Private kindergarten with 6 units – what do I ask the management for, on behalf of the parents?
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I am on the parents' committee at a private kindergarten in Voluntari (converted villa, 6 Gree/Midea 12,000 units, 3–5 years old). Several children cough 'from the AC', according to parents. Management says they 'wash the filters'. What should we concretely ask for and with what arguments, without being hysterical?
What is really happening
Allergy symptoms cannot identify the source on their own. Dust, outdoor pollen, damp surfaces and other indoor exposures may contribute. An air conditioner can cool and remove moisture, but does not diagnose an allergy or guarantee a target humidity. Inspect filters and drainage and follow the clinician’s advice for the person concerned.
- Particles of different sizes move through the air.
- The filter retains some particles, depending on its type.
- A standard filter is not equivalent to HEPA filtration or gas removal.
Particles are symbolic and not to scale.
- In child-care centres, air conditioning (versus natural ventilation) was associated with 20–40% increases in cough and lower respiratory illness in children. [LBNL Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findi, 2023]
- ASHRAE 62.1 requires visual inspection of cooling coils for cleanliness and microbial growth at least once a year and cleaning whenever fouling or microbial growth is observed. [ASHRAE, 2016]
- The blower (cross-flow fan) is the most fungus-contaminated component of a split unit, more than the filter or the front of the evaporator. [Indoor Air, 2023]
- When a contaminated air conditioner starts, airborne fungal concentration in the room can jump from 40–920 to 5,500–100,000 CFU/m³. [Indoor Air, 2023]
What we do on site
- We schedule on Saturday or after hours so the rooms are empty and dry by Monday.
- Each unit: collection cover, cleaning solution, pressure wash in place of evaporator, roller, pan, then sanitising solution and extra rinse – in children's rooms we leave no residue.
- Outdoor units, washed in place.
- Intervention document with photos for each room – you can post it on the notice board.
- See current rates on the Prices page.
What you can do yourself
- Ask for a posted schedule: filters every two weeks (signed), annual sanitising in May.
- Airing 10 minutes every 2 hours with the units off.
- Set 25–26 °C, louvres up, not at the carpet where the children sit.
- 'Fan' 30 minutes at the end of the day, daily.
What NOT to do
- Do not accept 'we sprayed it' as sanitising.
- Do not ask for the units to be switched off in summer – 30 °C in a room is worse for children than a clean unit.
- Do not settle for an invoice without photos.
Prevention
Plan maintenance according to the appliance manual and what is found during inspection. Keep any medical follow-up separate; cleaning does not guarantee that symptoms will resolve.
When to call us
For kindergartens we schedule outside hours: 0764 012 943, Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00.
Maintenance does not replace medical care. CDC: mold and health · EPA: moisture and mould
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Read also
- Allergies, sneezing and irritated eyes from the air conditioner
- Air conditioning and small children
- Home humidity and air conditioning
Sources (10)
- iaqscience.lbl.gov/increased-use-air-conditioning-and-potential
- www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/standards%20and%20guidelines/standards
- onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2023/8984619
- www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526054223000398
- www.osti.gov/biblio/1004161
- academic.oup.com/aje/article/194/12/3492/8249775
- web-manual.dit-daikin.com/ra/en/cleaning_filters/
- www.manualslib.com/manual/3613226/Mitsubishi-Electric-Msz-Ln18vg2w.html?page=7
- www.lg.com/africa/support/product-help/CT20080060-20153301478951
- www.manualslib.com/manual/1236787/Panasonic-Cs-Vu12skq.html?page=13
The information on this page is educational and based on cited sources; it does not replace medical advice. We do not do repairs, installation or refrigerant circuit work.