Mold is a part of every day life. Believe it or not, we actually need a certain level of mold spores to reduce organisms found in your air. But with all things, there must be a balance. Too much humidity results in too much mold; and then mycotixin, a mold byproduct, can cause rashes and aggravate your allergies.

Our Birmingham HVAC specialists would like to take a moment to inform you about some of your options, should you face such a problem.

Black Mold

Black mold is generally the result of high humidity mixed with low ventilation. Black mold can crop up anywhere in your home, whether it is the drywall, insulation, ductwork, or your floor joists. Black mold can wreak havoc on your property and your health.

Symptoms of Black Mold

The fist sign of black mold may be a decrease in your health. Perhaps you have an unexplained rash, or your allergies constantly bother you. A sure sign of a black mold infestation is a patch of black speckles in a moist area.

Black Mold Locations

Black mold can be found anywhere in your home. Whether it is the duct work, ceiling, walls, or joists; black mold thrives where it is dark and moist.

Black Mold Remedy

Black mold removal requires a trained HVAC professional. You might tear out the affected portion of your home, however, the microscopic spores still exist. You will find yourself locked in a vicious cycle of sickness and repair.

Black Mold Prevention

The first step you can take to prevent black mold is installing a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will reduce the moisture level in your home. Black mold thrives in a humid environment. Also you can schedule regular air duct services with One Hour Air Conditioning. Last but not least, you can have a HEPA filtration system installed.

If you have, or think you may have a problem with black mold; call your Birmingham HVAC specialists today! (205) 352-4195

HEPA filters are an integral part of many heating and cooling systems that demand high air purity. They are commonplace in residential homes and commercial buildings. But have you ever stopped to think about how they work, or how they came into ubiquity? Our Birmingham heating and air company has some answers for you!

Origin of HEPA Filters

First generation HEPA filters were developed by the the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1940′s. The Manhattan Project required a filter capable of preventing the spread of radioactive particles. In the 1950′s, the civilian market began incorporating HEPA filtration into just about every major industry that requires high air quality. HEPA filters continue to meet the increasingly high demands of pharmaceutical processing as well as microchip manufacturing.

Anatomy of a Filter

HEPA filters are comprised of a mat of random, typically, fiberglass fibers. The fibers range from 0.5 to 2.0 micrometers in diameter. A HEPA filter must remove 99.97% of all airborne particles as small as 0.3 micrometers in diameter.

If you see a filter branded as “HEPA-type”, “99% HEPA”, and/or “HEPA-like”; it does not meet Department of Energy standards. While these filters may be fine for some applications, they do not live up to the HEPA standard of Indoor Air Quality.

How HEPA Works

HEPA filters are a random mesh of fibers varying in diameters from 0.5 to 2.0 micrometers. The filter employs a 3 fold mechanism to trap particles below 0.1 micrometers in diameter. The mechanisms are as follows:

1. Interception, where a particle moves with the air stream, comes within close proximity and sticks to the fiber.

2. Impaction, where large particles simply can not avoid fibers as they are pushed through by the air flow.

3. Diffusion, where the smallest particles are blown around like a feather in the wind; thus diverting and delaying their trip through the filter. This increases the likelihood that one of the two previous mechanisms will trap the particle.

There is much more to learn about HEPA air filters, and our Birmingham HVAC technicians are pleased to help. Call us today, and find out how HEPA filters can increase your indoor air quality! (205) 352-4195

A heat pump makes use of external heat sources, such as ground, water and air, to heat the interior of your home or office. Because heat pumps extract heat from external sources instead of generating heat, they use less electricity than electric heat furnaces – as much as 30%-40% less, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump you’ll find. They are well-suited to moderate climates. When temperatures begin to hover around 40 degrees or below for an extended period of time, efficiency is drastically reduced and backup heat generation is necessary. A qualified Birmingham HVAC provider is able to determine if a heat pump is appropriate for your situation.

Similar to conventional air conditioners, air-source heat pumps use refrigerant to provide comfort to your home or office. Two coils – one outdoor and one indoor – comprise most heat pump systems. During the cold winter months, liquid refrigerant in the outside coil gathers heat from the air and changes to gas form. The indoor coil delivers this heat as the refrigerant changes back into liquid form. During the hot summer months, an air-source heat pump systems works in reverse, much like a traditional air conditioning system.

For more information about heat pumps and heat pump installation, contact One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Birmingham AL.

Air duct cleaning involves removing dust, pollen, debris and other particles from a forced-air heating or cooling system’s supply and return air ducts. All air ducts will get dirty over time; therefore, an inspection from a qualified Birmingham Alabama air conditioning company is recommended. While many people choose not to have this service performed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends having your air ducts cleaned if the following conditions are present:

• Visible mold is growing inside ducts or other parts of your air conditioning and heating system

• Vermin, including rodents and insects, are present in your duct system

• Significant buildup of dust and debris present in your air ducts is actually released into your home

Your Birmingham HVAC specialist can help you determine whether or not an air duct cleaning is necessary. Most likely, the HVAC technician will examine the depths of your duct system with a camera and share the results with you. If you decided to proceed with the air duct cleaning, the dust and debris will be thoroughly removed with a high-powered vacuum system. As part of the process, your air conditioning system may also be treated with antimicrobial agents.

When most people think of indoor home air quality, they think of allergies and little air purifiers. However, the issue is much more complex and important than it seems like on the surface. Our Birmingham air purifier experts can ensure a healthy home and a healthy lifestyle.

According to the EPA, your indoor air is typically 200-500 percent more polluted than the air outside. In worst case scenarios, the air inside your home can be up 10,000 percent worse than outdoors – yes, ten thousand percent! Much of this pollution comes from carpet cleaners, building material, paint, stain, bug sprays, cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and more.

