Your HVAC System and The Coronavirus

Whether you’re still working and heading out into the world, or are quarantined and planning on spending a lot of time in your home, it’s easy to get caught up with the current news about the coronavirus.

First, let’s talk about how the coronavirus spreads.

According to the CDC, the virus is spread person to person. It’s shared between people that move closer than 6 feet from one another, or through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

This is still a new disease, and because of that, they are still testing. The CDC also reports it is most contagious when a person shows signs of having the disease. A few cases seem to have developed where a person is in the beginning stages of the coronavirus, might not even be aware they have it, and are able to spread the disease.

This is why the best course of action is to stay at home. It’s the only way to bring this under control.

Now let’s talk about your HVAC and indoor air quality.

The EPA has reported that people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, and that the pollutant levels can be as many as 2 to 5 times higher than what is found outside.

We’re just starting to realize the impact indoor air quality – IAQ – can have on how healthy we are as a population.

IAQ is controlled by a variety of things. But first, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Your HVAC system does not produce or create mold or viruses. The system is perfectly designed to heat and cool your home. And as long as it is installed correctly and well maintained, it will continue to do that with ease for years.
• If there are contaminants, mold, or viruses in your home, they are yours. You introduced them into your home. They found their way into your HVAC system because of outside forces. Your heating and cooling system did not come from the factory with these predisposed into the system.

However, your HVAC system can provide the right circumstances for biological growth to form.

If you don’t change your air filter regularly, for example, the dirt and dust can separate from the air filter, become airborne, and land throughout the system and your home. Food is the number one thing needed to support biological growth. And as dust, pollen, skin cells, dander, and more spin throughout the system, landing throughout the ductwork, on evaporator coils, or even in the blower motor, it can be the perfect food source to grow.

We are NOT saying that your HVAC system in any way contributes to the coronavirus. But what we are saying is that your HVAC does control how healthy the air supply is within your home.

As we move forward and start to rebuild, it’s important to give yourself and your family the gift of a clean home.

Stay healthy!