Prevent Office Allergies During the Summer by Maintaining Air Quality
Posted on: 12 June 2018
The quality of air in your office is a primary determining factor in the health of your workers. If the office is always dusty or stuffy, workers can develop allergies that will reduce their productivity or even keep them off work for several days. For this reason, the indoor air quality in your office directly affects the performance of your workers. During summer, keeping the air fresh can be a difficult task due to the increased pollutants in the atmosphere. That's why you need to observe these measures to improve air quality and protect your workers from allergies.
Clean HVAC ductwork
The summer heat makes it necessary to keep the air conditioners running throughout the day. Most ACs work by recycling the air in your office. The fan draws the warm air from the room, passes it through the refrigerant for cooling then directs it back into the room through the HVAC ducts. So if these ducts are not clean, you will be recycling air that contains pollutants such as dust mites and pollen. Keeping the AC on the whole day will do little to improve the air quality. Instead, get your ductwork cleaned before the onset of the season. Over time, the ducts accumulated dirt and dust, and if not cleaned, they will pollute the air that's recycled in your office.
Clean surfaces and carpets
Dust tends to accumulate fast on surfaces during the summer. So vacuuming your office carpet once a week won't do much to protect employees from allergies. Vacuum your carpets at least once each day to get rid of dust mites. Also, mop floors and wipe down surfaces to get rid of dust and dirt that may have settled on them. Clean your curtains and other window furnishings as well. If your office is located near a busy street where dust piles up fast, you need to do regular cleanings to maintain indoor air quality.
Don't forget about humidity
The high temperatures during the summer also come with increased levels of humidity in some areas. Moisture in the air is vital for preventing the spread of germs – when humidity is low, germs linger in the air much longer, and this allows them to spread. Low humidity also irritates the airways when one inhales dry air. However, extremely high humidity is not good either. It can encourage mould which will deteriorate your air quality and increase allergies. Use a dehumidifier during the summer to maintain optimal moisture levels and prevent mould growth.
Maintaining indoor air quality is essential to promoting employees' health and productivity. Follow these tips and contact an air quality services expert who can assess your building and recommend other solutions to improving air quality in the office.
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