Dental clinic — is the protocol different because of aerosols?
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We have a dental clinic with 3 chairs on Calea Victoriei, each treatment room has a split unit (Daikin 12,000 BTU), installed 3 years ago. We work with drills and water-cooled handpieces, so there is a lot of aerosol in the air, and ANMCS requires documented sanitising protocols. Do we need something different from a regular office, or is it the same process with a cover and wash?
What is really happening
Air conditioners in a medical practice run many hours a day near aerosol sources, and the dirty evaporator is the most fungus-contaminated component in the unit; at start-up, a contaminated unit can raise room spores from under a thousand to tens of thousands per cubic metre, right over patients and staff. The EPA is clear: mould must be physically removed, not merely 'killed' with a spray, because it remains allergenic even dead — which is why our protocol is mechanical pressure washing, not just a sprayed disinfectant.
- Start with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Consider operating hours, environment and observations.
- Plan checks and record completed work.
One fixed interval does not suit every unit and home.
- 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]
- Mould remains allergenic even when dead, so merely 'killing' it with a spray does not solve the problem – it must be physically removed. [US EPA, 2024]
- EPA principle: mould must be physically removed, not merely 'killed'; biocides are not recommended as routine practice. [US EPA, 2024]
What we do on site
- Each treatment room, one unit: sealed double cover, alkaline detergent, adjustable pressure wash of evaporator, roller, pan and hose, fragrance-free sanitising (we avoid strong scents near patients), filters, outdoor unit in place.
- We schedule outside patient hours — evenings after 19:00 or Sundays, on request.
- Intervention sheet with date, before/after photos and the product names used, for your internal file.
- See current rates on the Prices page.
What you can do yourself
- Filters weekly, not every two weeks — heavy patient traffic and aerosols.
- Air the room between patients if possible, even 2–3 minutes.
What NOT to do
- Do not accept 'spray disinfection' instead of mechanical washing — dead mould still stays allergenic.
- Do not leave rooms without an intervention sheet — at an ANMCS inspection the document matters, not just the claim.
Prevention
Medical practice: 3–4 visits a year, evenings or Sundays, documented mechanical washing, no biocide sprays on the split.
When to call us
0764 012 943, WhatsApp, Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00; we schedule outside patient hours.
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Sources (4)
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.