by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
Most of us have experienced walking into a modern looking gym and being turned off by ‘that gym smell’.
Odours are often not only caused by the myriad of hot bodies using the area, it is often coming from the equipment and the air conditioners.
This applies to school halls, home gyms and holiday resort fitness areas as well.
If your gym’s air conditioning system has not been properly cleaned or is not functioning properly, it can make the environment hot and humid. This happens because the system does not remove enough moisture from the air and this often happens when the filters and coils are clogged with dirt and contaminants.
Poorly maintained air conditioners can create some pretty nasty conditions:
- Hot and humid air will become breeding ground for growth of mould
- Humid air can create musty smells
- Air Conditioning system breakdown
- Bacteria and viruses thrive in humid air
- There can be pollen build up
- Higher energy bills
Found inside an air conditioner by one of our technicians.
Air conditioners can also harbour other nasties, such as dead animals, animal faeces, live animals and dust mites. The contaminants from these can be blown into the air you breathe and we all end up breathing quite deeply during a workout.
A study published in the journal Building and Environment reported that Portuguese and Dutch researchers put air-quality monitors in 11 gyms’ weight rooms and exercise studios when they were most crowded and found levels of airborne dust, contaminants, formaldehyde and carbon dioxide exceeded most accepted standards for indoor air quality.
There is not widespread air quality testing in fitness centres, resorts or schools, but there is one study (from Malaysia, which has a similar climate to Queensland) showing that mould contamination was common in schools there, and it was associated with adverse respiratory symptoms.
Mould is the most common contaminant in gyms because they are full of moist air. The swimming pool area, the sauna, the showers are in use all day long, the windows steamed up with sweaty air; all of them provide enough humidity for indoor mould to take hold and begin producing mould toxins.
Poor air quality in a gym can be easily remedied with proper air conditioning maintenance, regular cleaning and good ventilation.
Why not ask the question? When were the air conditioners last cleaned in your gym, home, resort, sports club or school?
HydroKleen are one of the most highly respected and professional air conditioner cleaning companies in Australia. The success and stellar reputation of HydroKleen, has even seen Global expansion and we are now in several countries.
With exclusive approval from the National Asthma Council’s Sensitive Choice Program, we provide the highest quality service using only approved products and practises.
Contact us today on 1300 608 138 or pass our phone number onto your gym manager.
by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
Mould spores plus your Air Conditioner equals a Health Disaster and unfortunately it is common to find mould spores in the air conditioner’s main unit.
Inside your air conditioner is the ideal environment for mould to grow and then be blown into the air that you breathe.
Typical symptoms that mould-exposed persons report; alone or in a combination include:
- Eye irritation (burning, watery or reddened eyes)
- Respiratory problems (such as wheezing, coughing, or difficulty breathing)
- Skin rashes or irritation
- Headaches and fatigue
- Nose or throat irritation
The effects of mould to your health is a very serious matter and symptoms can range from mild to life threatening.
Below is an extract taken from an article on 9news.com.au
Melbourne woman says mouldy air conditioner caused crippling health condition
When Carly Buhagiar moved into a brand-new apartment in the trendy inner Melbourne suburb of Prahran she had no idea how disastrous the place would be for her health.
During the three years the 34-year-old high school PE teacher lived in the rental unit she developed lesions all over her skin.
She was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and eventually an autoimmune condition that left her so sick and exhausted she was forced to quit her job.
At the same time, Ms Buhagiar’s former partner, who was also living in the unit, developed an eerily similar autoimmune condition.
However, it would be years before they would connect the dots – and trace their dramatic health problems back to an air conditioner filled with mould.
MOULD FOUND AND A DIAGNOSIS AT LAST
It wasn’t until December last year, when Ms Buhagiar visited a new GP, that a breakthrough came.
“He asked me a simple question and it was, ‘Tell me when you have felt your best. When has your skin been the most clear?’ And I said, ‘When I go on a holiday’.”
“What he worked out then and there was that there was something in Melbourne that was making me sick.”
Luckily for Ms Buhagiar, the GP’s colleague had just had an experience with mould, with his son becoming very ill because of it.
With this in mind, Ms Buhagiar’s GP recommended she get the apartment tested for mould.
“I did a home test kit off the internet. And sure enough, alarm bells rang straight away,” she said.
