5 Great Tips To Improve Indoor Air Quality

The air quality in buildings affects the productivity and wellbeing of employees. When so many people are in a small space, dirt and pollutants can build up quickly. If you don’t address the problem, workers will often complain of respiratory problems and headaches. Here are 5 great tips to improve indoor air quality.

1. Monitor The Indoor Air Quality

Air quality monitors are devices that give accurate readings of pollutants in the air. These devices can detect carbon monoxide, mold spores, allergens, VOCs, and more and will display the measurements on a screen.

The best indoor air quality monitors will alert you when the quality of air reaches dangerous levels. You’ll also get push notifications on your phone. While you may not need Wi-Fi smartphone control, a majority of the models come with this feature.

The more pollutants a unit can detect, the higher the accuracy level. Before you spend your money on a specific model, make sure you understand the kind of pollutants it can handle.

The response time also matters – the higher the quality of the monitor, the faster the response time. For instance, if the carbon dioxide levels rise to dangerous levels, the device should inform you immediately. Those with dual detectors will perform this task seamlessly.

Advanced IAQ monitors will give an option of displaying data in numerical or graph form. However, you can still go for a simple model without those features.

Some monitors will even trigger smart appliances like a fan, dehumidifier, and air purifiers. The best IAQ monitors for you will depend on the pollutants you want to keep track of and the size of the business area you’ll want to monitor. You should conduct regular air quality tests and make the necessary improvements.

Finally, be sure to check whether the device gets power from an electrical outlet or is battery-powered. Kanomax USA offers the best instruments for IAQ.

2. Improve Ventilation In The Building

Do you sometimes have a hard time breathing while you are at work? Well, it won’t take long before stuff air sabotages your productivity.

Whenever possible, you should open the windows to allow fresh air to enter the building. This helps to increase airflow and alleviate any pollutants in the air. If your business has hot or cold spots, the employees may feel some discomfort. To improve airflow, you should remove furniture, cabinets, and storage boxes that may have blocked the vents.

If opening doors or windows is not sufficient, you should utilize fans and duct systems. A quality HVAC system will also help to trap allergens and dust particles. These units will capture the small contaminants from the air.

3. Monitor The Level Of Humidity

If you want to know how to kill mold, you should maintain the humidity levels between 30-50%. A dehumidifier can help you control the humidity levels in your business. In the winter months, the humidity level lowers, while in summer it increases.

When there are high levels of moisture, condensation can easily build up. Even businesses sealed for energy efficiency can have problems due to poor air circulation.

Most dehumidifiers for commercial spaces minimize evaporation and musty odor that can promote mildew growth. Most dehumidifiers for commercial use have a continuous pump connected to the floor drain. It drains the water as it accumulates in the tank. This way, there’s no need to worry about emptying the water tank.

You can place the units in areas with poor air circulation like basements, and bathrooms, those places easily harbor allergy-causing substances. If you notice peeling paint on the walls or unusual stains, those are red flags. You will need a dehumidifier to prevent the floors and walls from further damage.

Apart from improving indoor air quality in your building, a dehumidifier can lower energy costs as it helps your AC unit to work more efficiently.

4. Replace Air Filters Frequently

If the air filters of your HVAC units are clogged, there’s no smooth flow of air in your building. Over time, dust will clog the filters putting the health of your employees at risk. That’s why it’s important to perform HVAC testing.

If you don’t change the air filters frequently, the air quality will decline, leading to allergic reactions and foul odor. Some will experience symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, and sneezing.

To improve the air quality, you should clean the air filters every six months. However, the frequency is changed by the kind of system you have. Some brands suggest that you should change the filters once a month. Without the right know-how, you could be kicking all kinds of nasty stuff and pose a threat to indoor air quality.

In an office setup, electronic equipment like computers, cleaners, and fax machines can collect dust easily. If you notice the equipment is dusty, you should change the filters. Be sure to talk to your HVAC technician to figure out how often you should maintain the system.

5. Keep Your Workspace Clean

Let’s face it: your business receives a staggering amount of traffic every day. While keeping your office clean may fall at the end of the priority list, it’s something you should prioritize. And because healthy air is a critical component for the health of your employees, there are things you can do to get rid of the dust.

If you want to keep your office clean, you should dust, sanitize, vacuum, and clear any clutter. Regular cleaning is an essential part of keeping indoor air quality clean. The fewer pollutants you have in your space, the lower the chance of making your employees sick.

First, you should ditch the feather duster. The fiber on the feathers picks up the dust on the surface. But instead of trapping dust, these units only lift dirt and debris off surfaces and it becomes airborne more often than not.

What should you use to wipe the tables, desks, and office fans? You can use a sponge or damp cloth to prevent the dust from becoming airborne. Furthermore, you should bring in a professional cleaning service to deep clean your carpets and other upholstery materials.

Final Thoughts

Poor indoor air quality can affect the health and wellbeing of everyone you work with. Be sure to follow the above tips, and most importantly, invest in indoor air quality monitoring. It’s time you improve the overall air quality of your building!