An increasingly prevalent factor of our daily lives, air conditioning systems are vital for controlling the temperature and humidity of homes, workspaces, hospitals, shopping centres and more. Despite this, we often don’t take into consideration some of the real benefits of air conditioning systems, and how aside from the temperature regulation, they can act to reduce the risk of infection, disease and chronic illnesses. In fact, there is a long list of real health benefits provided via air conditioning systems, and here, we take a closer look at just some of the major advantages AC systems have on our collective health.
Illness Prevention and Infection Control
Air conditioning units can reduce the risk of illnesses in several different ways. The benefits of a good ventilation and air conditioning system can have a lasting impact on our health, reducing the threat of transmission of airborne viruses, the impact of allergies and asthma, as well as reducing the possibility of catching a number of acute respiratory illnesses, thanks to the reduction of mould and fungus provided by the AC system.
Those suffering from a chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, obesity or hypertension will benefit from air conditioning. A functioning AC unit helps to regulate the temperature inside a given space, reducing the risk of extreme conditions, (hot or cold), occurring and ultimately affecting the health of an individual suffering from a chronic disease. In fact, it’s believed that an effective air conditioning unit can even reduce the chance of developing a chronic disease, with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems helping to eliminate and/or manage the air filtration, exhaust ventilation, moisture management, and biological contamination of a workplace.
HVAC systems have even been proven to reduce the transmission and impact of SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus, (COVID-19), with air conditioning capable of circulating air indoors in a way that prevents these specific kinds of respiratory viruses from spreading.
Boost Your Sleep
Let’s be realistic, we can never quite get enough sleep. No matter how hard we try, or how early we go to bed, it never truly feels like we’ve got the eight hours we require. Fortunately, this is where air conditioning comes in extremely handy. Able to regulate the temperature of your bedroom, producing a cooling effect that helps us drift into dreamland uninterrupted, an air conditioning system provides the perfect environment for a great night’s sleep. On the flip side of this, should your room be too cold for comfort, your air conditioning unit will heat the room accordingly, reaching and maintaining a steady, cosy temperature, that helps enable the deepest of sleep cycles.
Improved Physical Health
As suggested, an effective HVAC system will improve the overall air quality of an environment and is particularly effective at regulating a temperature to ensure humidity levels are low, and mould, fungus and bacteria is unable to spread. This will have a lasting impact on your physical health, particularly when combined with the improved sleep pattern you’ll also benefit from, improving mood and physical wellbeing equally. With a reduced risk of airborne infections and disease, chest infections, colds, flu and sickness bugs occurring, an air conditioning unit will have a dramatic impact on the overall health of your workplace. This is of particular importance to those suffering from a pre-existing health condition such as asthma, with air conditioning playing a massive role in regulating the air quality, temperature and humidity levels, whilst filtering out toxins, allergens and potentially harmful dust particles to great effect.
As an added incentive, air conditioning units are often found in gymnasiums and fitness centres, to help regulate the temperature and reduce the levels of humidity created by sweat and body heat. It’s believed that cooler climates are perfectly suited to exercise, with air conditioning systems capable of creating an atmosphere perfectly suited for an extended workout. Exercise is well documented to have several benefits, particularly effective in improving one’s improved mental and physical well being. With a cooler, safer and more comfortable environment to exercise in, air conditioning systems ensure workouts are for everyone, from the elderly to the ill or overweight with dehumidification allowing for greater exercise capacity and duration.
Pollutant and Pest Removal
Capable of removing pollutants such as carbon dioxide (Co2), and carbon monoxide (Co), an air conditioning unit is essential in purifying the air quality and improving health. Furthermore, a functioning HVAC system will help remove the dangerous toxins found in ozone, smoke, dust particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde, outgassing compounds, mould spores, bacteria and viruses. With essential pollutants and air management controls, a mechanical HVAC system will reduce the risk of bacteria and illnesses spreading exponentially.
In similar terms, an effective HVAC system can help to prevent pests, insects and even rodents from entering your workplace, as a regulated temperature will significantly reduce the need to open doors and windows to allow the movement of fresh air. This avoids exposing your workspace to the threat of ants, flies, mosquitoes, mice or rats from causing contamination and potential illnesses or disease.
Effective air conditioning systems can help to prevent insects and parasites by:
- Cooling your workplace or property to create a cool atmosphere for insects who require warm climates to thrive and survive.
- A cool environment will reduce your core temperature, making you less susceptible to bugs and mosquitoes, who prefer warm body temperatures.
- Removing humidity and creating a dry atmosphere for insects who require damp conditions.
Enhanced Mental Health
More than ever, looking after our own mental health and the mental health of others has never been more prominent or important. Ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of your workforce is incredibly important, and it’s here that a good air conditioning system can play an unexpected role.
A comfortable, well-ventilated and temperature regulated workplace will have a major impact on the comfort, happiness and productivity of your employees. Not only will the physical health of the workforce improve dramatically, thanks to better airflow and a reduction in mould and fungus decreasing the risk of airborne viruses or respiratory illnesses from spreading, but a comfortable environment and positive workplace will also improve the mental health of your employees.
Aside from this, a temperature-controlled environment reduces the chance of a high-stress environment, with extreme temperatures regulated to maintain comfortable working conditions all year round. As suggested, with improved mental health brought on by a comfortable workplace, your employees’ sleep patterns, and in turn, their mood will naturally improve too, resulting in a much happier, well-rested and engaged workforce, day-in-day-out.
Mitchell’s™ – Air Conditioning Installation & Repair Services Across Gloucester
If you’re looking for air conditioning or HVAC installation in Gloucester for your commercial or industrial building, look no further than Mitchell’s. Modern air conditioning technology is even more complex than it used to be, but also makes the heating and cooling of your office more efficient. Mitchell’s can perform all of the relevant air conditioning design, servicing and maintenance so you don’t have to. We can help install a huge variety of devices with different designs which can be made to achieve a number of different objectives.
We understand the difficulties when it comes to choosing one type of technology over another. We have all of the necessary knowledge and experience to install the right air conditioning system which meets your needs and will be completed professionally and efficiently. Get in touch with our expert team today.