Did You Get a Backflow Testing Notice? We’ll Explain What This Means

July 10th, 2023
backflow-preventer

If you’re reasonably new to owning and operating a business, there are probably many new challenges that crop up from week to week. One of these surprises that often confuses business owners is when they receive a notification in the mail from the city that they must have blackflow prevention testing. What does this mean? Why is it important? And what do you do about it?

We’re the local experts when it comes to commercial plumbing in Elgin, IL and throughout Chicagoland, and we can give you the lowdown on backflow prevention testing—as well as take care of the necessary testing and certification when you need it.

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The Challenges of Clean Rooms

June 26th, 2023
virus-cells

A clean room is a carefully controlled environment that minimizes contamination of sensitive components or ingredients. It can only take a particle of dust or stray strands of hair to destroy or inhibit the product being worked on in the clean room. The challenge is keeping these areas fully sterile. Clean rooms play a vital role in several industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, microelectronics, and healthcare.

At Althoff, our team works with clean room equipment and follows all necessary protocols. We understand how important your clean room is for your operations, no matter the industry, and we can ensure you have the ideal sterile, clean environment. 

Creating and maintaining a clean room requires facing several major challenges to ensure their efficient operation. But, as we say at Althoff, “Challenges accepted!” Below, we’ll examine some of the significant challenges we overcome in our clean room services in Chicago, IL.

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Understanding HVAC Static Pressure in a Building

June 12th, 2023
commercia-rooftop-unit-with-technician

What do you think you specifically need from your commercial HVAC system? Your first thought is likely “heating and cooling.” But your commercial facility’s HVAC system also needs to maintain proper airflow to avoid issues with high static pressure.

If you don’t know what static pressure is and why it’s important, don’t worry. We’re experts in commercial HVAC in Chicago, IL and we can guide you through the basics on why high static pressure is a concern for a commercial indoor environment, what causes it, and how to detect it.

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The Hidden Risks of Neglecting Your Commercial Exhaust System

May 15th, 2023
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The exhaust system for your business is probably a part that you don’t pay much attention to. Like much of the HVAC system that works in your commercial or industrial facility, it’s mostly hidden, and when it malfunctions you may not at first notice a problem with the heating and cooling inside the building.

But neglecting the exhaust system and leaving it without regular maintenance from professionals can lead to disasters. Below we’re going to look at why you need to have routine maintenance for your whole commercial HVAC system, exhaust system included, so you’ll know when it’s time to schedule necessary exhaust system repair in Chicago, IL with our technicians.

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Choosing the Right Commercial Air Conditioning Contractor

May 1st, 2023
AC-units-roof

Air conditioning systems for commercial facilities have larger functions than those for residential buildings. For example, commercial cooling often works year-round since a building may need specific climate controls to protect equipment and to allow for certain processes. No matter the job of a commercial AC system, it needs to run reliably in peak condition to protect operations. 

This makes it imperative if you’re a business owner or operator to have the best contractor for your commercial AC in Naperville, IL, and throughout Chicagoland. You want to choose carefully and do your research. What should you look for?

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A Spring Reminder About Scheduling Commercial AC Maintenance

April 17th, 2023
row-of-commercial-air-conditioning-units

Warm weather is on the way, and although it may still seem like a long stretch before summer, we strongly recommend that you don’t delay when it comes to arranging for your commercial air conditioning maintenance in Chicago, IL. The sooner you reach out to us to schedule this service, the easier it will be to get you a convenient appointment. 

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Answering Your Questions About Commercial Ejector Pumps

April 3rd, 2023
Sewer-Manhole-Cover

We offer a full range of commercial plumbing services to our clients across Chicagoland. One of these services is installing, repairing, replacing, and maintaining ejector pumps. An ejector pump in Chicago, IL can play a critical role in allowing many types of facilities to operate within local codes. 

We often get questions regarding ejector pumps. In this post, we’ll provide the answers you need to know as a business owner. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions or wish to schedule service for an ejector pump.

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Commercial Heating & Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality

March 20th, 2023
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Whatever type of heating system you use for your commercial facility (rooftop units, radiant heating systems, boilers, gas furnaces, etc.), you must also pay attention to your facility’s indoor air quality (IAQ). Unfortunately, indoor air quality is often low for commercial properties, especially during times when the heating system needs to run. To ensure the best efficiency for a commercial heating system, the facility needs to stay sealed from the outside, and this contributes to poor ventilation and lack of fresh air. 

Poor indoor air quality creates multiple problems: health issues for occupants, lowered productivity for employees, damage to equipment (particularly electronics) and building materials, and even a drop in the value of the property. 

What can you do to ensure the best IAQ for your commercial property while heating it? We’ll look at several actions you can take.

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Answering Basic Questions About EV Charging Stations

March 6th, 2023
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The number of electrical vehicles on the road in Chicago is increasing all the time. You’ve likely seen signs for EV charging stations popping up all over Chicagoland, and perhaps you know of businesses that have decided to invest in installing charging stations on their property.

With such rapid developments in this new industry, people have many questions. We’ll address some of the more common ones business owners have about EV charging stations.

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An Overview of the Types of Commercial Boilers

February 20th, 2023
industrial-boiler

When you need to choose a new commercial boiler for your facility, you’ll have several different options. The type you choose depends a great deal on the type of business you run and the purpose of the boiler.

For example, if the boiler is designed to provide heating to the tenants of a large building, you’ll need a boiler much different from a boiler used to maintain the heat needed for processing in a manufacturing plant.

We handle many types of commercial boilers in Chicago, IL, and you can trust that we’ll steer you toward the right type to serve your needs and then have it installed correctly. We’ll focus on finding units that will save energy and lower the chance of downtime. 

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