Healthcare-Associated Infections
Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) are infections people develop when they’re undergoing health care for another ailment. HAIs can happen in any health care institution, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, end-stage renal disease facilities, and long-term care facilities.
Modern health care utilizes a wide range of intrusive equipment and procedures to treat patients and assist them in recovery. Infections can occur as a result of medical equipment such as catheters or ventilators.
Central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia are examples of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Infections can also arise at surgical sites, which are referred to as surgical site infections.
Because of the increased use of outpatient therapy, hospitalized patients are sicker and have lower immune systems than before, allowing HAI to develop. The best way to prevent this is to stay informed on the problems and maintain regular maintenance including your commercial air filtration.
Mold is Inevitable
Molds are a natural component of the environment. Molds are fungi that may be found in almost any environment, including your HVAC system. The dark and humid innards of HVAC systems are ideal for mold development. Mold typically enters the air handler as “spores,” which are tiny particles invisible to humans. If you don’t clean the air handling unit regularly, it can soon become a breeding ground for fungal and mold development.
Mold, fungi, and other live creatures quickly accumulate in HVAC systems, even new ones. Although filters can help prevent spores from entering the air handler, spores are very tiny, on the scale of a few microns, and can readily circumvent the filters by going around them. Biological smells indicate that appropriate sterilization is required.
Pathogens and biological spores have been detected on cooling coils in hospitals from germs of ill patients coughing or sneezing that moved in the airstream back to the air handler. The spores are exposed to a wet environment after they enter the air handler. As a result, spores develop on all interior surfaces of the air handler and within any internal wall insulation. Microbes also cling to the surfaces of cooling coils where high-velocity airflows.
Moldy Coils
Dirt and germs on coils must be removed with an efficient coil cleaning. Alkaline cleaners are commonly used to eliminate accumulated oils or greases that serve as nutrients for bacteria development. In addition, alkaline cleaners are outstanding in removing grime and biofilms.
Coil cleaning should be done carefully and following the best procedures. After using a coil cleaner, always wash it off. If the cleaner is not rinsed away, cleaning residue remains on the coils, such as dirt or germs. Cooling coils do not have enough condensate velocity to remove residues effectively. Rinsing the coils after cleaning usually takes a few minutes and eliminates a range of future issues.
One significant concern with extremely alkaline coil cleaners is that they dissolve system metals. Cleaners will damage the coil’s aluminum fins and copper tubing. Residual coil cleaner that is not rinsed out of condensate drain pans may corrode the pans, necessitating premature and costly replacement.
Hire a Professional
Cleaning your condenser coil sounds like it should be easy, but unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just washing away the dirt and grime with water. The mold and biofilm materials penetrate deep into the system and require special chemicals and cleaning processes to be entirely removed.
A preventative maintenance approach is best when it comes to maintaining your condenser coil and overall system. Preventive maintenance will improve indoor air quality and reduce energy use by removing contaminant sources and ensuring proper calibration and efficient mechanical components (e.g., fans, motors, thermostats, and controls).
Data from many buildings throughout the United States show that a properly commissioned facility with controls and equipment functioning correctly can save 5%-15% in total building energy cost.
Based on research conducted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), you can save from 10 to 25 percent of the average operation cost for up to 15 years of service life on your air filtration system, or 25 to 55 percent after 15 years of operation by having air conditioner coil cleaning performed by AFC using their proprietary Probiotic Biofilm Coil Cleaning service.
AFC Proprietary Probiotic Biofilm Coil Cleaning Service and its Benefits
AFC has created a proprietary service meant to target and eradicate the problems built up in your condenser coils. While other services tout the use of high-pressure cleaning, studies show that this can damage the radiation fins in your system and cost you lots more money in replacement fees.
On the other hand, AFC’s commercial coil cleaning service uses a probiotic solution to combat the pathogen bacteria that builds upon the coils. The term “probiotic” is most often associated with the yogurt we eat to promote healthy gut flora in our stomachs, so what are probiotics doing in a commercial air filter cleaning system? As it so happens, the most effective way to clean a condenser coil is not to eliminate all foreign contaminants but to counteract them by promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the environment.
The use of probiotics produces what is known as “biosurfactants,” which are the oldest and most natural cleaning agents globally. They are particularly effective at destroying biofilm buildup, which, if left unaddressed, can cause poor indoor air quality, offensive odors and are downright dangerous to human health. The best part is that biosurfactants are completely safe and promote a healthy grouping of microorganisms inside your building. Think of them as “architectural yogurt!”
Typical coil cleaning services use a pressure wash and move content from the front of the coil out the rear producing harmful debris in collection pans. But AFC introduces a probiotic solution from both front and rear entrances of the coil that works inside to clean the pipe leaving no little to no discharge at the ends. As a result, dirt does not enter the driplines or go into the pans, often creating more problems. Even with coils up to 24″ in width, the probiotic will open up the line and eliminate mold, mildew, and fungus.
AFC’s Probiotic Biofilm Coil Cleaning Service services these condensation drip lines in your system, which are often humid, causing challenges for filters. If left uncleaned, the drip lines will cause air backflow issues which can amount to more significant problems down the line. The service is remarkably efficient, and it can be performed while your air handler is running without any disruption of service.
On top of that, it is completely safe for people who are downwind of the system during maintenance – no need to close down the office building for this service. The AFC coil cleaning permeates the deepest recesses of your coil and leaves no dirt behind. In addition, the AFC coil cleaning service team members are highly trained and assure a trouble-free cleaning experience.
Once the service has been completed, your system’s condenser coil will be restored to a “like new” state and will provide much more energy-efficient airflow through your system. Using the AFC coil cleaning service will also make future cleanings even more accessible than the first!
Could the AFC Probiotic Biofilm Coil Cleaning Service solves your indoor air quality problems? Call AFC today to find out more!
Advanced Filtration Concepts is a
Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business.
