Monitoring and maintaining high quality airflow through a building’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system is one of the best ways to protect health and prevent the spread of airborne disease—especially during colder months when immune systems are low and individuals are spending more time indoors.
HVAC systems treat and filter indoor air and are configured to maintain a steady inward and outward flow so that air does not become stagnant or spread pollutants.
Unfortunately, public facilities do not always keep up with HVAC maintenance or ensure that current standards are being met. A September article in the Wall Street Journal Article cited a study that found about 41 percent of public school districts in the United States need to update or replace their HVAC systems. The report stated that—although schools spend billions annually on repairs and maintenance—about 36,000 schools nationwide need HVAC updates.
Sometimes there is no warning that an HVAC system is malfunctioning, which is why it is important to conduct regular tests and inspections. However, in some cases there are telltale signs that something is not working as it should.
These signs include:
- Dampness and humidity inside, perhaps resulting in mold
- A strange or bad odor that won’t go away
- A discrepancy between what the thermostat reads and how the indoor air temperature feels
- A slow airflow
- Consistent noise coming from the system
- Difficulty heating or cooling the building
For more information on how Life Balance’s unique software makes air balance testing and reporting easier and more affordable, check out our post titled How Does the SāfAir Software Work?
Life Balance Technologies helps hospitals and other companies easily analyze air quality conditions and effectively manage their HVAC systems. By streamlining the process for compliance, auditing, and reporting, we help reduce costs and save lives.
