October 13, 2017


St. Louis residents in a gym

While having good gym equipment is important, so is having good indoor air quality.

Most of us have experienced walking into a swanky looking gym and being turned off by the nasty air. No one would ever like to go to a gym that smells bad.

The problem of poor indoor air quality in a gym can be addressed with proper air conditioning and ventilation. In this post, St. Louis HVAC technicians will talk about how you can maintain good air quality in your gym and attract new customers and retain old ones.

Poor Air Quality Can Affect Health of Clients

People visit a gym to improve or maintain their health through regular exercise. While having good gym equipment is important, so is good indoor air quality.

If your gym’s ventilation system has not been properly designed or is not functioning properly, it can make the environment hot and humid. This happens because the system does not remove enough moisture from the air. Here is what can happen if you fail to correct the ventilation problem in your gym:

  • Hot and humid air will become breeding ground for the growth of mold and mildew
  • Humid air can create musty smells
  • HVAC system breakdown
  • Bacteria and viruses thrive in humid air
  • Higher energy bills

Another major problem that poor ventilation can cause is increased CO2 levels. When we exercise, the heart rate increases, which results in faster breathing. This can lead to exhale a higher rate of carbon dioxide, which in turn can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygenated air available to breathe in.

In a gym, there are many people exhaling higher amounts of CO2 at any given time, which can cause a significant increase in CO2 levels in the air.

Low oxygen levels in the air can have a suffocating effect and can make you feel fatigues easily and lead to a poor workout. So, a properly designed ventilation system is important because it provides the right balance of gases to enable a good workout. Studies have shown that gyms have high levels of carbon dioxide, airborne dust, formaldehyde, and some other volatile organic compounds (VOC). Moreover, the concentrations of these harmful substances is usually higher than the accepted standards.

Health Conditions Triggered by Poor Indoor Air Quality

There are a number of health conditions that can be triggered by poor indoor air quality. Some of these include:

  • Lung and eye, nose throat irritation – sneezing, watery eyes and coughing
  • Skin rashes
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Infections
  • Shortness of breath

Proper Gym Ventilation is Critical to Good IAQ

If your gym facility is old, it is likely that the HVAC system would have lived its useful life and is operating at low-efficiency levels. A properly designed ventilation system can increase comfort levels by providing the right balance of gases. It can also control odors and remove contaminants from the air. It will also promote moisture control. When working on the ventilation system, do not ignore the locker room.

Regular HVAC Maintenance is the Key

Even if you have the right HVAC system and proper ventilation, it is important for you to ensure that the system is regularly inspected and maintained. Speak to our St. Louis HVAC experts to know how you can improve your HVAC performance and indoor air quality.

Call Scott-Lee Heating today at (314) 200-0788 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your maintenance visit.