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Fall vibes are in full swing with pumpkin-spice everything, cinnamon and apple scents filling the air, crisp cool air, Chiefs football, and leaves starting to turn. Though the cooler weather is refreshing, it’s no surprise that Old Man Winter will arrive in two months, bringing frigid temperatures and winter precipitation.
Along with cooler fall and winter air comes drier air that can be a nuisance, especially to our skin and health. Productivity can slow down in winter, especially in a dry, cool office. If you own a business, rent, or own a commercial building, you want your employees/tenants to be as comfortable as possible, especially during wintertime. Keep reading to learn how to combat dry winter air in the office to keep your employees as comfortable as possible while boosting productivity!
Negative Effects of Dry Winter Air in the Office
Dry winter air in the office can negatively impact your employees’ health and productivity. Below are some negative effects of dry winter air and how they decrease workflow:
Increased Illness
We’re well into the sick season now that the kids are back in school, with a new cold or illness around us each week. Nearly everyone you know has already been or is sick with some respiratory issues, a cold, or stomach bug with germs and sicknesses increasing during wintertime. The worst is when these sicknesses travel through the workplace, forcing employees to take sick time when yearly budgets and deadlines are due and a new year approaches.
Dry winter air increases your employees’ chance of developing a sickness because, without moisture in the air, their airways may become irritated and decrease their immune systems. Some germs and viruses like the flu thrive in lower humidity, so it’s best to keep a warmer, more moist environment to keep your employees healthy.
Eye Irritation
Your employees have computers or laptops at their desks, constantly working on the computer, sending emails, working on reports, sending emails from their phones, or doing other work. All this screen time can irritate their eyes, making them drier and more irritated by the blue light emitted from screens. Though the blue light irritates the eyes, so does the dry winter air inside an office. Eye irritation can lead to decreased productivity because focusing on work is uncomfortable while looking at a screen with dry, irritated eyes.
Dehydration
You want your employees to stay hydrated when working, so you provide filtered drinking water through a communal water system with bottle-less coolers, a fridge, or bottled water. Staying well-hydrated while working keeps your employees healthier and leads to better productivity. Unfortunately, dry air in the office can lead to dehydration. Dry air wants moisture, feasting off anything it can like plants and humans, depleting the body of moisture and hydration.
Damaged Furniture
Did you know that dry office air can slowly damage furniture? Whether you recently remodeled the office with new furniture or if you have vintage desks and other timeless pieces, they’re at risk of cracking or warping. Again, dry air takes moisture from anything, including wood furniture, instruments, and books. Whether you own a bookstore, agency, or major corporation, you want your investments protected, including furniture like computer desks, boardroom tables, and seating throughout the office.
How to Combat Dry Winter Air in the Office
Though dry winter air is a nuisance that negatively impacts your employees’/tenants’ health and productivity, you can combat it. Below are some tips to combat dry winter air in the office:
Add Humidifiers
Consider adding humidifiers if you need some extra moisture in the office. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, making your employees/tenants more comfortable. As a result, productivity will be increased and employees will be healthier with fewer respiratory issues.
Cates Heating and Cooling has a selection of office humidifiers, from bypass to steam humidifiers. Our expert technicians install commercial humidifiers that can add moisture to your office. We can install humidifiers to work with your HVAC system or independently.
Replace Your Office HVAC System
Your existing commercial HVAC system might be contributing to the dehumidification inside your office. Office HVAC systems function to heat and cool an office building, but they don’t regulate the inside humidity levels. Rather, most older and poorly installed systems could contribute to the dry air. Your system could be decreasing the relative humidity in the office.
To combat dry air in the office this winter, and to save on your energy bills, consider installing a new office HVAC system from Cates Heating and Cooling. We’ve installed and maintained HVAC systems in many commercial buildings, including hospitals, IT centers, retail centers, restaurants, theaters, offices, and industrial buildings. Our high-quality commercial heating and cooling system will heat and cool your commercial building without decreasing the relative humidity in your office. We also offer 24/7 emergency service so you’re never without warm or cool air in the office.
Install a Humidifier or a New Office HVAC System from Cates Heating and Cooling
At Cates Heating and Cooling, we’ve been installing and repairing commercial HVAC systems including furnaces for over 50 years! Installing a humidifier will add moisture to the dry office air, keeping your employees healthier and more comfortable. Installing a new office HVAC system will keep your employees healthier and decrease energy bills.
We’re family-owned and operated with expertly trained technicians who have provided exceptional service to all our customers for over 50 years. We service Kansas City and surrounding cities, including the following:
& more!
Contact Cates with any questions or concerns about your commercial heating and cooling and how we can help!
