon to keep buildings cool. If these systems are not properly maintained, failures can be expected. Preventative maintenance — knowing how old a system is to anticipate its replacement needs, annual checks to ensure parts and systems are running smoothly — should be on the “must-do” list of every business owner and property owner.

Employees are the most valuable business resource. If organizations have not done so already, now is the time to educate employees on the importance of maintaining their own HVAC systems at their home offices. Filter maintenance at home and regular self-inspections to see if anything looks amiss are easy ways to feel confident that an HVAC system is working properly. These simple steps at the corporate office will go a long way to ensure the company building is ready for when employees come back.

The year 2020 has ushered in many firsts, helping us coin the phrase, “the new normal.” We continue to see the effects of the pandemic and how they are altering the way we live our lives and conduct business. However, the tried-and-true maintenance practices have also kept HVAC systems running for years. This juxtaposition of old and new can help create comfortable indoor air quality for the world we live in today.


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