With summer’s driving up temperatures, a question being asked is whether we should use air-conditioners during this pandemic. Several researchers have predicted that the novel corona virus is unlikely to survive high temperatures. As we know, the second wave of Sars-Cov-2 or the Covid -19 is much harmful than the previous one. This question often comes to our mind that, should we use air conditioners during the covid pandemic, or does the virus becomes more harmful when you use air conditioners? Although it’s not stated that using an air conditioner is dangerous during the pandemic but keeping your body warm during these times will surely keep you safe from the virus. It becomes necessary to use air conditioners during summers as the temperature is too high. But you also have to balance the environmental changes accordingly.
- Turn off the AC and open the window if someone in your house has COVID-19, or has been exposed to the virus
- If you have air-conditioning on almost all the time, and a sick person in the house, it’s a good idea to limit the flow through your home
- Don’t let it get too cold. Having proper ventilation is a crucial part of preventing infection
Here are a few points which you need to take care of while using air conditioners during covid:
Temperature Control:
You should set the temperature of your air conditioner ranging between 24-30 degrees. In which 24 degrees is for humid zones and 30 degrees is for dry zones. Today’s advanced air conditioners can control precise temperature and thus ensuring no under or overcooling.
Ensure Proper Ventilation:
Ensure that proper ventilation takes place in the room where the air conditioner is in place. Make sure to open all the windows after you turn off the air conditioner while leaving the room. Place a bowl of water while you are using the air conditioner.
Cleaning air filters more frequently:
Cleaning your air filter is necessary as it helps to maintain the air quality of your room. A dirty air filter may carry dust particles along with them which may deteriorate the air quality of your room. You need to make sure that you clean your air filter at least once a month.
Increasing the rate of air change:
According to guidelines provided by WHO, we can reduce the spread of covid by increasing the rate of air change in indoor spaces. Avoid recirculation of air as it may be harmful.
Following are the three ways to avoid catching the virus indoors-
For the past year, we’ve been asked to wash our hands and maintain social distancing to fight corona virus. But scientists and engineers say we also need to think about the air we breathe inside our home.
1. If it’s stuffy, just walk away
When you enter a room and the air feels stale or hard, something is suspicious with the ventilation. Not enough fresh air is being introduced, which increases your risk of getting infected by covid-19. Recent research shows that in constricted spaces there can be “airborne transmission” of the corona virus – with tiny virus particles remaining in the air.
According to some regulations set up before this pandemic, everybody should get at least 10 liters of fresh air every minute, and that matters more than ever now in this situation.
2.Look up at the air conditioning
From offices to shops, air conditioning is the most wanted thing on hot days – but check the type of unit. The best is a slender white box mounted on walls which is known as a split air conditioner.
This draws in the air from your house, chills it, and then blows it back out again. In other words, it’s circulating the air again and again.
3. Ask about the ‘fresh air ratio’
In most of the buildings these days, where the windows are sealed, how can one get enough fresh air?
You’re relying on a ventilation system. Right? In which stale or hard air is extracted from the rooms and piped to an air handling unit, often on the roof. There, fresh air can be pulled in from outside and mixed with the already existing inside air, before being sent back into the building.
Given the risk of corona virus infection, professional engineers and scientists have advised maximizing the fresh air supply.
“The more enough fresh air, the less you’re at the risk of recirculating the virus through your building.”