Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Could There Be Mold in My HVAC System?

Monday, November 9th, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

Mold is one of the biggest hindrances to good indoor air quality. And when there is mold in your home’s or business’s HVAC system, your blower fan can send it back to every room in the building. People with allergies and asthma suffer the most in these cases, but mold may affect even people without any preexisting conditions, leading to respiratory illness and a variety of symptoms. (more…)

Is Your Air Conditioning System Affecting Your Health?

Monday, August 3rd, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

A quality air conditioning system is key to your comfort in the spring and summer months. Unfortunately, a poorly maintained air conditioning system could actually make you sick, especially if you suffer from asthma or severe allergies. Follow our guide to learn about ways an AC system can lead to illness or allergy symptoms, and ways to correct or prevent the issue. (more…)

How to Prevent Mold Growth

Monday, May 4th, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

When mold spores settle in damp areas, mold growth can run rampant, and you may end up with a major issue that can leave members of your family feeling ill. Mold can lead to allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and can even provoke symptoms in non-allergic people. Mold also causes damage to the surface that it grows on, and it will worsen over time. You should take measures against mold as soon as you notice a problem, but preventive action is always the best step. (more…)

Is It Time for a Commercial or Industrial Filter Change?

Monday, April 13th, 2015 by Lisa Pixley

When you own or manage a commercial property, keeping everyone in the building comfortable is a big part of your job. Of course, you don’t always have time to take care of every routine service that helps keep your employees feeling happy and relaxed. That’s why air professionals offer up their HVAC services for your regular maintenance needs, such as a regular air filter change-out. Changing out the air filter is important in making your air conditioner and heater run efficiently and effectively, and keeping those on your property happy and healthy. (more…)

Why It’s Important to Schedule HVAC Decontamination

Monday, September 29th, 2014 by Lisa Pixley

The HVAC system in a home or business will begin to collect dust, dirt, and other contaminants—including possibly mold and illness-causing microorganisms—over time. Eventually, the system will require a thorough decontamination to remove these pollutants from the ductwork and air handler. This decontamination will not only protect the HVAC system from inefficient operation and repair issues, but it will also benefit your indoor air quality.

A full HVAC system decontamination in Minneapolis, MN goes beyond basic duct cleaning, and for this job you need trained specialists. Alpha Air Corporation has a staff of NADCA-certified technicians with the best equipment available for the HVAC decontamination that will protect your home or business from poor quality air and an inefficient heating and air conditioning system.

Why HVAC decontamination is important

It’s impossible to avoid the intrusion of some levels of contamination into the ductwork of a home or business, and given enough time, this dust, dirt, and other debris will accumulate to the point that it will affect airflow through the ducts. This places unnecessary strain on the heating and air conditioning system. Debris that enters the cabinets of the heater or AC can also inflict damage that will require repairs. A full cleaning of the ducts, vents, and air handler will eliminate these detriments to efficiency and system operation.

Another reason you should schedule HVAC decontamination is that the pollutants which gather inside the ducts and the air handler of the system will enter the air of the building and the lungs of the people in it. This leads to discomfort and health problems, and it is especially worrying for people who have asthma and allergies. A decontamination of the HVAC system goes further than standard duct cleaning to sanitize the ductwork and the heater and air conditioner so they do not contribute to lowering indoor air quality. During decontamination, technicians clean the air handlers, register vents, bathroom exhausts (a common source for mold), and the exhaust vents in a business that release harmful fumes and chemicals.

Alpha Air Corporation uses special robotic cameras to inspect ductwork when we start on a HVAC decontamination job. We use the data from the cameras to plan out the sort of duct cleaning necessary, as well as any spots that require duct sealing. We also use an EPA-registered sanitizing agent (Category III) to decontaminate the HVAC system without leaving behind chemical residue that can affect health within living- or work-spaces.

For HVAC decontamination in Minneapolis, MN, Call Us Today! 952.476.4144 or 1-866-PIXLEYS.

