Since COVID-19 spread, everyone is trying to stay safe. Many people are afraid and confused about COVID-19 spreading through centralized air conditioning or hybrid cooling system.
Thus, we’re here to clear your doubts on this.
How Does COVID Spread?
Basically, COVID-19 is spread through coming into contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus infected person.
This virus can be transmitted by an infected person coughing, sneezing, or speaking, from which small droplets of the infected person come into contact with air, and through air they reach another person’s mouth, nose, or ear.
Generally, crowded areas cause the SARS-CoV-2 virus to spread faster if the face is not covered with a mask. Other than direct contact through air particles, the infected person can transmit the disease by touching the lifts, railings, or any other thing if their hands are not clean.
How Do the Central Air Conditioning Systems Work?
First and foremost, central air conditioning systems, or HVAC systems, need to be installed in air-packed places because they don’t provide heat or cooling in open spaces.
In central AC systems, the central air conditioning provider installs several vents in every room, hall, or building area that are connected to one AC unit, which provides cooling or heating through all the vents.
The air conditioning unit sucks the indoor air and makes it cool or warm according to the temperature you set. In this process, the old air is still inside the AC, which is circulated back into the indoor area after changing its temperature. Only heat is thrown outside the atmosphere.
So how does this system spread the COVID-19 virus?
Technically, if the area is packed, then people in the area breathe the same air circulated by air conditioning systems.
Some research shows air-packed places such as hospitals, big halls, etc., increase the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), due to poor ventilation, COVID-19 has a high chance of circulating in the air through ACs. It is advised to choose filters with MERV ≥13 to stop the spread of viruses through air conditioners.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve found useful information and gotten your questions answered in this small guide. We all know that COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc in many countries. It is important to keep your family and yourself safe.
Whether it’s COVID, heat, or winter, they can all make our lives troublesome.
For that, choose an HVAC system that is guaranteed to make your indoor living space comfortable and safe. Contact Degree Day for ductable, industrial, and desert air coolers, as well as air purification and central air cooling systems.