All across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to people’s everyday lives and just about every industry.
In homes and businesses everywhere, people are discussing the impact of this new normal, and how it is going to change everything from visiting elderly relatives to going to a convenience store. Restaurants, hotels, and air travel have all been massively impacted by precautionary measures like social distancing, lockdowns, and wearing face masks.
With summer approaching, many people across Australia have started to consider what impact COVID-19 has on air-conditioning, and whether it is safe to use during the pandemic. Many of the experts have already been looking into this and have been monitoring and testing the impact air conditioning has on the spread of COVID-19.
The Wuhan Restaurant Study
Very early on in the pandemic, scientists began to look at the impact air conditioning could have on the spread of COVID-19. One of the earliest studies that is often cited online is known as the Wuhan Restaurant Study.
The restaurant in question was actually in Guangzhou, China, but a family from Wuhan had travelled and ate there in the earliest days of the outbreak. This led to more infections in other patrons, thus spreading the disease. The impact of the restaurant’s air conditioning formed a part of the study.
Though initially thought to be an important factor, testing in controlled conditions determined that air conditioning in the restaurant had a minimal impact, and further outbreaks in China further diminished the role of air conditioning in the spread of COVID-19.
How Could Air Conditioning Spread COVID-19?
All air conditioning moves air around the space it is cooling, which could have an impact on how far droplets from a sneeze or cough can travel in a room. Though testing showed air conditioning had the potential to make droplets travel further, the impact on the droplets from coughs and sneezes was too small to reliably measure. The speed and force of a sneeze or cough has a much greater impact on the distribution of droplets than air conditioning units. Furthermore, fans have been shown to have a much greater impact on how air and droplets move and are distributed in a space, making air conditioning units a preferred cooling option during the pandemic.
How Did the Experts and Industry Respond to the Study?
The results of the Wuhan Restaurant Study have not been replicated since, leading many scientists to consider it an isolated and anecdotal case. The air conditioning industry responded by forming a task force to study the restaurant at the center of the study and the impacts of air conditioning on spreading droplets.
They found that the restaurant was improperly using the air conditioning, preventing adequate ventilation in the restaurant, and recycling more air than necessary. Further tests showed that fully functioning and correctly installed air conditioning with adequate particulate filters would have reduced the spread of COVID-19 in the restaurant.
It is important to know that not only can properly functioning and maintained air conditioning keep you cool in the summer, but its filtration systems can often give you, your home, and your family an extra layer of protection from this rapidly travelling infection.
Regular maintenance of your air conditioning unit not only keeps your running costs down and the unit running cool, it also prevents the recirculation of unpleasant allergens and viruses that can aggravate allergies, asthma, colds, flu and hay fevers.
And while some of the regular maintenance are tasks suitable for the home handyman, most require the professional touch of a fully qualified air conditioning mechanic.
Additionally, because Environ uses only all-natural and environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions in their maintenance packages, the impact on your home environment, and the environment at large, is greatly reduced. Please note: these solutions have been certified as safe for use by people with asthma and allergies.
We can custom design a comprehensive service package to suit your needs. Contact us today for a special maintenance offer. For more information please call 07 3865 2444 or CONTACT US
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