Pollutants That HVAC Sanitizing Will Remove

Tuesday, August 26th, 2014 by Lisa Pixley

Duct cleaning is a basic service that homeowners and business owners alike need to have done every few years (sometimes more) to help maintain indoor air quality and to reduce the strain on the heaters and air conditioners hooked up to the ducts. However, sometimes standard duct cleaning isn’t sufficient to eliminate the pollutants that can develop inside an HVAC system. This is where HVAC system sanitizing and deodorizing comes into play. Sanitizing targets specific biological dangers that can develop inside an HVAC system that will lead to severe problems with indoor air quality. Technicians provide a complete cleaning of the ductwork that goes farther than regular duct cleaning.

Just as cleaning ducts requires trained professionals, HVAC sanitizing and deodorizing requires the work of specialists with high-end equipment.

If you think you need sanitizing in Minneapolis, MN for your home or business, Call Us Today! 952.476.4144 or 1-866-PIXLEYS

Here’s what HVAC sanitizing will remove:

  • Bacteria: Bacteria develops in humid and closed-in environments, and ducts are ideal places for them to start growing. This bacterial growth can lead to lung infections and other respiratory problems.
  • Mold: Mold is one of the most common and harmful of contaminants that can enter buildings. Molds release toxic spores that can cause a number of different health complications, and they are especially dangerous for people with allergies and asthma.
  • Mildew: This is a less destructive and unhealthy pollutant—but it can lead to an unpleasant work environment from the damp smell permeating the ductwork. If mildew appears in a ventilation system, it can also points to problems from water damage that may have affected other parts of the HVAC system.

The sanitizing process that we use at Alpha Air Corporation eliminates these pollutants without leaving chemical residues that will lower indoor air quality. The sanitizer rapidly degrades into non-volatile compounds soon after it is used. The deodorizers also attack the sources of smells and destroys them, rather than covering them up with another odor. Neither process will do any damage to the ductwork in your building.

Please take the possible presence of mold, fungi, and bacteria in your home or workspace seriously. “Sick Building” syndrome is something that you can avoid and eliminate with the proper planning and with the assistance of professionals. Our Minneapolis, MN sanitizing team has the residential and industrial experience and certification necessary to clean out the biological hazards from your HVAC system and make sure you have a “Healthy Building.”

How Does Mold Remediation Work?

Friday, June 27th, 2014 by Lisa Pixley

Eliminating mold inside the ventilation system of a home takes more detailed and intensive work than simply locating spots of mold growth trying to wipe them away. Professional mold remediation addresses not only current issues with mold, but removal of the source of the growth as well as the ability of the mold to spread. If you trust mold remediation in Rochester, MN to amateurs who lack NADCA and IAQA certification, you will only receive a superficial remedy to the mold problems, which will return soon afterwards.

A company like Alpha Air Corporation with the proper certification, training, and experience will do a thorough job of protecting your household from the hazards of mold and their toxic spores. We are so confident in our mold remediation services that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on our HVAC sanitizing work.

What is involved in mold remediation

There is no single process for mold remediation: it changes depending on the situation in a home and the amount of biological contamination the needs removal. The mold remediators will first assess the amount of mold they must deal with and its type, and then set to work eliminate them and the source of their growth.

The technicians will first remove the source of moisture that allowed for the mold to appear, such as ductwork leaks. After that, they will start with methods to destroy the mold and remove it. A common technique is to use dry fog that kills mold. The chemical used in this fog is approved by the EPA as safe for humans and pets. The inspectors will not use any toxic fungicides that could leave residue inside your ducts. These fungicides are not fully effective, either, since it’s important that the mold is not only killed, but all traced of it removed, since dead mold is still capable of causing health problems and reactions in people. Any successful mold remediation involves techniques that not only destroy the mold (dry fog, UV germicidal lights, damp vacuums) but also uses agitations equipment to scrub the mold material from the ductwork and sweep it away.

For some remediation jobs, sections of the ducts will need complete replacement to eliminate all trace of the mold. This is common if the mold developed as part of damage to the ventilation system.

During the process of mold remediation, the technicians use fans and take special care with filtration and ventilation so that the debris from the job, which contains dead mold and spores, will blow out of the house and not enter living spaces. The technicians will take all precautions to keep your home safe as they do their job.

