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Tag: Vent Deflector

COVID Is Airborne, Scientists Say. Now Authorities Think So Too

Posted on by james bultitude

Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 is, in fact, able to travel airborne. Because of this new acceptance, scientists around the country are calling for business owners’ ventilation systems to be overhauled or at least updated to promote healthier inside conditions. Here at Comfort First Products, we take indoor air quality extremely seriously. Our filtered supply diffusers and vent filters are an alternative to filtering office air and are significantly more affordable, convenient, and just as effective as a total overhaul of your ventilation system.

Having cleaner indoor air won’t just help fight this pandemic, but it can increase the workplace’s health overall. Having quality air filters and diffusers in your office will also help battle the flu and other respiratory infections. Having your employees avoid these germs and avoid the productivity losses from sick days will only benefit your company.

We are used to having filtered water because clean drinking water is essential for public health, right? The same logic should be applied to the air we breathe, especially in an office where we spend eight-plus hours a day. Comfort First Products offers a wide variety of air filters and diffusers that are easy to install, effective, and affordable. Take a deeper look at our air filter products.

How Does COVID-19 Travel Through the Air?
COVID multiplies in the respiratory tract, enabling it to spread from being emitted from an infected person’s nose and throat during respiratory activities like breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, and sneezing. These particles differ in size, which is essential to know. There are visible particles that fall quickly and settle on nearby surfaces and floors. Compare this to the tiniest particles that nobody can see, and these can be carried at a further distance as well as stay aloft longer, depending on the conditions of the air. This is why officials have pushed for public masking-wearing and social distancing practices. This also explains why many people who work in offices were moved into work from home positions.

Why Getting Quality Air Filters and Diffusors Is Vital
Infectious aerosols remain concentrated in the air a lot longer in poorly ventilated, confined indoor spaces, like some offices. Although we all see the light at the end of the tunnel with this pandemic, it is still important to take indoor air quality seriously. More employees are coming back to the office, and the more confined an indoor space is, the greater the chance people will get sick. Even offices that are not highly crowded are still at risk as ventilation systems can still build up potentially hazardous pathogens and spread those throughout the building.

Shop Comfort First Products
An affordable, easy way to ensure that you are providing your workspace with clean, filtered air is by installing Comfort First’s air diffusers and air filters throughout your office. By doing this, you’re giving your employees a safer work environment, leading to fewer sick days and a more productive workforce. Are you interested? Browse our selection, and contact us today if you have any questions regarding our indoor air quality products!

Maintaining Your Indoor Air Quality and Wildfires

Posted on by CFAdmin

Sadly, California is no stranger to wildfires. This past year, 2019, California has been plagued with some of the worst fires. According to the California Fire Department, almost 7,000 fires have been recorded totaling an estimated 253, 321 acres of burned land. The effects of these wildfires have been detrimental. From the copious amount of lost property and damage to the number of injuries and even deaths that have taken place, these fires have truly affected us in multiple ways. 

 

One of the biggest ways that the California fires have impacted us is through indoor air quality or IAQ. During a wildfire, the smoke that arises can have extremely dangerous impacts on our health, especially if they are not dealt with properly. If you are close to a wildfire, the fires itself, as well as the heavy smoke and ash, can pose serious risks to your safety and health. Because of this, you and your family should be prepared to evacuate immediately if told to do so. Even if you’re farther away from the wildfire you are still exposed to the smoke from the fire. 

 

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gasses and fine particles that are produced when wood and other organic materials burn. It can be made up of even more toxic gasses and particles when manmade items are burned. All of those chemicals and toxins are then floating in the air that you’re breathing. The biggest health threat from smoke comes from the fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system when you’re both indoors and outdoors. Not only can this produce long term health concerns but the immediate results can also be detrimental. From burning eyes and difficulty breathing to contracting illnesses such as bronchitis, the particles from fires can have strong effects. You may also be susceptible to chronic heart and lung diseases, which can be linked to premature deaths. 

 

The smoke from wildfires can be a silent and deadly killer, which is why you want to make sure that you’re protecting yourself. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t struggle with breathing issues or you think you’re far enough away from the fire that it won’t affect you, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

 

Some easy ways to protect yourself during a fire are as follows: 

 

Pay Attention to Local Air Quality Reports

As the fires or smoke gets worse, the concentration of particles in the air increases and so should the steps that you’re taking to protect yourself. Air quality reports are usually available through your local news media, local air agency, and can be found online. 

