Monday, November 17, 2025 - Commercial buildings depend on HVAC systems to keep indoor spaces comfortable, but new research shows that these same systems may be quietly contributing to PFAS groundwater pollution. Many HVAC coils are coated with fluorinated anti-corrosion compounds designed to protect metal surfaces from moisture, salt, and temperature swings. When these coils heat up and cool down throughout the day, the thin protective layer gradually breaks down. Water vapor condenses on the coils and picks up PFAS residues before dripping into condensate pans. From there, the water flows through PVC or copper drain lines and eventually enters sinks, floor drains, or direct building wastewater systems. Most property managers never consider what is in this condensate because it looks like simple clean water. But as awareness increases around PFAS symptoms standards and how persistent these chemicals are, concerns are rising that HVAC systems may be a hidden source of long-term pollution in offices, apartment buildings, shopping centers, medical facilities, and schools. Because condensate discharge is constant, especially in humid regions, the slow release of PFAS into plumbing can add up to significant flows over months and years. Indoor maintenance crews often empty condensate buckets or flush drain lines directly into mop sinks, adding another pathway for PFAS to enter public sewer networks.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS compounds used in anti-corrosion and waterproofing coatings remain stable under high heat and repeated environmental stress. Studies in building maintenance facilities have found measurable PFAS levels in condensate samples collected beneath HVAC coils treated with fluorinated compounds. Once PFAS enters a building's wastewater line, it travels to treatment plants that are not able to remove synthetic fluorinated chemicals. As utilities adopt tighter PFAS groundwater pollution monitoring programs, some are discovering unexpected upstream sources that include large commercial buildings rather than only industrial facilities. PFAS exposure-symptoms standards are also prompting environmental health teams to look more closely at indoor air systems because airborne particles can settle on coils and mix with moisture. When filters are changed or coils are rinsed, PFAS-containing dust may also be washed into condensate pans. Maintenance workers often clean HVAC components with spray-on coatings that include fluorinated ingredients to extend equipment life. These products add another layer of PFAS exposure that eventually migrates into water lines during regular system operation. Some states have begun encouraging building owners to switch to PFAS-free coil coatings, biodegradable corrosion inhibitors, or advanced filtration systems that capture contaminants before condensate enters plumbing. Others are exploring whether new construction codes should require pre-treatment filters on HVAC condensate drains, especially in regions where groundwater is a primary drinking-water source. Commercial building operators may face stronger expectations to reduce PFAS contamination from their HVAC systems. As PFAS exposure-symptoms standards become more widely understood, many facilities will likely switch to PFAS-free anti-corrosion coatings or seek out HVAC components that never relied on fluorinated chemicals.
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