Ms Buhagiar then contacted one of Australia’s leading mould experts and microbiologists, Dr Cameron Jones, to conduct further tests.
“He came out and swabbed the whole place. It was uninhabitable,” she said.
Dr Jones told nine.com.au tests on the apartment showed an extremely high concentration of mould spores in the living room and kitchen of the unit.
“It was extremely high where the air conditioner was pumping out. That was the central thing that you saw when you walked into the apartment,” he said.
Photos taken of the air conditioner at the time show mould growing inside the casing and on its fins.
“It was clear as crystal. It was the air conditioner,” Dr Jones said.
While reverse cycle air conditioners can be useful in lowering a home’s humidity, they can also become mouldy inside if they are not regularly checked and maintained, Dr Jones said.
Lint and debris collect inside the air conditioners over time and, when mixed with water, form mould, he said.
“It becomes mould contaminated and that’s when it’s a massive problem.
“If something is contaminated and it’s placed in front of the airstream, it will blow that contamination everywhere and the problem just keeps getting worse and worse.”
Unlike mould that can be seen growing on walls or in the bathroom, mouldy air conditioners were a hidden problem, he said.
“Air conditioners are something that are in people’s line of sight but are in a sense invisible because they’re a functional item. You only think about your heating or cooling if it does or doesn’t work.
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear, call HydroKleen today for a professional clean and sanitisation of your air conditioner.
by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
Spring cleaning? What are you breathing?
When you’re in spring cleaning mode, you probably focus on your cupboards, floors and furnishings. It’s easy to overlook the air conditioner sitting quietly on the wall (or built into the ceiling) but keeping it clean is an important step towards better air quality in your home, not to mention better energy efficiency and lower running costs.
Filters inside air conditioners are designed to catch dust and microbes, but if not cleaned regularly, they can clog up and collect moisture and even mould. That’s not good for you or for the air conditioner.
Maintenance you can safely do
If you’re not sure how to go about cleaning your air conditioner, check the instructions. These should detail how to access and clean the air filters, and any other user maintainable parts. If you don’t have the book any more, you may be able to download a copy from the manufacturer’s website. Make sure the unit is turned off at the wall before you do any maintenance on it.
The indoor air conditioner unit has air filters that need regular cleaning. It’s usually a simple matter of popping open the plastic cover and removing the filter (there may be more than one). You can either give them a good vacuum or gently wash them in warm soapy water and then rinse.
The more clogged the filter, the harder the air conditioner works to push air through it. That can mean higher running costs and more strain on the motor.
Manufacturers usually recommend that you clean the filters every few weeks, but the need for cleaning really depends on how often you use the air conditioner. Simply, the more you use it, the more often you should clean the filters.
How to clean the remote control
Remote controls tend to get dirty after a while and are often forgotten when it comes to cleaning. The best way to clean a remote is to remove the batteries and give the remote a wipe with a slightly damp cloth.
Where we come in
For a thorough professional clean, you should always employ a licensed technician. In addition to the fact that they’re high-powered electrical appliances, cleaning and sanitising the interior of your indoor unit and cleaning the outdoor unit, needs to be done by a professional to ensure that you and your family; or if you own a business, your employees and clients, are breathing healthy, clean air.
HydroKleen technicians are highly trained professionals and we maintain a very high standard in service and care.
Contact us today via the website or phone 1300 608 138
by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
An article by Brendan O’Neill from Canstar Blue outlines that running air conditioners is not as expensive as we think it is. He states “The average reverse cycle air conditioner costs around $0.25 – $0.35 per hour to run for cooling purposes, depending on the size of the room. A medium sized room of 36sqm would cost $0.36 – $0.70 per hour to run. In large areas (50sqm), it will cost between $0.70 and $0.95 per hour.”
What can you do to help keep the costs down?
1. Temperature Control
A room that is cooled to a temperature lower than the recommended 24°C will use more power than necessary. Maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the day is the easiest way to reduce the impact of air conditioning on your electricity bill.
2. Glass is Your Enemy
The fastest way for your home to heat up is with heat transference through your glass windows and doors. Invest in total block out curtains and blinds and make sure that these are closed before turning on your air conditioner.
