Is AC Maintenance in Your
Return-to-Office Plans?
Your building occupancy rates
may have changed over the past few years due to the pandemic. If so, your HVAC
operations mostly likely changed as well, such as a system turning off or
reducing usage for a period of time. In addition, many workers are now reluctant
to return to the office and may express safety and health concerns.
That's why, as you implement
your return-to-office plans; it's important to incorporate proper ac
maintenance and good indoor air quality (IAQ) strategies for building comfort
and safety.
Thus, in this article, our
expert commercial HVAC technicians at Estes Services will share the reasons why
you need AC maintenance and the HVAC strategies and solutions you can adopt to
ensure good IAQ.
Return to Normal? Start with Your HVAC System
A return to normal starts
with you taking a comprehensive look at your HVAC system. Yes, as you're
preparing your workspace, you should also be getting your HVAC system ready
with proper ac maintenance before reoccupying a building.
The "Preparing HVAC Systems Before
Reoccupying A Building" article in
the ASHRAE Journal states that a
"thoughtful, methodical approach" is needed for preparing buildings for a
return to the office, which includes a thorough inspection.
The fact of the matter is your HVAC operation has most likely shifted over the past few years from full
occupancy pre-pandemic to no occupancy, reduced occupancy to full occupancy
again.
There are risks associated
with thinking that your commercial HVAC
system is ready to return to normal again without a thorough inspection.
Varying occupancies put a strain on your system, and you must ensure that it will
perform as expected for comfort and safety.
Besides, poor HVAC
maintenance leads to poor indoor air quality—something
you do not want as a facility leader, which brings us to our next point:
Indoor Air Quality: A Top Concern for Workers
In fact, a new survey conducted by Honeywell in coordination with Wakefield
Research, "which included 3,000 office workers in buildings of 500 or more,"
found that the majority of them considered air quality a top concern.
The survey also found that 9
out of 10 respondents prefer "regular updates on their workplace's indoor air
quality." Workers are looking for more transparency about the air they breathe
in workspaces.
As a result, facility leaders
like you must ensure good IAQ, especially in your return-to-office plans.
That's where proper HVAC inspection and maintenance come in. Indeed, proper
maintenance goes hand in hand with good IAQ.
In addition to proper inspection
and maintenance, there are several other HVAC strategies to consider for
addressing these IAQ concerns, which we go into more detail about in the next
section:
HVAC Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality
There are several HVAC
strategies that you can employ to improve indoor air quality, including
●
having an
inspection performed;
●
subscribing to a
regular maintenance plan;
●
installing
high-efficiency filters; and
●
adopting IAQ
technologies for your workspace.
In coordination with a
licensed and trained commercial HVAC professional, you may decide to adopt all
or some of these HVAC strategies for a healthier indoor environment.
Have an Inspection Performed — If your HVAC systems have shifted in any way over the past months or years,
then you need to ensure comfort, safety, and health through a proper inspection
by a licensed and trained commercial HVAC
technician like at Estes Services.
Enroll in a Maintenance Membership Plan — Your commercial HVAC system is one of your facility's
most important assets for building health and safety. A commercial HVAC maintenance membership plan helps ensure that your equipment is well-maintained
and keeps occupants comfortable year-round.
Our commercial HVAC
maintenance members at Estes Services receive comprehensive maintenance checks
throughout the year and expert and personalized recommendations for the unique
characteristics of their building, including, for instance, filter selection
and changeout, system sensor calibration maintenance, and building automation
system maintenance.
Install Higher-Efficiency Filters — Installing higher-efficiency filters, like HEPA
filters, can help trap smaller contaminants in the indoor air your building
occupants breathe. Improving air filtration with this strategy is generally recommended
for return-to-office plans; however, you should schedule a consultation with a commercial HVAC expert to select the right
filter for your system.
Perform Air Quality Testing — It's important to know the current state of your
indoor air quality. That's why we can perform air quality testing, review the
results with your facilities team, and make product recommendations based on
those findings.
Adopt IAQ Technologies — There are different types of air quality products and
technologies to choose from, including air purifiers, air cleaners, and building automation systems. All of which we can help you with at Estes Services.
●
Air Purifiers & Cleaners — Estes Services installs commercial-grade air
purifiers and cleaners for office spaces in the greater Atlanta area.
You
can choose from two air purification systems that we install: a UV light air
purification system and/or a plasma cleaner.
You
can install these products to capture most of the pollen, mold, particles, and
germs found in the office air.
●
Building Automation Systems — Smart building automation systems can monitor your indoor air quality, and you can set
thresholds for particular rooms or floors if unacceptable air quality levels
are reached.
Estes Services can help you
choose, select, and employ the right HVAC strategies for your building. We take
your office ac maintenance and indoor air quality seriously.
Ensure Safer Indoor Environment with Estes Services
In this article, we have
covered why and how to include ac maintenance in your return-to-office plans.
Most importantly, each
building has unique HVAC operations, so in order to determine the best HVAC
strategies in your return-to-office plans, it's best to consult with our
commercial HVAC experts at Estes Services.
Your building's comfort and
safety are important to us. Since 1949, we have been delivering comfort,
safety, and efficiency with top-quality service. It's our goal to help you
achieve a healthier indoor air environment in your return-to-office plans.
We are happy to offer free
consultations and second opinions to the greater Atlanta area, including Alpharetta, Buckhead, Decatur, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, Fayetteville, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Marietta, Midtown, Peachtree City, Roswell, Sandy Springs,
and Virginia
Highland.
From commercial HVAC installations to indoor air quality improvements,
we are the locally-owned and operated Atlanta HVAC family business
you can trust.
Schedule service with us today. It's that Easy; it's Estes!
