Getting optimized ventilation is just getting ventilation that is as efficient and well-utilized as possible. It sounds simple, but the reality is a little more complex.
There are many different ventilation solutions available, and maximizing them is important for your business or your home. Optimized ventilation should provide building occupants with high air quality cost-effectively without impacting the efficiency of other parts of your HVAC system like the air conditioning and the furnace. Optimized ventilation can also help you provide a more comfortable environment, where people feel safer to breathe freely. If you’re reopening a business after a pandemic or just looking to have guests over, spending some time on optimizing your ventilation makes sense.
Optimize Business Ventilation
OSHA has released some guidance to help businesses improve their ventilation as they seek to reopen. Their guidance includes these directives:
- Ensure previously shut-down HVAC systems are functional: Systems that were shut down for more than a week need to be assessed by a professional to ensure that they will function properly.
- Check on exhaust fans: When not in use, exhaust fans are more likely to develop clogs and other issues.
- Use HVAC filters with MERV 13 or higher: If your equipment support filters of this high quality, they can pull more pollutants out of the air.
- Increase outdoor air intake: Bring in fresher air to help keep things fresh and healthy. Consider adding new ventilation options.
- Consider using HEPA air purifiers: HEPA purifiers can actually pull some viruses and bacteria out of the air, reducing the spread of illnesses.
- Redirect personal fans: Don’t allow people to use a personal fan that blows on them and then someone else, as these can increase the spread of illness.
Getting professional advice about what your property needs to be safe for the public or provide optimal air quality for staff, tenants or occupants is critical. Professionals can help you assess your current air quality. As well as guiding you to the specific areas that it would be beneficial for your business to improve in.
Optimize Home Ventilation
What if you’re optimizing the ventilation in your home? There are plenty of HVAC solutions that can get you freshers, healthier air. Ideally, you’d have an HVAC professional take a look at your home’s current ventilation and advise you as to what you really need. Some of the options they may present to you are:
- Air purifiers: Quality air purifiers can give you a significant boost to air quality. They can trap smells, remove airborne chemicals, mold spores, bacteria and even viruses. The quality of the filter is important, but a professional can guide you to choose one that eliminates the airborne contaminants you want to address.
- HRVs and ERVs: These are two different ventilation options. HRVs are heat recovery ventilators that vent stale air and bring in fresh air but don’t allow you to lose much heat in the winter. ERVs do the same but also control humidity.
- Local ventilation: For problem spots in your home, from bathrooms to kitchens, consider local ventilators.
Want to learn more about maximizing your building’s ventilation? Contact our experts today for a free consultation.
