Archive for January, 2015

What Causes Mold Growth and What Can I Do about It?

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

Unfortunately, mold can grow in any area of your home, but only under the right conditions. Mold is common in areas of high moisture because mold needs moisture to survive. Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye, and tend to float through the air, but cannot grow unless they happen to land upon an area with a source of water. And mold can be very hazardous, aggravating any existing respiratory disorders when inhaled and irritating the sinuses. Some molds even produce additional toxins (called mycotoxins) that could cause severe reactions.

Any sign of mold growth in the home calls for immediate services, and mold remediation experts may be your best option for total elimination. But a good contractor will also help you figure out the source of the mold problem, which could be any of the following.

  • Leaky Pipes: Your pipes are hidden from view for aesthetic purposes and for their protection, but that makes it difficult to detect when there is a leak in the water line. A leak behind the walls or in the ceiling may not be detected until it is too late and water has already damaged the drywall. Call a mold removal specialist if this happens, and pay attention to common signs of leaking like low water pressure.
  • Flooding: After a flood, immediate cleanup is necessary to keep mold from building up in the carpets or in the basement and posing a health hazard.
  • High Humidity: Your home may have a humidity problem if there is poor ventilation or if you have no form of humidity control in the home already. Moisture can collect in the ducts, on the indoor air handler of your HVAC system, or anywhere in the home if humidity levels are your problem.

Finding a Contractor for Mold Remediation

When searching for a contractor to get rid of mold, you should find a professional who lists mold remediation as part of their services. Mold remediation goes beyond cleaning and disposing of damaged materials. A specialist will help you to find ways to prevent the mold problem from reoccurring my assessing the source of the mold.

Talk to the experts at Alpha Air Corporation and we’ll do everything we can to make sure the mold is eliminated and cannot return. Call Us Today! 952.476.4144 or 1-866-PIXLEYS

Why Duct Inspection Is an Important Part of HVAC System Inspection

Thursday, January 15th, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

When you’re not getting enough power from your heating or air conditioning system, you probably assume it’s due to an issue with the unit itself. And sometimes, HVAC repair can be costly, especially if it turns out that your unit needs to be replaced. But it’s important to schedule HVAC system inspection with a trained professional from time to time to make sure that everything is running smoothly. An air conditioner or heater that is overworked can wear down quickly, resulting in more expensive repairs later on. And one of the parts that is likely to cause the most stress on an HVAC system is the ducts.

The ducts are responsible for providing a route between the air handler and the vents in your home. While it seems like a fairly simple job, most air ducts actually suffer from major or minor leaks. The air pressure moving along the system can cause cracks and holes to develop, and often there are air leaks in the ducts simply because of a poor installation job.

In fact, air leaks run rampant in most homes in the United States. Experts estimate than in a typical home, up to thirty percent of the conditioned air in the ducts is wasted via leaks of all sorts. Small leaks add up, to the point that too much of the air that is cooled or heated at the indoor air handler escapes into unoccupied areas of the home. You may notice, in this case, that it takes too long for your home to reach the desired temperature, or that rooms in the home are too hot, cold, or drafty.

Holes in the ducts can even allow for contaminants to enter the air you breathe. Ducts typically run through an unconditioned space like the attic or a crawlspace. And these areas can contain dust particles and insulation material, both of which can be hazardous to inhale. But they can get sucked into the ductwork and get past the vents into your home.

If your air conditioning and heating system doesn’t seem to be working as well as it once did, or if it’s been a long time since someone has examined your ducts, contact Alpha Air Corporation today!