At the start of the year, you’ll find a lot of people are joining your gym. They’ve either made a New Year’s resolution or they want to get their bikini body read for the summer. But competition for clients is still be competitive in your market, despite this annual influx of new members.
If you are considering a refurbishment of your gym you really should add air conditioning, and I’ve compiled a list of the benefits to help explain why.
Minimise Risk and Increase Productivity
Having an air conditioning installation service to control the temperature makes for a more comfortable and safe workout atmosphere. Athletes can train harder in cooler temperatures and it lessens the headaches and fatigue that usually come from overexertion in the heat.
It’s common to suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration, when you train in an environment that is too hot. Excessive sweating can also cause skin problems like rashes and breakouts. So maintaining the ideal temperature is key to improving workouts for your members.
There is a common misconception that you burn more fat when you sweat more. There is no truth in this whatsoever. So you might have to spend some time educating your clients when you first get air conditioning.
Sweating is actually just water loss. The body attempts to regulate its own temperature, so training in sweaty environments doesn’t lead to a better, more intense workout. In truth, a high temperature decreases efficiency in exercise, because the body has to cope with the heat before it is can focus on other exertion.
Reduces Humidity
If your gym is in a humid area, an air conditioning system can help regulate that by condensing moist, hot air and transporting it out of the building.
The majority of air conditioning systems have a ‘dry mode’ which means you can run the AC to reduce humidity without cooling the environment too much. The important thing is to choose a unit that is the right size for the space and the amount of work it will need to do.
Removing humidity from the air will reduce the stickiness and physical discomfort members usually feel during physical exertion. This results in a more comfortable workout and a feeling of satisfaction after their session.
Improves Air Quality
These days, almost every air conditioning unit has an air filter. This means you can actively purify the air in your gym and the temperature.
Air filters remove dust particles, mites, bacteria, pet fur and pollen, which leads to a much more healthy working environment for your staff and a clean workout space for your customers.
Changing your air filters only needs minimal maintenance and doesn’t cost much. You can buy cheap disposable filters or environmentally friendly filters that will last for longer. These are supposed to be rinsed and reused but if you are not sure contact an expert.
How much will it Cost?
If you’re in an older building that’s not been recently renovated, the most cost effective way to add air conditioning is going to be to install an energy efficient heat pump. These systems move thermal energy from colder environments to warmer ones in the winter and can be reversed in summer to provide air conditioning.
HVAC systems cater for both heating and cooling. They are up to 80% more efficient than your current heating system if it is more than 20 years old. This means that installing a new system and increasing the benefit you offer to members will also save you money.
If you own a gym, you’re bound to be always searching for the competitive advantage. Offering air conditioning to your members will benefit them massively and will be popular with them for years to come.
