The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the flu season of 2020-2021 was virtually non-existent. Medical authorities say it was likely due to restrictions in place for COVID-19. Wearing face masks, frequent handwashing and physical distancing not only reduced transmission of the coronavirus, but also influenza.
Similarly, filtering the air and sanitizing surfaces goes a long way in making sure your workers and clients stay safe and healthy all year round. It’s important to keep the air quality in your facility high, free from allergens, mold, dust, or contaminants. Interestingly, there are a few options open to businesses that you won’t see available for homes or residential buildings. Let’s discuss three things to consider when you are looking to improve air quality for your business.
Know Your VOCs
On occasion, a business might not notice how certain products affect their air quality. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are human made chemicals that create fumes or gas residues. They could emit from cleaning supplies, paints, solvents, adhesives, building materials, or dilapidated equipment. These unseen vapors can accumulate over time, increasing indoor air pollution and becoming a health risk.
It’s very important to have a list of chemicals used or stored regularly in the shop, as well as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for reference. One of the best things you can do is increase treated air flow in the facility (what works to prevent coronavirus infection works for a lot of other health measures too). That brings up the next subject to improve air quality in your business.
Air Filtration Systems
Many businesses think that having a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is enough for their building. Unfortunately, while the equipment may work just fine, the filtration may be substandard. Air filters have ratings based on how well they filter out contaminants, called a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). The higher the rating, the better they trap contaminants floating in the air. Check with a professional to make sure your HVAC filters are at a high enough rating to clear the VOCs you have in your business.
Clean Your Carpets
Carpets are the biggest air filters in your facility, constantly collecting dust, debris, and other particles floating in the air as gravity pulls them down. It’s important to clean your carpets regularly so such contaminants do not accumulate. Vacuuming helps, but a vacuum can only do so much. For deep, thorough cleaning, you need professional help.
Preferred Carpet Care in Redding gets the job done right. Before starting the task, we discuss many aspects of your carpet care with you. We want to know your type of carpet, if any products are regularly used in your building, how long it’s been since the last cleaning, any problem areas, and so forth. Once we have a better understanding of your circumstances, we use our decades of experience and training to choose the right cleaning products and options for your carpet. Then, we use our certified skills in using high-end extraction equipment to remove any particulates from your carpet. We also offer carpet protection from spills or stains.
Preferred Carpet Care uses all our resources to make sure your carpet is as clean and healthy as possible for your workers and patrons. To find out more, please give our office a call or schedule a consultation here on our website. We’ll be glad to help clear the air of any doubts — or contaminants.