There’s been a lot of dispute about how indoor air quality - and the ways we improve it - can impact the spread of coronavirus. Some have expressed concern that air conditioners can spread the virus, circulating droplets in indoor spaces. However, there is no conclusive evidence that suggests that air conditioners can spread coronavirus so long as recirculation modes are not used. In fact, the WHO has said that HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) can in fact protect you from the spread of COVID-19.
The vast majority of American consumers say that higher indoor air quality is important in the fight against COVID-19, according to a survey by energy savings company Carbon Lighthouse. The survey, released yesterday, found that 91% say that indoor air quality is important in preventing COVID-19, and 66% of those 1000 consumers surveyed say it is “very important”.
The survey also said that 89% of consumers are aware that viruses are transmitted through the air, but that awareness was far higher among the over-35 age category. Of course, there’s only so much the average citizen can tell you when it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus, so what do the experts say?
Indoor air quality, COVID-19 and air purifiers: what does the WHO say?
According to the WHO, “a well-maintained and operated system can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in indoor spaces by increasing the rate of air change, reducing recirculation of air and increasing the use of outdoor air.”
This means that regularly cleaning your air conditioning unit, air purifier, and humidifier is crucial, as part of keeping your HVAC system well-maintained. The EPA has also spoken on the topic of indoor air quality and COVID-19:
“Although improvements to ventilation and air cleaning cannot on their own eliminate the risk of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, EPA recommends precautions to reduce the potential for airborne transmission of the virus. These precautions include increasing ventilation with outdoor air and air filtration as part of a larger strategy that includes social distancing, wearing cloth face coverings or masks, surface cleaning and disinfecting, handwashing, and other precautions.”
As the cooler months approach, relying on outdoor air to increase the air circulation of your home or workplace may be a less comfortable strategy, although it’s still the best one. Instead of circulating the air within your space, the EPA suggests a “window air conditioner that has an outdoor air intake or vent” as a way of ventilating using outdoor air, without leaving all windows and screen doors open.
Another strategy (if you wish to keep those windows closed entirely) is to use an air purifier. Although stressing that air purifiers are not enough to protect you from coronavirus, it does advise that “when used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space.”
