The monsoon season is a welcome change after the sizzling heat of the summers. However, the rainy weather also brings with it the risk of health issues – cold, cough, sore throat, flu, respiratory disorders, allergies, viral infections, and other airborne diseases. Indoor commercial spaces are much more vulnerable to the transmission of germs, viruses, and bacteria, especially through the HVAC units.
The monsoon water may penetrate your HVAC unit through its outer portion. The condensation may cause mold, mildew, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms to grow and thrive. It will result in poor indoor air quality which can be detrimental to the health of your employees and customers. The condensation may also overheat the HVAC system faster, reduce its efficiency, and make it work harder. As a result, your energy bills will also spike.
Like at other times, HVAC systems need to perform optimally during the monsoon to maintain healthy indoor air quality. Here are five useful tips to keep your HVAC unit running optimally this monsoon.
1. Replace Air Filters
If air filters are clogged or dirty, they collect dust, dirt, and contaminants that spread through indoor air. Before the onset of the monsoon, check the condition of air filters and replace them if necessary.
2. Get a Surge Protector
A lightning strike during the monsoon season can cause a power surge or current spike and damage circuit breakers in electrical and electronic devices, including the HVAC unit. It is recommended to install a surge protector in the HVAC system to safeguard against this scenario. A surge protector blocks the voltage over a safe threshold, which is approximately 120 V, and protects the equipment.
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3. Clean Up Area Surrounding Outdoor Unit
The outdoor part of the HVAC unit can get covered with dirt, leaves, cacti, shrubs, and fallen tree branches which accompany high winds, storms, or heavy rains. This debris can create extensive damage to the HVAC unit. Hence, remove all the debris and trim the surrounding flora at regular intervals during the monsoon season.
4. Schedule Professional Maintenance
Preventive maintenance can not only improve the current working condition of the HVAC unit but also increase its lifespan. An HVAC technician will inspect the system, clean the air ducts and other parts, and make necessary repairs. You should schedule the maintenance before the arrival of the monsoon season – don’t wait for the HVAC system to fail.
5. Install UVGI in the HVAC System
Another powerful way to increase the efficiency of HVAC systems during the monsoon season is through UVGI air disinfection. UVGI stands for Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI), a proven, safe, eco-friendly, inexpensive, and effective technology to disinfect the air, water, and surfaces. In this case, we are talking about UVGI for your HVAC system.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) states that UVGI uses short-wave ultraviolet (UVC) energy to inactivate viral, bacterial, and fungal organisms so that they are unable to replicate and potentially cause diseases. UVC radiation carries the most energy which makes it most effective to kill germs. The most optimal range is 200-280 nm. However, 265 nm has the highest germicidal effect. Most UVGI air purification systems use 253.7 nm wavelength which is considered acceptable as it is close to the optimal value.
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UVGI installed in HVAC is useful in eliminating airborne microorganisms including viruses in all public commercial spaces such as hospitals, malls, schools, banks, offices, airports, etc. UVGI kills viruses, bacteria, and molds that grow on cooling coils, duct walls, and drain pans in HVAC systems. A scientific study found that UVC is also highly effective in the elimination of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus. UV disinfection can improve the indoor air quality of your commercial space significantly.
Alfaa UV Solutions for Monsoon Care of Your HVAC Systems
Alfaa UV offers smart, latest and innovative UVGI air purifier solutions for HVAC. Alfaa UV’s UltraCoil and UltraDuct UVGI systems are installed in coils of air handling units and in HVAC ducts.
1. ULTRACOIL
ULTRACOIL is designed for deep cleaning of cooling coils in the air handling units. Its unique Parabolic Reflector System proactively eradicates the biofilms, drains pans, and prevents air contamination.
2. ULTRADUCT
ULTRADUCT is installed in supply or return ducts for single-pass disinfection of airborne bacteria and viruses.