3. Turn Off Your Lights
It will amaze you how much heat transference you can get from lighting in your home. Wherever possible turn off or minimise using the lights in your home. If you don’t need it, switch it off.
4. Insulation
If you own your home, then invest in quality insulation in your ceilings and (where possible) walls and floors. Insulation will greatly reduce the temperature in your home in summer and will also prevent the cool air from escaping.
5. Air Conditioner Maintenance
This is something that we tend to forget. The split system hangs on the wall year after year. The air conditioner is what provides the air we breathe. It would shock you to know what you are breathing in. A well maintained, clean, air conditioner will be more efficient consuming less power and provide clean air for you and your family.
Who Can You Trust?
HydroKleen is the global air conditioning service experts. We specialise in one thing, and we do it well.
by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
Sick of being sick and tired?
When was the last time you had your air conditioner professionally cleaned?
Hard to remember?
Air smelling funky?
Suffering from headaches, sore throats, allergies or asthma?
Air Conditioner noisier than last season?
Energy bills up?
It could be your air conditioner. This is because air conditioners can harbour a variety of organisms such as mould, mildew, fungi, bacteria, human DNA, pet dander, dead animals and pollen if not regularly cleaned and serviced.
This time of the year is the ideal time to book in for a professional clean and sanitise. Over winter animals can crawl into your air conditioner, nest, breed, use it as a toilet and then die. Just think of all the nasties being blown into the air as soon as you turn it on; not a pleasant thought.
Add to that bacterial contamination, mould growth and dust that has built up inside the unit.
A dirty air conditioner can also use up to 30{d407fe54b542a88dea75fa8e13bb27f8c90b1afa986eeccce1e73b6e8162caa9} more power to run, as the unit struggles to move freely with a large build-up of contaminants. This also shortens the life span of your air conditioner.
With Spring well and truly in full swing, there is an abundance of pollen in the air and this can not only bring on hay fever, it also is a major trigger for asthma attacks. If your air conditioner coils and filters are not working at capacity, the air isn’t being filtered properly and a lot of the pollen is just blown straight into the air.
HydroKleen offer comprehensive air conditioning servicing. We specialise in cleaning and sanitising split systems, window units, ceiling cassette units and even ducted. After a HydroKleen your air is fresh and healthy, reducing sickness and helping you live a healthier life. Our cleaning agents and cleaning process have been exclusively approved by the National Asthma Council of Australia’s Sensitive Choice Program.
by Ann | Air Conditioning Tips
Spring can be tough for people with asthma, particularly if they have a pollen allergy. Unfortunately, spring is notorious for sending asthmatics, particularly asthmatic children in urban areas, to the emergency room.
So why do asthma symptoms seem to get worse with every change in the weather? Although it seems confusing, there are some annual trends, as well as reasons why asthma symptoms are worse at certain times of the year.
In truth, asthma symptoms can flare at any time of year due to asthma triggers, such as pet dander, secondhand smoke, mould, airborne bacteria and exercise. But knowing the triggers that can vary by season, such as pollen, temperature, humidity, pollution and viruses, can help people with asthma figure out if they should be stepping up their medication and avoiding certain situations.
For asthmatics, spring means one thing above all, pollen season. Pollen is a potent allergen that, when inhaled, can inflame airways and cause asthma attacks. (Like cold and flu season, high pollen counts are associated with an increase in asthma-related hospital visits.)
Fortunately, pollen concentrations are relatively predictable. Pollen counts are the highest between about 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day, so if you’re going to be exercising during the pollen season, you’re better off doing it later in the day.
The pollen season is a one-two punch. Trees begin to release pollen around September (depending on where you live), and just when you’re recovering from the tree pollen, grass pollen peaks in November and December.
To lessen the chance of irritants becoming airborne inside, it is important to properly maintain your air conditioner. Mould loves to grow inside the air conditioning unit and can build up to very dangerous levels. Pollen and contaminants can be drawn in from the outside and can be present in the air inside your home just from doors and windows being open or brought in on pets or clothing. Your air conditioner is designed to filter the air it uses, but it cannot operate efficiently if the filters, coils, fins and outdoor unit are not properly cleaned and sanitised.
By having your air conditioner professionally cleaned every 6 months, you are ensuring that the build up of contaminants and allergens are removed.
Found inside an air conditioner by one of our technicians.
