At Jewell Mechanical, our highest priority is helping to keep your family safe and healthy—and to provide you with peace of mind.
In recent weeks, we’ve been receiving calls from customers, asking if there is anything they can do to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially when sheltering-in-place or quarantined with a sick family member.
Of course, COVID-19 is new, and everyone is learning about it together.
First and foremost, we recommend that you consult the Centers for Disease Control’s advice for how to protect yourself from coronavirus disease 2019.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that there are products and solutions that can be integrated or applied to your HVAC system that may keep your home safer, as they have already demonstrated effectiveness against similar viruses. If nothing else, these products can help improve your indoor air quality, a tangible benefit in its own right.
Air Filters
An air cleaner that removes particles from the air has the potential to reduce exposure to viruses by trapping them in the filter. Like many viruses, COVID-19 is very small, and while there are filters that are effective at trapping very small particles, even those that have been tested with viruses will have some level of penetration.
Yet in the course of regular preventative maintenance, it makes sense to check your current air filter type/condition and to consider upgrading or/and replacing the filter.
iWave-R ® Air Purifier
Another option (for residential duct A/C systems) is to install an iWave-R Air Purifier, which mounts inside your HVAC unit, usually near the indoor blower assembly.
The way it works is that “as the air flows past the iWave-R, positive and negative ions actively purify the supply air, killing mold, bacteria and viruses in the coil and living space.” By killing bacteria and viruses in the unit, ductwork and indoor air, it reduces allergy symptoms and airborne particles.
The iWave-R is designed for duct systems up to six tons, features a flexible design with no replacement parts, and is installed in a matter of minutes.
Though it has not yet been tested with COVID-19, it has been tested against staph, MRSA, e.coli, tuberculosis, legionella pneumophila and airborne mold spores, resulting in “very high kill rates in the space.”
A Fresh Aire UV light—an ultraviolet light kit that kills ninety-nine percent of airborne and surface contaminants in an HVAC system—can be used in conjunction with an iWave-R air purifier.
Cleaning and Disinfection
In addition, cooling & heating coil surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected. Consider:
Evap-Fresh® No Rinse, which has been described as a “ready-to-use, non-abrasive, one-step cleaner and disinfectant for evaporator coils in small air conditioners, commercial air handling equipment, and HVAC cooling coils….” It is EPA-registered for use on HVAC systems and has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Evap-Fresh No Rinse is sprayed on the evaporator coil with a pump sprayer—and as the name implies—no rinsing is necessary after application.
Bio-Fresh® cd
Bio-Fresh cd is “a ready-to-use bacteriostat, fungistat and deodorizer that can help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, fungi and yeast,” and it is EPA registered for use in HVAC ventilating equipment, including coils, condensate pans, filters and duct-work, all of which can be breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. It is sprayed in the air using a handheld bottle.
At the same time, the Bio-Fresh Fogger can be used to facilitate application into duct-work and disinfecting interior surfaces.
Meanwhile, other cleaning and disinfection products may be valuable in fighting viral pathogens like COVID-19. Those products that are EPA approved can be identified by the following claim: “[Product name] has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to COVID-19…. Therefore, this product can be used against COVID-19 when used in accordance with the directions for use….”
Questions about Maintaining Your HVAC?
If you have any questions about maintaining, cleaning or disinfecting your HVAC system, we encourage you to give us a call at (615) 469-5965. In recent years, more and more of our customers have been adding iWave-R air purifiers to improve indoor air quality, and the above-referenced products are now more useful and relevant than ever before.
Disclaimer: Health officials are still learning about the spread and severity of COVID-19, so information and knowledge about COVID-19 is changing and evolving on a daily basis. As such, Jewell Mechanical makes no medical claims and does not assume any liability for any direct, indirect, or incidental damages or any other damages resulting from or connected with the information presented in this article.