As a facilities manager for a commercial property, you are responsible for ensuring that the environment is as healthy as it can be for the employees. One of the things that many people overlook is the direct effect of the heating system on the air quality and overall safety of the work environment. Before the cold weather season sets in too far, here are a few of the things that you should be attentive to.

How Is The Airflow In The System?

In an ideal setting, the airflow in your building's heating system should be consistent throughout the entire property. This ensures that you don't have any significant temperature fluctuations. If you're seeing areas of the building that are inconsistent in temperature, it's likely due to a crack in the air ducts.

These cracks are a concern not only because of uneven temperatures, but also because cracked ductwork may actually release fiberglass pieces into the air. When you have air blowing through those ducts, it can distribute that fiberglass throughout the building. When your employees breathe them in, it can cause respiratory irritation. Address temperature inconsistencies right away with a commercial heating repair technician.

How Is The Air Quality In The Building?

The overall air quality is an important consideration, especially when you're running a furnace. Any kind of contamination in the air will be easily circulated through the building when you're running the heat.

There are a number of things that can affect the air quality in the building. For example, if the air filters in the system are dirty or you have a gas leak on the furnace, either one can lead to poor air quality. You may also find the same kind of problem with mold or mildew in the air ducts.

Avoid these problems by having the filters changed monthly, cleaning the air ducts on a regular basis, and ensuring that the condensate tray is clean and dry. You'll also want to have the furnace monitored by your heating technician to be sure that you don't have any leaks in the system.

Is Your Furnace The Right Size For The Building?

While it may seem logical that a furnace that's too small is going to struggle to heat the building and so will cost you more in utilities, what you may not think about is that it can also lead to stagnant air in the building. That can allow dust to settle in more areas of the building, which will lead to respiratory problems for your staff. In addition, if your furnace is too large for your building, it can actually create an atmosphere with too much air movement, blowing particles around because it is overpowered for your needs.

You can avoid the risk of both by working with your heating technician to ensure that your furnace is properly sized for your building. The size you need will be dependent on the size of the building, the floor plan, and the amount of ductwork that the air has to flow through.

Is The Furnace Running Rough Or Intermittently?

If your furnace seems like it's skipping or if it's not actually starting every time when it should, that's a key indication that there may be a problem with the fuses or the capacitors within the system. These units serve to prevent the furnace from overheating as well as to ensure that the power cycle works correctly. If there's a problem with either, you risk the potential of a short that could actually lead to a fire or other problems. When you're looking to keep your staff healthy, safe, and secure, this is something you should not overlook.

The more you understand about how your building's heating system can affect the health and condition of everyone in the workplace, you can appreciate the importance of taking care of your heating system. Talk with a commercial heating technician at a company like Mercury Tec today for more information.