A year has passed since the first reported human case of the coronavirus. It’s been a tough year for everyone and it has caused a lot of stress with all the uncertainties. Unfortunately, there’s still no definite cure for this disease but we have learned a lot about how to mitigate its spread. Having a modernized HVAC system is one of the critical components to keeping your home safe.

As most of you are now aware, the virus can spread through respiratory droplets, airborne particles, and through touch when droplets land on surfaces and objects. There have been concerns about how airborne transmission would make people even more vulnerable to the virus in a closed room if one family member contracts the virus. If your HVAC system doesn’t have high-quality filters or a modern Air Scrubber, the concentration of virus particles will likely build up over time and can be spread further than the typical 6 feet if pushed around by air movement caused by heating and cooling systems.  

There is a popular example of a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, where COVID-19 was spread by large droplets that may have evaporated as residue, became airborne and were pushed around the room by the air current of the ac system. According to reports, 10 people from 3 families were infected. 

So how can we run our HVAC System and still protect ourselves in our homes? Many hospitals have been using UV light to sterilize rooms that have been exposed to the coronavirus and this technology is available for you right within your home HVAC system. UV light can reduce the coronavirus by 99.7 percent in as fast as 30 seconds. 

Just like the sterilization procedures in the hospitals our Air Purification technology uses specialized germicidal UV light waves along with a proprietary catalytic process to destroy 99% of all surface pathogens and contaminants. Our technology actively treats the air by continually sending out air scrubbers throughout your home. It attaches directly to the HVAC system ductwork and has been proven effective in reducing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens on surfaces and in the air that can cause respiratory irritation and infection.  

If you have an older HVAC unit, check if it is still working in peak condition as it might cause more harm than good if it isn’t. If you want to ensure that your home is protected, consider upgrading your HVAC unit. By exchanging and filtering air, modern HVAC units may limit  indoor transmission. Here are some additional tips to make sure your HVAC system keeps your home resilient against COVID-19:

Reconfigure Your HVAC System

Modify the exchange rate of your HVAC system settings by reducing the recycled air that is possibly a virus carrier and bring in more fresh air instead. Poor ventilation can cause serious health problems and may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This includes people who are more than 6 feet away from each other. Older units are sometimes more complicated and require costly upgrades such as motor replacements for more flexible air flow control. 

Replace Air Filters 

HVAC systems work better when air filters are replaced regularly. It is advised to replace them every 3 months as they act as the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, pollen and other particles that may spread in your ductwork and can cause poor indoor air quality.  It’s ideal to replace your air filters at least once a month during the cold and flu season. 

Inspect your air filters to be sure they are correctly in place. If your system fan or filter slot can accommodate, you may also want to consider upgrading to a more efficient one or to the highest-rated filter. 

Check Air Ducts For Leaks

For ducted HVAC systems, it’s possible that the air current will bring viral particles further and amplify the spread of  airborne infections. Schedule a regular check-up of your air ducts like you do on your heat pump and furnace to make sure they have not become compromised. 

Book an Appointment for Regular Maintenance

It’s more important now than ever to schedule regular maintenance on your HVAC system. Keep your indoor air quality clean by having your unit serviced twice a year to make sure it’s  working at its best condition. All the parts of your unit need to be checked, including the filters, belts, condenser and evaporator coils. Quality maintenance will guarantee that dust, pollen and other airborne particles can be removed  from your HVAC unit  to avoid poor indoor  air quality. At Pacific Aire, we do whatever it takes to make your HVAC service appointment a pleasant one. We are here to help!

If you want to keep your home safe from harmful pathogens, improve indoor air quality, or want to schedule HVAC maintenance, call Pacific Aire at  805-737-2564 or visit htps://www.pacaire.com/make-an-appointment/

Our expert team of technicians at Pacific Aire are professionally and highly trained, dependable and friendly.

To learn more about Pacific Aire’s air quality procedure, go to https://www.pacaire.com/home-air-quality/

We’re happy to take your call and be of service.