An Overview of IAQ and Working From Home Productivity

Your indoor air quality (IAQ) affects your productivity if you work from home. Thus, you can improve your work productivity if you improve the IAQ. Note that multiple things affect your IAQ quality. Some of the factors include temperature, humidity, and pollution. Below are the effects of IAQ on your work, plus tips on how to maintain good IAQ.

Temperature, humidity, and air quality have a big effect on your productivity. Below are some of the ways you can use these effects to your advantage.

Many people work best if they are comfortable. For example, you might struggle with work if you feel hot and damp. You also don't have to interrupt your work to look for comfortable clothing. Find a comfortable temperature, for example, via trial and error since temperature plays a big role in home comfort.

Even if you don't feel uncomfortable, your indoor temperature can determine your concentration and alert levels. Many people concentrate and focus on their work best if the temperature is slightly cold. Lower your temperature slightly to see if that helps. The effect might be significant if your work requires focus and concentration.

Many people work best when they develop and stick to a routine. For example, your work-from-home productivity may improve if you:

• Work in the same room every day
• Start and stop work at the same time
• Maintain the same temperature whenever you sit down to work

Your body and mind will know that you are ready for work if your home temperature changes to the set temperature every day.

Lastly, ill-health can also interfere with your work. Your HVAC system affects your health. For example:

• Extreme temperatures can intensify existing health issues
• Poor indoor air quality can trigger respiratory health problems
• High humidity can lead to mold growth, and mold is bad for your health

Good health reduces your sick leave time and ensures you can concentrate on your work. Thus, you should ensure your temperature, IAQ, and humidity levels encourage good health.

Now that you know how your indoor temperature and IAQ affect working from home, you should know how to achieve the perfect work environment. The following tips can help.

Your ideal work temperature might not be best for others in your household. One solution is to install a zoned HVAC system that allows independent control of different parts of the house.

You might forget to adjust the thermostat to match your work temperature every time you sit down to work. Program your thermostat so that it automatically adjusts to your desired temperature.

Regularly clean the house to limit the number of particles in the air. A clean house also leads to a clean HVAC system. That way, the HVAC system won't circulate pollutants throughout the house.

Environmental sensors will alert you if something is amiss. For example, humidity sensors can alert you to high humidity levels, and carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors can alert you to the gas' leakage. That way, you can take measures to improve your HVAC before your health suffers.

Lastly, you should maintain your HVAC system.

• Change the filters regularly
• Clean the HVAC, including the vents and registers
• Ensure proper thermostat calibration 
• Ensure relevant parts are lubricated

An HVAC technician can help you stay on top of the maintenance schedules.

Garden Spot Mechanical, Inc. has extensive experience with both commercial and residential HVAC systems. We can install or service your HVAC system to ensure it gives you the best possible indoor air quality. 

Contact us for a quote on any HVAC service you need and benefit from our professional services.