As commercial businesses, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for both customers and employees is of utmost importance. With the ongoing wildfires affecting air quality, taking proactive measures to improve indoor air quality becomes crucial. One effective strategy is to focus on HVAC filter maintenance. In this article, we will explore the benefits of changing HVAC filters and discuss how it can enhance air quality during these challenging times. Remember, staying informed and adapting accordingly to local news advisories is key to ensuring the well-being of everyone involved.
- Importance of HVAC Filter Maintenance: The HVAC system’s filters play a pivotal role in trapping airborne particles, including smoke and pollutants, and preventing them from recirculating throughout the building. Regular maintenance and timely filter changes significantly improve air quality, creating a healthier indoor environment for customers and employees.
- Choosing the Right Filters: Selecting the appropriate filters for your HVAC system is crucial. High-efficiency air filters, such as HEPA filters, are highly recommended as they effectively capture fine particles, including those associated with wildfire smoke. Consult with HVAC professionals to determine the most suitable filter types and MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings for your specific system and air quality needs.
- Regular Filter Inspections: Schedule regular inspections to assess the condition of your HVAC filters. Dust, debris, and trapped particles can accumulate over time, reducing their efficiency. Clogged filters not only compromise air quality but also strain the HVAC system, leading to decreased performance and potential breakdowns. Establish a maintenance routine to inspect and clean or replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Timely Filter Replacement: Filters should be replaced at regular intervals to maintain optimal performance. During times of poor air quality, such as the Canada wildfires, consider replacing filters more frequently to ensure maximum filtration efficiency. Monitor local air quality reports and consult with HVAC professionals to determine the appropriate replacement schedule.
- Enhanced Air Quality and Comfort: By diligently maintaining and replacing HVAC filters, commercial businesses can provide cleaner air to customers and employees. Improved air quality enhances comfort, reduces the risk of respiratory issues, and promotes a positive atmosphere within the premises. Customers and employees will appreciate your commitment to their well-being.
Prioritizing HVAC filter maintenance is an essential step for commercial businesses to combat air quality challenges, particularly during periods of wildfires such as the ongoing Canada fires. Regular filter changes and proper maintenance significantly improve air quality, creating a comfortable and healthy environment for everyone. Remember, staying informed and adapting to local news advisories is crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of all. By taking proactive measures and prioritizing air quality, you demonstrate your commitment to providing a safe and pleasant experience for your customers and employees.
More importantly, stay informed, and stay safe. Listen to local news advisories and adapt accordingly.
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Hi Amanda! Can you share how you got your start in projects and construction, and how long you’ve been in the industry?
I got my start listening to my mom [Kathleen Larmour, founder and COO]. She started PRS in our old home and after school, I would go downstairs to our basement and listen. I got very familiar with the company. I always said I wouldn’t work for my mom— I wanted to do hair and even went to school for it through high school. Two years after high school I started working for PRS as a second job for extra money. I started as a dispatcher– an entry-level staffer, and just worked my way up in the company. It will be 18 years with PRS this October!
What does the day-to-day look like in your role?
Overseeing the service department for PRS is my main focus. I work closely every day with the directors for RMSand RSS on our management tasks and any goals or implementation we have going on. I run all reports for sales and service for all three companies as needed. My day-to-day is dictated by what’s going on that week. I make sure project deadlines are met for our clients and check in on our construction projects.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
I love traveling and meeting different people, I love dealing with different expectations throughout our companies. I enjoy new challenges; the industry has changed so much over the last 18 years. I like seeing the employees grow within the companies. I love the feeling of growing our relationships with our clients and making sure we are helping them and they are being taken care of! Our office and office culture are very important to me too
What strengths or positives do you think women uniquely bring to construction?
Vulnerability and communication. When I started it was a majority of men at all the shows and meetings, as a young woman coming in and showing up with Kathleen, it made me feel proud. I love showing up to a meeting or trade show booth and seeing how unexpected it was that we’re not just selling but running the companies
What does that vulnerability at work mean to you?
It’s understanding that mistakes happen, women have a better way of understanding and coming up with solutions versus harping on the issue. It makes for a better outcome. Women bring great value and collaboration, plus trust and communication when something needs to get done.
“Women bring great value and collaboration, plus trust and communication when something needs to get done.”
What challenges do you feel women face in construction?
People don’t expect women to be as knowledgeable or don’t take women as seriously, whether it’s signing a new contract or quoting a job. PRS is woman-owned but also woman ran across all departments. All our directors are women, so it’s nice to show up like that to tradeshows and meetings. We always have something to prove so for someone who likes a challenge, it makes work fun! We are always making sure we are presenting our best in order to get past people’s perceptions!
“We always have something to prove so for someone who likes a challenge, it makes work fun!”
Speaking of women in leadership positions, how does Professional Retail Services support women in construction?
We grow and trust women. We have so many women who work across all three companies. We love to see them all grow and become powerhouses. We push to see everyone do better, but it’s nice to train and grow another woman to feel empowered in a male-dominated industry. And it’s cool for me, I have two daughters now myself, and they get to see me travel and go to work and get things done as a mom and a boss. I also love working with so many other smart and beautiful women throughout this industry– I think we are taking over now!
“We grow and trust women.”
It’s incredible for little girls to see women being in charge and getting things done! What advice would you give to young girls or any women wanting to grow their careers?
Knowledge is power. Do research on anything that you want to do— the more knowledge you have the better off you’ll be at being able to sell it. When you know it top to bottom, you can walk in any room with anybody at any point and not be afraid.
“When you know it top to bottom, you can walk in any room, with anybody, at any point, and not be afraid.”
This year’s Women in Construction Week theme is “Keys to the Future,” celebrating “the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry”. What do you think the Keys to the Future are in construction?
I think it’s always been and always will be relationships. You build relationships with loyalty and trust, and clients know the job is getting done for them. Every single person I’ve learned from has always had that same mentality. You must grow your relationships. You must make good impressions, so they want to work with you again. At the end of the day I think being a good person and leaving people with a good feeling is the most important. Communication and relationships are the keys.
What do you feel is important to spotlight for Women in Construction Week?
I want to shout out those who led the way for me and the women I work closely with. If Kathleen was not as bold, strong, and fearless as she was in 2001, nobody [at PRS] would be working together. We all came up under her, the main core women who run these companies [including Retail Mechanical Services and Retail Security Services]. Robbye [Terrell, former Director of Sales] was the first person to walk me around a cocktail hour and made me feel strong and know my worth. Being in the room so young with all the men, she encouraged me— “You’re here for a reason, don’t be afraid. You know what you’re doing. You know your stuff.” My mom [Kathleen] and Robbye were my two strongest mentors. Kathleen paved the way for dozens of women to be powerhouses in this industry. We should magnify that.
“Kathleen [Larmour, COO] paved the way for dozens of women to be powerhouses in this industry. We should magnify that.”
Do you feel inspired? I know I do! Thank you again to Amanda Procida for sharing her perspective for Women in Construction Week. Professional Retail Services is one of the nation’s leading facility maintenance companies with a 20+ year legacy of delivering exceptional service and solutions to major national brands. To find out how we can help you, reach out to [email protected].