Running a successful restaurant consists of keeping it clean and healthy, which includes the indoor air quality. Even in the best restaurants, a number of issues can lower its IAQ. Here’s how to spot those problems, as well as some steps you can take to improve your restaurant’s air quality.
Finding Restaurant Air Quality Problems
Some of the biggest threats to your restaraunt’s IAQ are also some of the most integral to the business. Top culprits include:
- The refrigeration unit. It puts moisture in the air, which can lead to mold and mildew.
- The grills, stoves and ovens. Smoke and cooking oil linger in the air long after the heat is turned off.
- Cleaning supplies. If you use harsh chemicals with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to clean your restaurant, the fumes could harm your customers’ and employees’ respiration.
There are several ways to know if your restaurant has IAQ problems. Check the temperature and humidity to make sure they’re both at reasonable levels. Additionally, if you get complaints of musty odors, your employees or customers experience dizziness, shortness of breath, and similar symptoms, it’s a sign that harmful contaminants are lingering around your establishment.
Solving Restaurant Air Quality Problems
Make sure you have enough ventilation throughout your restaurant. Keep a hood over the grills, stoves, and overns with a fan that vents outdoors, to eliminate cooking smoke before it spreads. Clean the fan blades regularly, to prevent grease buildup, which can slow the fan down, keeping it from working effectively.
If you’re using harsh cleaning chemicals, switch to more environmentally friendly cleaning solutions that don’t include VOCs. Not only will this make it easier to breathe, it’s better for the environment.
Most importantly, call an HVAC professional to conduct a thorough inspection of your restaurant’s ventilation, both in the kitchen and in the dining area. This will help ensure that mold and other contaminants don’t linger and cause health problems. You might also invest in a dedicated air purifier, with a high-efficiency filter, to ensure clean, breathable air, both for your customers and your employees.
For more help improving your restaurant air quality, contact the HVAC pros at Jackson & Sons. Eastern North Carolina’s trusted source for home and business comfort solutions.
