Indoor Air Quality and Safety during COVID-19

Spending More Time Indoors Due to Self-Isolation

With regard to COVID-19 and the effects on people in our community, President of Unionville Heating John St.Germain says,

“We care about our staff, and we care about our customers. Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning is open for business and here to help. We are spending more time in our homes now, more than any other time over the last ten years.  As a result of spending all this time inside, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is an important issue that customers need to know about.  Proper ventilation, filtration and cleaning are necessary to be healthy and safe indoors.”

The Government of Canada provides information about ways improve or maintain good IAQ.

Here are 8 things you can do right away to improve the air quality in your home:

1. Make sure your furnace is well-maintained to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) accumulation.
2. Change the furnace/AC filter regularly. It is important to replace or clean filters regularly as per manufacturers’ instructions. Removal rates for filters can change over time. Don’t forget about other portable air filters in the house.
3. Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom when showering or bathing to reduce humidity and prevent mould growth.
4. Use your range hood to reduce your exposure to pollutants from your gas stove such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and humidity from cooking activities.
5. Install at least one CSA-approved carbon monoxide (CO) alarm close to bedrooms.
6. Ventilate your home by making sure there is good air circulation and control the humidity.
7. Outdoor particulate matter levels may often be higher than indoor levels. Therefore, natural ventilation (from an open window or door) may not always be effective in reducing indoor levels. This is especially the case on poor air quality days, so use an air conditioner when it is smoggy outside, if possible.
8. Regular house cleaning using a mix of methods can help improve indoor air quality. Keep your rugs and carpets clean.  Clean hardwood and tile floors with a damp mop.

Spring Service

Servicing your air conditioning unit at some point in the near future will likely become necessary.  There is typically a rush when the first hot day arrives.  That’s usually the first nice warm day in the spring where everyone will want to turn on their air conditioning units.  It’s at that point Unionville Heating receive requests for an incredible amount of service calls.

John is hoping that customers will take a proactive approach with regards to keeping safe, and offered this advice to homeowners with AC units,

“If this physical distancing and isolation continues into the late summer as some are predicting, the last thing we want on the first heat wave, is 300 ‘no-cooling’ phone calls. People need to know they can pre-book their AC service on-line and stay ahead of the curve. If we all do our part, we can help to flatten the curve and provide a healthy environment to our customers while in isolation in their homes over the next few months.”

To keep us all safe, Unionville Heating has prepared this information we would like you to know:

• Our staff is trained and have all the necessary tools to protect themselves, their families and our customers.
• Important! Safety is our first priority in responding to any service call.

We have developed the following processes to ensure we all stay safe:

All customers calling in for service must follow our safety processes or we will reserve the right to refuse service.

Process at time of booking:

Answering the pre-appointment questions:

• Has anyone in the home been out of the country in the last 2 weeks?
• Have they been in the company with anyone who has been out of the country in the last 2 weeks
• Is anyone in the house sick or coughing?

Process for service call at your home:

• Everyone maintains a 2 metre distance from our techs while in their homes.
• The customer must prepare and sanitize all door entries to the furnace and outdoor A/C units.
• Absolutely no contact by shaking hands or coughing or sneezing within the 2 metre distance.
• The company will supply any and all protective gear and or disinfectants necessary to do our job safely.
• When we arrive to your home, we call you from the driveway and ask to allow us entry and to be sure we are aware of our social distancing and safety process.
• We will send an invoice after the service or you can pay by e-transfer

Maintain Good IAQ in Your Home

As a result of self-isolation, the indoor air quality of our homes has become a more important issue since we are spending more time indoors.  Unionville Heating can provide your spring air conditioning service in a safe way and in a timely way if you schedule your appointment before the rush.

Call our office (905-479-1290) or book online.