Although we continue to pollute outside air, nature attempts to balance it out with weather, ionization, and UV energy from the sun.  Therein lies the problem – these natural cleansers are not present indoors and our immune system cannot keep up with this over abundance of indoor air pollution.  The American Lung Association estimates that most people spend nine-tenths of their time indoors breathing hazardous ultra-fine particles, germs, and gases that pass through our lungs and enter the bloodstream.  These are the main causes of asthma, allergies and other ailments so, paying special attention to cleaning your indoor air is very important.

Allergies are a popular reason for air purifying. Mold is the number one source for sinus problems and infections – and mold particles can travel through the air when present. One of our certified Birmingham AL air quality experts can come and test your indoor air quality by performing a complete mold testing on your home. We use a service called “infrared testing” that will be able to locate the root of your mold problem, if when it’s inside your wall. We will then provide the steps necessary for mold removal, and perform tests on the bacteria and mold samples taken from your home.

Once the tests are complete, you will be given the correlating remedy advice. If possibly dangerous results are yielded, your disinfection and removal plan should be placed into action immediately.

Is that Birmingham Cooling bill higher than you think it should be? Noticed that your A/C doesn’t seem to be cooling like it should? Try these basic tips to save money when you cool your home or office:

• Close off the cooling ducts (and the door) in rooms you don’t want cooled. Got a kid away at college whose room doesn’t need to be cooled? Close the A/C vent in that room, then close the door to save your air conditioner the extra effort.
• Because lights produce heat, it’s important to turn them off when they’re not in use.
• Consider putting reflective tints on your windows to reduce the amount of sunlight heat entering your home.
• Ensure that cold air coming in from the vents isn’t obstructed by furniture, draperies, or anything else.
• Turn off computers, gaming consoles, or TVs when they are not in use. Nearly everything that is electronic generates heat in some way.
• If you’re repainting the exterior of your home or place of business, choose a light color. Naturally, light colors absorb far less heat.
• Install awnings above windows on the sunny side of your house.
• Install energy-efficient fans to aid the flow of cool air.

For more information about Birmingham cooling services, please contact our expert Birmingham HVAC technicians.

Looking to reduce your environmental “footprint” and save some cash at the same time? Follow these helpful tips and alleviate some of the extra baggage your air conditioning is having on the Earth – and your wallet.

The most important tip for lessening your environmental impact is having your air conditioning serviced twice a year. A Spring and Fall tune-up by a licensed Birmingham AC Repair team allows your system to return to top-notch efficiency – meaning you’ll have to run your A/C less and that it will more efficient.

Cooling and heating is almost always the biggest chunk of the average family’s energy bill. Reducing that number directly correlates with the inverse impact your actions are having on the environment. Think your A/C temperature could spare a couple degrees? Try raising your air conditioner’s temperature 2-3 degrees and you’ll reap the rewards when you receive your bill. A warmer A/C temperature also releases fewer harmful CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) into the atmosphere.

This one is important – repair refrigerant leaks! Older air conditioners often use R22 Freon refrigerant fluid that is environmentally harmful (as well as harmful to humans) – leaks only make this issue worse. If you have a leak in your air conditioner, contact a Birmingham air conditioning expert ASAP. To resolve the issue for good, have a new air conditioner installed. Most newer air conditioning units use refrigerant that is environmentally-neutral. In fact, as of this year, R22 Freon cannot be used in any new cooling units.

Wanna “go green” and save some green? Call our Birmingham HVAC technicians today!

Replacing an HVAC filter or upgrading an HVAC filter is one of the least expensive things you can do to improve indoor air quality and to keep a clean HVAC system.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.  If you are suffering from allergies, this would be a great place start and it may even downsize your allergies symptoms by 200% or more!

Here are some easy steps to replace your HVAC system filter…

Step 1

Grab a screwdriver and the new filter.

Step 2

Turn off the power supply to the HVAC unit. Locate the circuit breaker on your main power panel and flip the switch to the “OFF” position.

Step 3

Find the filter cover which located on the return air duct side. Unscrew and remove the filter cover.

Step 4

Pull the old filter.

Step 5

Insert the new filter. Make sure you insert in the direction of the arrows are pointed.

Step 6

Put the filter cover back on and make sure the screws are tight

Step 7

Turn the circuit breaker back on by flipping switch back to the “ON” position.

If you need any help replacing your HVAC filter, call One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, servicing the greater Birmingham area.

A programmable thermostat is a great way to regulate the temperature in your home.  A thermostat is a device for regulating the temperature of a heating and air conditioning system so that the temperature is maintained near a desired set temperature.

The thermostat does this by controlling the flow of heat energy into or out of the system. Which means the thermostat switches heating or cooling devices on or off as needed to maintain the correct temperature.

We recommend a talking thermostat, because talking programmable thermostats give you clear step-by-step instructions provided by a voice that helps you find a great comfortable temperature setting. And programmable talking thermostats remind you when to change your system’s filters with a ‘call for service’ alert when your system needs maintenance.

Need help installing a programmable thermostat? Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning of Birmingham today!

A lot of people think that air conditioners lower the temperature in their homes by pumping cool air in. The actual process removes warm air from your house and cycles it back in as cooler air.

The unit extracts heat from indoor air and transfers it outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be recirculated.

A compressor compresses cool refrigerant, causing it to become hot, high-pressure gas. This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and it condenses into a liquid. The liquid then runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it evaporates to become cold, low-pressure gas.

This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow the gas to absorb heat and cool down the air inside the home.

Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning of Birmingham with questions about air conditioning repairs and maintenance.