School HVAC Restoration Becomes New Spending Focus 

The ongoing pandemic stresses the importance of indoor air quality to the health of the students and staff of schools across the US. However, it’s not just health that’s impacted by IAQ. Proper ventilation also improves the cognitive functioning of students which means better test scores and fewer missed days. K-12 and Higher Ed schools nationwide understand this and it’s driving them to invest in school HVAC restoration. This is something we understand well.

Pure Air Control Services has examined the air quality in over 15,000 buildings, including the ventilation systems of many schools. We work closely with administrators to help them improve their ventilation systems through upgrades, restoration, cleaning, and disinfecting. As a first step, we test system performance to diagnose issues. Afterward, we monitor the indoor conditions to keep buildings safe.

Spending on School HVAC Restoration

School HVAC restoration requires funding. Fortunately, schools can access funds allocated by the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) which exceeds $200 billion. This money was allotted through the CARES and ARP Acts and is intended for emergency use. Therefore, schools can safeguard classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic by using this resource to improve the ventilation in their school buildings. 

The Lowest Bid Isn’t Always Best

Towards the goal of better IAQ, a school district must enlist the services of a trusted IAQ partner. Of course, many contractors will bid for the opportunity to perform school HVAC restoration. In many cases, school districts choose the lowest bid to save money. However, when it comes to safety, it makes more sense to choose a partner who is qualified in all aspects of HVAC cleaning and restoration as well as testing for initial diagnosis and monitoring to maintain optimal conditions.

Complete School HVAC Restoration Saves

School administrators should consider what the HVAC contractor offers when considering a bid. For example, a contractor that offers performance testing can isolate issues so they receive priority attention. The upfront cost of cleaning and disinfecting a system is offset by lower long-term energy costs. Restoring and retrofitting existing HVAC units pay for themselves by reducing maintenance and repair costs and extending the lifetime of the equipment. Using funds provided by the CARES Act makes school HVAC restoration more attainable.

A Well-Maintained System Saves Money

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Therefore, a contractor that provides a full suite of services to clean and disinfect saves money. For example, a clean HVAC system is crucial to optimal building health, but to energy efficiency as well. In fact, many customers have seen as quick as a 1.25 year ROI using our Pure Steam energy savings. 

Cleaning and Restoration

The Pure Steam method uses high-temperature steam to disinfect the coils, destroy bacteria and pathogens, eliminate odors, and optimize system performance which lowers operating costs. Restoration is another way to improve IAQ and system efficiency to lower costs. Restoration offers tremendous cost savings over new equipment — between 20-40 percent savings over new. It also results in less facility disruption, quicker turnaround, and better sustainability. 

Restoration includes methods to restore equipment to near factory specifications. After steam cleaning, our PURE-Coat method sands and blasts the AHU before the application of specialized paint that prevents rust, corrosion, and microbial growth. Next, we install PURE-Cell, a zero-porosity, fiberglass-free insulation that repels moisture and slows microbial growth. The last step is refinishing the drain pan with PURE-Liner which repels moisture and slows oxidation.

While restoration makes sense, it is only part of the process of school HVAC restoration. It doesn’t make sense to spend the money on the restoration process only to have the system fouled again or airflow restricted by dirty ducts. In our hygiene duct cleaning process, PURE-Duct uses EPA-registered disinfectants that go deep inside the HVAC system while the PURE-Decon method uses electrostatic DEP sprayers and misters to remove 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. This improves IAQ and also creates a more efficient system that lowers energy costs.

Focus Your Spending on School HVAC Restoration

Pure Air Controls helps school administrators establish optimal indoor air quality in their buildings. We world closely with building engineers to inspect and test the HVAC system before cleaning, disinfecting, and restoring begins. Our IAQ Guard system monitors conditions in real-time so IAQ problems get dealt with as they occur. For more information, contact us at 1-800-422-7873 or email us here.