Archive for April, 2014

3 Things You Need to Know About Mold Remediation

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 by Lisa Pixley

People do not like to think about the possibility of mold developing inside their homes, whether down in the basement, or hidden inside crawlspaces and ductwork. But mold growth is a major issue in modern homes, and removing it requires the work of specialists trained in mold remediation.

Here is a list of three things you should know about mold remediation and why it is necessary. For a team experienced and qualified to perform mold remediation in St. Paul, MN, make the call to Alpha Air Corporation today.

3 things to know about mold remediation

  1. Mold growth can start in any house: It doesn’t matter how clean you keep your home, mold can find ways inside. Unseen leaks in your plumbing are a common source for mold growth, and the residue from water damage is also a prime breeding ground. Perhaps the place where mold is most likely to take hold without you realizing it at first is inside your home’s ductwork, where trapped moisture allows mold and other bacteria to begin to grow.
  2. Mold remediation is important for your health: Mold presents a major threat to the quality of a home’s indoor air quality. The EPA links mold infestation to many ailments, including threatening respiratory illnesses; the situation is even worse among people with allergies. Among the more common health troubles from mold in ductwork are skin and eye-irritation, asthma, fever, nausea, and fatigue. You cannot allow molds to continue to grow in your home or its ductwork, but to effectively remove them requires the work of specialists with certification from the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) and the IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association).
  3. Mold can damage your home as well: The development of mold is not only a problem for your health; it can cause damage to your house. Mold eats through drywall rapidly, and it warps wood; if mold begins because of leaky pipes in walls and floors, it can lead to expensive damages. Mold also contributes to blocking up pipes and causing flooding. When you spot mold growth, it is often an indicator that you have water damage occurring elsewhere.

At Alpha Air Corporation, our mold remediation specialists are NADCA and IAQA-certified to make sure you receive the highest possible quality.

We back our St. Paul, MN residential mold remediation services with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call us today to find out more about how we can eliminate these health hazards from your home.

Purpose of Air Filters in Your Heating and Air Conditioning System

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 by Lisa Pixley

Your heating air conditioning (or HVAC) system is a complicated piece of equipment, requiring a number of different components to function in sync. When something goes wrong, it can sometimes shut down the entire system, but more often, the issue can simply linger and leach efficiency out of your system. The longer it goes, the more it costs you in higher monthly bills and the more damage it can cause to your components. A more serious breakdown rarely arrives overnight. It builds up over time. That’s the purpose of air filters in your heating and air conditioning system. In towns with wide temperature fluctuations like Maple Grove, MN, filter change out is very important. Why? Read on for the answers.

Alpha Air Corporation is waiting to lend you a hand with replacing your old air filters. Give us a call if you have any questions or concerns!

The air filter removes dust and debris from the equation. As air passes through the filter, contaminants get trapped by it and thus fail to move into the HVAC system itself. Basic filters do a good job with larger particles, while electromagnetic filters can remove all but the tiniest pieces of dust and debris. Basic filters need to be changed out every few months in order to stay efficient, while higher-end filters require maintenance a repair periodically just like the other components in your system.

Either way, filters keep dirt out of the system, which is a vital purpose. A cleaner HVAC system means less friction on individual components, reducing stress on them and helping them last longer. It also means that dirt won’t clog burners or build up in larger amounts to reduce air flow. Nor will it get passed through the ducts in your system to reduce air quality throughout your house.

The purpose of air filters in your heating and air conditioning system won’t mean much without regular maintenance from a qualified professional. You need to replace the filters often, but you also need to conduct other bits of routine “sprucing up” to ensure that the unit functions as normal. In Maple Grove, MN, filter change-out and maintenance services are all the more important in light of our muggy summers and cold winters. Fortunately, Alpha Air Corporation offers HVAC service plans to keep your system running in top condition. Give us a call to sign up today.