K-12 School Stimulus for HVAC Cleaning and Upgrades

Many schools across the United States operate with older HVAC systems. In fact, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that as many as 54 percent of public schools in the U.S. need to replace or repair their HVAC systems. The good news is that the K-12 school stimulus approved by the U.S. Education Department clears the way for federal funding to be used for HVAC improvements.

K-12 School Stimulus

In March of this year, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act. Known as ARPA, this plan released billions of dollars in relief funding to help K-12 schools reopen safely. Over 120 billion of that money went towards the K-12 School Stimulus. Schools may put those funds to use in repairing and improving HVAC systems. This ensures cleaner indoor air and a lower risk for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.

Identifying Problem Through Assessments

K-12 school stimulus funds help schools in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia with the return to classes. For example, the funds can be used to help improve IAQ in buildings. This includes testing, inspections, and remediation.

To ensure the success of any HVAC remediation efforts the problems need identifying. An HVAC Hygiene Assessment does exactly that. HVAC units become dirty over time. This impacts the performance of the entire system. A visual inspection of the evaporator coils, blower, drain pan, and ductwork, targets problem areas. Collected samples from the air handling unit allow an environmental diagnostic lab to test for bacteria and fungi. Performance testing determines the impact of airflow and pressure across the coils. The resulting report gives facilities managers and engineers the information they need to make improvements and the K-12 school stimulus funds can be put towards needed repairs and upgrades.

HVAC Cleanliness for Better Air Quality and Performance

Duct cleaning is another important part of keeping HVAC systems in top working order and not every cleaning system offers the same level of service. However, our PURE-Duct system uses high-pressure air turbulence to knock out dirt and debris from deep inside the system after which an industrial-strength vacuum system fitted with a HEPA filter removes it. 

HVAC Restoration for Cost Savings and Sustainability 

It is because systems degrade over time that a service such as Pure Air Control’s HVAC New Life is so important to maintaining proper IAQ. This service includes an ECM fan retrofit to improve efficiency and while also cutting down on maintenance calls.

K-12 school stimulus covers several engineered solutions to further restore the HVAC system. This includes PURE-Steam which cleans the entire system with high-temperature steam. PURE-Coat refinishing uses garnet blasting and sanding before applying highly resistant paint to protect the system from extremes of heat and cold. In addition, our PURE-Liner 2.0 refinishes the drain pain while our PURE-Cell insulation replaces fiberglass materials with zero-porosity, fiberglass-free insulation.

While these systems and services help schools mitigate IAQ issues, monitoring ensures conditions remain safe for students and staff. Our IAQ Guard monitoring systems provide real-time information on temperature and relative humidity as well as CO2 and VOC levels. This gives school administrators the chance to remain proactive when addressing IAQ.

Classroom air purifiers also keep students safe. Some of the better models use EnviroSmart™ detection technology to adjust their performance based on room conditions. A unit with either multi-stage HEPA filtration or PURE-Plasma bi-polar ionization provides effective air cleaning around the clock to keep students safe.  The devices also remove volatile organic compounds and odors.

Use K-12 School Stimulus for HVAC Repairs and Upgrades

K-12 school stimulus funds put towards cleaner air is money well spent and our IAQ services help schools reopen safely. This includes K-12 schools, but also colleges and universities. Keep staff and students safe and reduce energy and maintenance costs today. Call Pure Air Control Services at 1-800-422-7873 or email us here.