A “breath of fresh air” is something that’s easy to take for granted, but it’s also something that has the power to transform a dreary and stuffy work environment into an energized one. Indeed, just as we encounter smog warnings outdoors, “indoor air quality” is something that affects both our health and our alertness. So a key component to creating a happy, healthy, and productive workspace is to ensure that the air is completely free of any contaminants.
This, of course, doesn’t happen on its own. Any facility with good air quality requires a good-working and well-maintained ventilation system to sustain it.
Your ventilation system not only serves as your climate control system during hot summer days and cold winter months; it’s also keeps your indoor air continuously circulating and filters out contaminants, keeping it fresh and clean. A ventilation system, however, is only as good as how well it’s maintained and cleaned.
Common Air Contaminants
There are a variety of contaminants that can build up in your ventilation system, and an improperly maintained system gradually loses its ability to filter these contaminants from the air you’re breathing. Here’s an overview of some of the most common threats to indoor air quality.
Dust: Have you ever started your work day feeling just fine, only to spontaneously develop symptoms like coughing, sneezing, scratchy throat or itchy eyes throughout the day? Well, you’re probably not suffering from a strange disease. Rather, it’s most likely dust.
Bacteria: The office environment is also exposed to a countless number of microbe-breeding agents each day, causing there to be the presence of many bacteria of health significance in indoor air. These bacteria can cause infection and impact our overall long-term healthAllergens: Whether from animal dander, pollen, or mold, the office environment can be home to many sources of allergy. These eventually propagate and release spores into the air, aggravating allergies.
Odour: Especially during the summer months, we are all aware that indoor air is occasionally of a more pungent quality than we’d prefer. Smells coming from things like dumpsters, restrooms, mold, or even improperly cleaned mop heads can affect office-air quality and have the ability to cause anything from mild-discomfort to an allergic reaction.
A properly maintained ventilation system will properly filter out the above contaminants through regular air circulation. If improperly maintained however, contaminants like dust, allergens, and bacteria will build up in the mechanical components and air ducts of your ventilation system, resulting in the increase of airborne contaminants and a decrease in overall air quality.
The Benefits of a Cleaning Program
Breathing is the most important basic necessity; if you can’t breathe, all the food, water, and shelter in the world won’t make a difference. The air we breathe can affect our mood, energy levels, and overall health in countless ways.
The best way to ensure that our workplace air is clean and safe is through regular cleaning of your ventilation system and all its components, including air ducts, pans, and coils. And whether you’re relying on in-house staff or a company like MOM, a maintenance and cleaning program address the specific needs of your work environment.
The quality of the indoor air we breathe will always be at risk from the nasty contaminants such as those listed above. With a well-cleaned ventilation system, these contaminants can easily be controlled and optimal air-quality can be restored and maintained. Regardless of who carries it out, a proper cleaning program will both determine your needs short-term and assure that they are carried out long term, ensuring that every breath of air you take is a fresh one.