(NAPSI)—While many parents may breathe a sigh of relief when school reopens in the fall, they may also be glad to know schools can take steps to support cleaner indoor air, including HVAC system inspection and cleaning as part of summer maintenance.
What’s Up With Ducts
Ducts get dirty. Even with the proper use of filters, the school’s heating and cooling system can get really dirty through normal school day use, just as surfaces in your home get dirty and dusty over time and have to be cleaned.
All sorts of contaminants and air pollutants are common in schools, including bacteria, dust, skin cells, mold, and chemicals. And when all those contaminants get pulled into an HVAC system, they travel through the air ducts, and recirculate through the building multiple times a day. Throughout the school year, all that recirculation can cause a major build-up of contaminants in the ductwork and other system components.
Unfortunately, many schools are in buildings over 50 years old and operate at just 1 or 2 air changes per hour, which is well below recommended levels. The Centers for Disease Control and professional architectural engineering societies have issued new recommendations for minimum air exchange rates for educational settings.
Meanwhile, rodents and insects can take up residence in ductwork by chewing their way in or finding an unsealed access route. Once they move in, they make nests and leave droppings, contaminating the quality of the air students and teachers breathe.
All this can cause major health issues, especially for those with respiratory conditions, auto-immune disorders, asthma, or allergies. In fact, according to the EPA, poor indoor air quality can increase the risk of developing pneumonia and other upper respiratory problems. And all those indoor air pollutants can lead to irritated eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue which can keep kids from concentrating on their lessons.
What’s more, experts say poor indoor air quality in schools has been associated with absenteeism, respiratory symptoms, and challenges with concentration and learning.
On the other hand, improved ventilation, filtration, and HVAC maintenance can help reduce airborne contaminants and support healthier indoor environments.
In fact, recent research in occupied public schools found reductions in fine and coarse particulate matter following systematic HVAC system cleaning, reinforcing the importance of including HVAC systems in school indoor air quality planning.
What Can Be Done
For many school districts, part of the answer can include working with NADCA member companies. For decades, NADCA has led the effort to ensure that the systems delivering air into buildings remain clean, efficient, and healthy. NADCA member companies have technicians with advanced training and certification in HVAC system cleaning, and they’re required to follow higher standards, ensuring that contaminants are removed at the source.
What You Can Do
Parents can ask their school or district whether HVAC system inspection and cleaning are part of the summer maintenance plan.
Learn More
For further facts including how NADCA can help a school near you, visit www.nadca.com.
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"When school opens, many children may benefit from cleaner indoor air when school and district officials include HVAC system inspection and cleaning as part of summer maintenance."
