Commercial HVAC Contractor
Signs Your Commercial Building has Poor Air Quality
Written by: 1 Source Mechanical
Poor air quality in a commercial building is more than merely unpleasant. It can affect the health and productivity of your employees. It can be a sign of issues that will diminish the value of your property. If you think you might have air quality issues, contact an
HVAC repair and maintenance
specialist such as 1 Source Mechanical for commercial air quality testing.
Most Common Air Quality Issues
Several air quality issues negatively affect a commercial building, its workers, and its visitors. Here are some of the most common.
Dust Buildup
If air quality is poor, dust and other particulates can build up on surfaces. These might be outside pollutants such as vehicle exhaust or airborne dirt or soot. They also might come from indoor sources such as cleaning compounds, manufacturing chemicals, and construction materials. They can cause respiratory problems and make the facility into a place no one wants to be.
Unpleasant Odors
Obnoxious odors are a problem in and of themselves and also a symptom that larger issues might be lurking in the background. The cause could be trash and garbage not being properly disposed of. It could volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to cycle through the facility, and it could even be the result of mold or mildew.
Improper Ventilation
You can’t have safe, clean air in your building without proper ventilation. Without good movement of warmed and cooled air, the facility might feel stale and stuffy, either in a few rooms or throughout the physical plant. Poor ventilation can lead to excess humidity, which creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and other pathogens.
Mold & Mildew
Allergens
Common allergens include dust mites, pollen, and spores. They can come from inside the building or from outdoors. These can play havoc with people who have allergies and/or asthma. The good news is that purification systems will remove almost all of these.
5 Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Sometimes the signs of poor air quality are apparent inside the building itself. These symptoms include excessive humidity, dust buildup, unexplained odors, and inconsistent temperature from room to room. One of the most dramatic ways bad air quality exposes itself, however, is in the health of the workplace’s occupants. If you observe employees taking more sick days, lagging in productivity, and appearing fatigued, air quality may be unhealthy or even dangerous.
Here are five problems you might notice.
1. Coughing or Trouble Breathing
If more people than usual are coughing, rasping, or appearing to have trouble breathing, there may be airborne irritants such as dust and pollen. Breathing problems are a distraction and make it hard for employees to concentrate on their work.
2. Allergic Reactions
Telltale signs of allergic reactions include sneezing, coughing, and watering eyes. In some cases these are hard to control, People who have asthma or who are susceptible to allergies may look more uncomfortable than usual or report that their symptoms have worsened.
3. Dry Skin
Many people have dry skin as a seasonal problem, but dry skin caused by pollutants might show up at any time of year. It could be accompanied by dry eyes and eye irritation. It’s possible that an imbalance in humidity from area to area could be at fault.
4. Headaches
It’s not uncommon for people to complain of headaches when there are pollutants, particularly VOCs, in the indoor air. That’s because these irritants can cause the sinuses to inflame, increasing pressure in the head. Sometimes these headaches are accompanied by dizziness and fatigue. People who are subject to migraines are especially at risk.
5. Nausea
Some studies suggest an association between low-quality air and gastrointestinal diseases due to an altered intestinal microbiome. Nausea can be a sign that unhealthy air is moving someone in this direction.
How to Prevent Air Quality Issues
To prevent air quality issues, it’s best to eliminate the causes before they can have an impact. Routine steps like properly disposing of garbage, keeping vents open, changing filters, and using cleaning chemicals according to instructions all help. You should also watch for signs like dust buildup, odors, and excessive humidity.
Sometimes, however, circumstances that might turn into air quality issues are difficult to detect. Routine inspection and maintenance by a professional commercial HVAC contractor is the best way to stop air quality issues before they start. The top HVAC companies have the latest equipment to take advantage of the most recent innovations in commercial HVAC. They can do the necessary cleaning and perform minor repairs before small problems turn into big ones. These businesses can perform services such as balancing to ensure consistent airflow and temperature throughout your facility.
Improve Your Business's Indoor Air Quality with 1 Source Mechanical!
Don’t take a chance with the health and safety of your commercial building. Whether it’s a school, library, medical building, hotel, apartment, warehouse, retail space, or manufacturing facility, 1 Source Mechanical has the experience and the equipment to ensure that your indoor air quality is in first-rate shape and stays that way. An investment in routine maintenance is not only an investment in air quality but also in the longevity of your HVAC system.
If you’ve noticed any of the signs of compromised air quality, give us a call and let us get to the root of the issue. If your air quality is good, and you want to ensure that it stays that way, contact us to discuss a routine maintenance contract. From DeKalb to Chicago and in between, we’re the area’s leader in HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance.