 

Monitor Your Activities

Even if you’re being told that it’s safe to resume your normal activities, use common sense. If the air outside looks like it’s polluted, use your best judgment and only go out if you have to. During this time most businesses and people will understand if you’re not able to make your usual appointments due to the outside air. Certain places also may be closed for this reason too. You’ll also want to cut back on any recreational activities outside. It’s probably not the best time to go for a run outside or mow the lawn. It’s especially crucial that you monitor the time that your children spend outside too. Since their bodies are still developing they are especially susceptible to harmful particles in the air. If you or your children are spending long amounts of time outside, pay attention to any symptoms that may be occurring. If you are experiencing anything, these symptoms are a likely indication that you need to reduce your exposure. 

 

Invest In Face Masks

While dust or paper masks are not enough to protect your lungs against the fire particles, they are a good place to start. Make sure that these masks are fitted properly to you and your loved ones. Other masks like particulate masks known as N-95 or P-100 respirators can help too. You should be able to find these types of masks at hardware stores or other home repair stores. 

 

Keep Particle Levels Low Inside 

When smoke is heavy, especially for prolonged periods of time, fine particles can build up indoors, even though you may not be able to see them. Avoid anything that burns in your home. This means candles, wood-burning fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves, and other items like these. Even vacuuming can stir up particles that are already in your home. You should especially avoid any type of smoking too. This puts even more pollution into your lungs. 

 

Invest In Products From Comfort First 

An easy way to protect yourself and the ones you love from harmful smoke and fire particles is to invest in products from Comfort First. At Comfort First, we have a wide array of products designed to give you the cleanest air possible even in cases of wildfires. All of our products are designed for easy use that you can do yourself. These products can fit into most areas in commercial offices or residential homes. We even have products designed specifically for Indoor Air Quality, which you can easily purchase on site. For more questions regarding Indoor Air Quality, learn more by visiting our site or connecting with us through phone or email. When you think Indoor Air Quality, think Comfort First Products. 

 

Under Pressure – Why Clean Air Filters Matter

Posted on by CFAdmin

Just like the iconic rock band Queen, your HVAC system is always “Under Pressure.” As air moves throughout a building, different factors have an effect on the flow of that air. These factors affect the air flow temperature, speed, and pressure. Issues within your HVAC system can cause the air pressure to change, which could negatively affect you and others attempting to work or live in those spaces. If you have ever walked into a room and immediately noticed something “off” about the way the air felt in the space, then you may have been experiencing high air pressure. High air pressure can lead to temperature fluctuations and general discomfort for people operating in that room. Even if you have already stocked your building with Comfort First’s premier air conditioner deflectors and air vent diffusers, an issue with your HVAC system could be causing static pressure issues.

 

How Does Air Flow Through An HVAC System?

In order to understand how your building can be negatively affected by high air pressure, you must first grasp how air is brought in to a space and distributed by an HVAC system. HVAC systems work by in-taking outside air, putting it through an air purification process, and then distributing that air throughout the building at the desired temperature. This entire system is controlled by a thermostat – the HVAC unit self-adjusts the pressure and heat levels to produce the desired effect. The air that reaches the occupants of the building can not only vary in temperature level, but in pressure levels as well.

 

What Is Static Pressure?

Static pressure can be a real drag. In fact, drag is a great way of framing one’s thinking about static pressure. When air is free to move throughout a space without being impeded or experiencing drag, the static pressure will remain at comfortable levels. When air is trying to move through a system where it experiences drag, the static pressure of that air will rise. High static pressure can not only make the air in a space uncomfortable, but it can also place stress on components of your HVAC system that could lead to maintenance issues and even system failure. Having a certified HVAC professional evaluate your system will definitely determine if there is in fact a static pressure issue.

 

How Is Static Pressure Measured?

If you suspect your system has a high or low static pressure issue, or if you just want to do a general wellness-check on your HVAC system, contact a certified technician. A maintenance technician will visit your location and perform a test on your system. He or she determines if there is an air pressure issue by measuring static pressure at several places along your system and by checking the air handler filter pressure sensor. This sensor is a permanent installation in your HVAC system that is designed to protect the system from a catastrophic failure. Low static air pressure issues will typically cause this type of catastrophic failure, but high static pressure issues are much more common and need to be measured by an on-site technician.