It’s crucial that you only hire mold remediators with the proper certification from the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) and IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association).

Call the certified and highly qualified team at Alpha Air Corporation to handle your mold remediation needs in Rochester, MN.

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.

Why Do I Need Duct Cleaning?

Friday, November 1st, 2013 by Lisa Pixley

The ducts in your home or business do their job mostly out of your sight, hidden in walls, floors, and ceilings. Because you can’t see them, you probably won’t know when they become dirty… until the contamination begins to cause you difficulties. What problems can you run into because of dirty ductwork, and why should you schedule cleaning? We’ll go over the three main reasons to have your ducts regularly cleaned, starting with the most serious problem.

Duct cleaning requires professionals to handle, especially for commercial ductwork. If you think you need duct cleaning in MN, contact Alpha Air Corporation today.

Protect your indoor air quality

The EPA lists poor indoor air quality as one of the primary threats to health in the U.S. According to the EPA’s website, low quality indoor air can lead to “irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue” after only short-term exposure. More serious illnesses can result from continued exposure.

Contamination inside vents is a major source of reduction in a home’s air quality: dander, pollens, dust, and animal hair that gather in ducts are all allergens that will affect people in your home, regardless of whether they have allergies or not. One of the most worrisome of contaminants that can get into your ducts is mold. Microbacterial infestations are difficult to remove, and require professional assistance to remediate.

Improve the performance of your HVAC system

The furnace/heat pump/air conditioner hooked up to your ducts can suffer a reduction in effectiveness because of dirty ducts. A buildup of dust will clog up the filter, reducing the air flow and possibly leading to damage inside the unit. The dirtier an HVAC system becomes, the harder it will have to work, which will cause an increase in your power bills.

A cleaner home

Ducts that are filled with dusty contamination will continually blow those irritants around your home or workplace. Aside from polluting the air that you breathe, this dust will settle around the house or office. You’ll find that even the most thorough cleaning job will only keep the dust away for a few days. If you’ve noticed that the standard broom and vacuum aren’t doing the job, then it’s probably time for professional duct cleaning.

You need to take the cleanliness of your ductwork seriously; don’t take your ducts for granted just because you can’t see them most of the time. Alpha Air Corporation has provided Minnesota with duct cleaning for over 30 years, so when it’s time to cleanse out your home or business’ ducts, just give us a call.

What Causes Air Duct Odors in My Minneapolis Home?

Monday, March 11th, 2013 by Lisa Pixley

At Alpha Air our goal is to make your home as comfortable as possible. That is why we offer some of the finest air duct cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing services in the business. Real comfort is much more inclusive than simply maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout the year. Your ductwork is one of the most important components in your heating and air conditioning system. It can affect indoor air quality, heating and air conditioning efficiency, and even your health. If you notice strange, unfamiliar and unpleasant odors coming from the air ducts in your home, call the Minneapolis duct cleaning experts at Alpha Air today.

There are a number of possible causes that may lead to unpleasant odors emanating from your air ducts. Anything from the presence of animals in your home to vermin within the ducts themselves, gases and problems with electrical components in your heating and air conditioning can lead to ductwork odor. Only a trained, professional Minneapolis duct cleaning technician can determine for certain what the cause of your air duct odor is.

A common cause of duct odor is the presence of biological pollutants within your air ducts. The growth mildew or even mold can contaminate your air ducts under the right conditions, and the dark, cool atmosphere can allow these pollutants to thrive. Because your air ducts are responsible for circulating heated and cooled air throughout your home, they are also capable of dispersing these pollutants throughout your home as well.

The Minneapolis duct cleaning technicians at Alpha Air can help eliminate the source of your odor problem and the odors themselves. We use special deodorizing and sanitizing solutions that will destroy the biological pollutants, not just mask their presence with improved odors. We believe that striking at the source is the only way to properly handle such a situation.

If you have any further questions about the causes of ductwork odors or the ways in which they can be eliminated, call the Minneapolis duct cleaning pros you can count on. Alpha Air is here to make your home a cleaner, more pleasant place to live. Contact us today to schedule service.