Small office with 4 staff in Pipera – how often do we sanitise the two units?
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We have a 60 sqm office in Pipera, 4 people, two 12,000 BTU LG wall units, 3 years old, on 9–10 hours a day, 5 days a week, from late April to October. Colleagues complain of dry eyes and 'heavy air' in the afternoon. The accountant wants a number for the budget: how many times a year?
What is really happening
Office data are clear: 'sick building' symptoms are 30–200% more frequent in air-conditioned spaces than in naturally ventilated ones, and offices with no scheduled system inspections had 2.2 times more eye symptoms and 60% more cough in the EPA BASE study. An office split does 1,300+ hours of condensation per season – two to three times a living room unit – so biofilm rebuilds in 8–10 weeks. Maintenance standards (ASHRAE 180, EN 15780) treat workplaces as needing shorter intervals than homes.
- 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.
- Sick building syndrome symptom prevalence is 30–200% higher in air-conditioned offices than in naturally ventilated ones. [LBNL Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findi, 2023]
- No scheduled HVAC inspections was associated with 2.2 times more eye symptoms and 60% more cough in offices in the EPA BASE study. [Indoor Air / OSTI (LBNL-61870), 2008]
- ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180 sets the standard practice for HVAC inspection and maintenance, with periodic checks of coils, drain pans, filters and fans. [ASHRAE / ACCA, 2018]
- European standard EN 15780 defines cleanliness classes (low, medium, high) for ventilation systems and requires periodic inspections, at least annually. [CEN / BSI, 2011]
What we do on site
- Visit 1 (April, pre-season) and visit 2 (July), booked at 08:00 before hours or on a Saturday; both units in about 2.5 hours.
- Each: sealed double cover, foil on desks and monitors, alkaline detergent, adjustable pressure wash of evaporator, roller, pan and hose; fragrance-free sanitising; filters; outdoor units in place.
- Intervention sheet with photos and date for accounting and the H&S file.
- See current rates on the Prices page.
What you can do yourself
- Assign a colleague to the filters every two weeks – 5 minutes for both.
- Air the office 10 minutes at lunch; a split recirculates, it does not bring fresh air.
- Set 24–25 °C; below 22 °C, dry eyes get worse.
What NOT to do
- Do not fix 'heavy air' with a plug-in freshener – it is a symptom of a dirty unit, not a missing scent.
- Do not leave the units at 19 °C all day; wasted consumption and condensation.
Prevention
Office 10 hours a day: 2 visits a year minimum, 3 if crowded; filters every two weeks.
When to call us
Company quote: 0764 012 943 / WhatsApp; Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00; Pipera is 15 minutes away.
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Read also
Sources (8)
- iaqscience.lbl.gov/increased-use-air-conditioning-and-potential
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1539998/
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37303987/
- www.osti.gov/biblio/902452
- webstore.ansi.org/Standards/ASHRAE/ansiashraeaccastandard1802018
- knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/ventilation-for-buildings-ductwork-cleanliness-of-ventilat
- www.facilitatemagazine.com/good-practice-legal/explainer/2013/04/04/bs-en-15780-ventilatio
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3709462/
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.