 

Problems Bad Static Pressure Can Cause

If your unit is experiencing static pressure issues, it can manifest in your system in a number of ways.

  • Noise: if your system is experiencing high static pressure, you may hear loud sounds coming from the unit and ducting. The higher the static pressure, the more physical pressure and strain is placed on your HVAC unit.
  • Lackluster Airflow: if you can feel distinct hot or cold spots in a space, or the air just being generally uncomfortable, static pressure could be the culprit.
  • Component Failure: as previously mentioned, high static air pressure causes intense strain on your unit. Components may cease to function or drastically lose efficiency.
  • Complete Unit Failure: if not caught in time, high static pressure can cause the catastrophic failure of your entire unit.

 

How To Fix Static Pressure Issues

Regular wellness checks from a qualified HVAC maintenance technician is your best bet to ensure the longevity of your HVAC system. There are steps you can take to prevent static pressure issues and safeguard the health of your unit. The biggest thing that can be done to prevent high static pressure is providing clean filters for your unit. Think back to drag – the easier air can move through a space the better quality that air will maintain. Drag causes air molecules to slow down and work harder to reach you, which means that they may change temperature and no longer match the temperature that the HVAC unit is trying to produce. A dirty filter blocks the flow of air and makes the entire unit work harder to push air through.

The proper filtration system can make all the difference to the health of your HVAC unit. Luckily, Comfort First makes it easy to filter air through our commercial diffusers and vent diverters. We also provide convenient replacement filter sets to keep your air flowing and at optimum static pressure levels. Shop our online store today!

Why Indoor Air Quality Is Often Worse Than Outdoor Air Quality

Posted on by CFAdmin

If you are a facility manager or owner of a commercial or industrial building, you can take action to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been receiving an increasing number of inquiries on how IAQ can be improved.

This has resulted in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) taking action and completing more than 600 indoor air quality investigations in the office buildings under the Health Hazard Evaluation Program.

Not only do owners and facility managers need to make an effort toward improving air quality, but the staff and occupants of the building need to get involved as well. IAQ, whether commercial or industrial, is a community effort.

That’s why in this blog post, Comfort First Products is going to share the factors that contribute to IAQ, what owners and facility managers can do to improve IAQ, and how staff and occupants can get involved to help improve IAQ.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters

Indoor air quality can impact health, well-being, and performance. Did you know that humans on average spend 93 percent of their time indoors? 87 percent of that time is in a building, and the other six percent is in an automobile. What’s more, the EPA shared another study that showed that “concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.”

This means that building, facility, and business managers have an obligation to ensure that the IAQ of their building or facility is being addressed regularly to keep the environment clean and healthy for themselves, staff, occupants, employees, and more.

What Factors Contribute To Indoor Air Quality?

The reason indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality is the ability to filter pollutants, chemicals, and allergens from the air before they come into contact with staff or occupants. In fact, IAQ is not an easily defined problem like a broken desk drawer or a leaky faucet; it’s a complex issue that includes many factors. Also, heat, dust, and moisture all play a role in indoor air quality. Some of those factors are listed below:

  • Types and levels of pollutants, allergens, or chemicals in the environment
  • Sources of pollutants
  • HVAC design, maintenance, and ventilation
  • Dust, moisture, and humidity of the indoor environment
  • Staff and occupants susceptibilities to pollutants, chemicals, and allergens
  • Age of the building

All of these factors and more must be accounted for before a successful and effective IAQ strategy is enacted. Here are three steps you need to take to manage the IAQ of your building or office:

  1. Remove or isolate pollutant sources to better mitigate negative effects indoor.
  2. Dilute pollutants and remove them from indoor via ventilation.
  3. Utilize effective air filtration to scrub the air of pollutants.

How Owners and Facility Managers Can Improve Indoor Air Quality

As an owner or facility manager, it’s important you take indoor air quality seriously. It directly affects the health of all the staff and occupants in the building. In some case, IAQ will involve more than one person. For example, an owner of a building may work with a maintenance crew and specific staff members to better manager IAQ. Furthermore, a facility manager may work with the landlord, building tenant, and a local HVAC company to improve the HVAC system and the IAQ.

Here are nine ways owners and facility managers can work to improve IAQ:

  1. Foster a relationship with building maintenance and/or landlord so that taking steps to improve indoor air quality and environment issues is an option.
  2. Position furniture, plants, equipment, and more to enhance the environment, IAQ, temperature control, and pollutant removal functions.
  3. Coordinate and cooperate with building maintenance when HVAC maintenance or updates are needed, Including regular filter replacements.
  4. Establish a clear, effective smoking policy.
  5. Define and avoid processes or products that can negatively affect IAQ.
  6. Include IAQ into all indoor environment purchasing decisions.
  7. Communicate with landlords, building owners, or managers to ensure pest control is only used when necessary, and, if possible, non-chemical treatments are the chosen method.
  8. Identify and communicate with building managers before any renovation or remodeling occurs to mitigate environmental pollutants.
  9. Introduce and encourage your building management team to use the EPA/NIOSH guidance document.

How Staff and Occupants Can Get Involved In Improving IAQ

When it comes to IAQ, it’s a group effort. The staff and occupants of a building can influence IAQ, and they can take action to help improve it. Here are the six ways staff and occupants can help with enhancing IAQ:

  1. Filter the office air.
  2. Keep air vents and/or grilles unblocked and clean.
  3. Comply with the smoking policy for the building or office.
  4. Report water leaks immediately, maintain office plants routinely and clean up liquid spills as soon as possible.
  5. Collect and dispose of garbage and trash promptly.
  6. Be mindful of proper food storage.
  7. If you suspect an IAQ issue, notify the owner, building manager, or facility manager promptly.

Comfort First Products: Your Solution To Indoor Air Quality

At Comfort First Products, our mission is to provide our customers with a variety of products that improve office comfort, health, and wellbeing. Whether you are a facility manager, business owner, landlord, or otherwise, the indoor air quality of your building is crucial to the health and safety of yourself, the staff, the occupants, and more. It’s time you shop our indoor air quality and comfort products online now.

Do You Need a Vent Deflector?

Posted on by CFAdmin

Vent deflectors, also known as air diffusers, are a great product to help you keep your home and office a consistent temperature. Whether you get blasted by hot air in the winter and cold air in the summer, a vent deflector may be exactly what you need to keep yourself comfortable year-round.

What is a vent deflector?

A vent deflector is just a fancy word for a device that fits over air vents. The purpose of the deflector is to change the direction of the air flow. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why would I want to change the direction of the air?” If you do, continue to ask yourself questions, such as: Are there hot or cold spots in my home or office? Am I tired of not staying a consistent temperature? If you’ve answered, “yes” to any of those questions, it may be time to purchase a vent deflector. By installing one in your home or office, you’ll be able to avoid cold or hot drafts, and you may even be able to increase air quality.

What kind of materials are used to make a vent deflector?

There are many different types of vent deflectors available. Some are made with the sole purpose of a commercial building, and others were created for use in a home; however, they’re usually created with plastic of light metals which weigh less than 3 pounds.

Shop Comfort First Products, online now!

Choose to deflect air and keep your home or office a comfortable temperature when you shop online today with Comfort First Products. We have affordable vent diffusers available. Shop for one you love and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-804-3366.

There’s an Easier Way To Stay a Comfortable Temperature

Posted on by CFAdmin

Are you wanting to effectively cool and warm your office when seasons change? There’s no doubt about it; every office manager wants their workplace to be held at the most comfortable and consistent temperature possible. One of the easiest and mindless ways to do so is by making sure your office is equipped with a high quality air diffuser.

What happens to air when you install an air diffuser?

When an air diffuser is installed in your office, you’ll soon start to experience the wonderful benefits of it. Not only will you feel drafts inside of your office come to a halt, but the quality of air your breathe will improve tremendously. With more control over the direction of the airflow, you’ll be able to successfully keep cool or warm air pointed in the direction you wish. If you know your office has a tendency for cold or hot spots, you can easily avoid them with an air diffuser.

What are the benefits of installing an air diffuser?

Air diffusers are an amazing way to improve your life at work. By spending a few bucks on one of our products, you’ll be able to experience some wonderful benefits, including:

  • Easy installation
  • Happier and healthier individuals in your workplace
  • Higher quality of air
  • Controlled airflow

Shop for an air diffuser online today with Comfort First Products!

At Comfort First Products, your comfort is our number one priority. Feel free to peruse our incredible selection of air diffusers to find the perfect one for your office. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 800-804-3366.