How to Prep Your Attic for Cold Weather

Attics are usually an afterthought for most people when it comes to winter weather prep. But if you’re looking to save on home heating costs this year (and let’s face it, who isn’t?) here are five things to add to your to-do list before Old Man Winter approaches:

Inspect it for air leaks. Air leaks in the attic allow warm air to escape and can cause your heating bill to spike by up to 20%. Check your attic for signs of heat loss by running your hand around the edges of doors and windows (in search of moving air).

Check for openings where critters could invade. With the temperature starting to drop, small animals will soon be in search of warmth. If there's even a small opening in your attic, you could be dealing with a costly pest infestation.

Upgrade your insulation. While there’s no denying that they’re great for storage, the main purpose of your attic is actually to provide sufficient insulation for your home. If your attic is poorly insulated, heat will rise and escape straight through your roof. Keep your heating costs low this year by having your attic inspected by a professional.

Check for possible sources of water leaks. When a sheet of ice forms over your gutters and prevents water from draining through them, you're left with an ice dam. This causes melting snow to seep into your roof and compromise its structural integrity.

Have all mold and mildew professionally removed. Attics are a common hiding spot for mold and mildew, which can affect your home and family’s health. Because you could potentially expose yourself to harmful mold spores, this is usually a job that’s best left to the professionals.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional attic cleaning and mold removal services to homes across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, pick up the phone and call us at (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.

What You Need to Know About Mold

Mold grows in many different forms. Whether it's green fuzz on old food or black mold deriving from water damage, it’s important to understand it so you can remove harmful mold from your home. That’s why the experts at GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration are here to educate you.

Mold: The Basics

Mold is categorized as a fungus and thrives in damp atmospheres. It grows as multicellular filaments called hyphae. While scientists don't know the exact number of mold species out there, it is estimated that there are over 300,000.

Mold and Your Health

Microscopic mold spores are easily inhaled by humans — P.S. it's not good for your pets either. When you come in contact with mold spores, you can experience a number of health issues, including: allergies, coughing, fever, headaches, itchy eyes, runny nose, and long-term respiratory issues.

Mold Growth

Moisture + Oxygen + Nutrition = Mold Growth.

Since earth’s surface is covered by 71-percent water and is made up of 47-percent oxygen, mold has the opportunity to run rampant if not controlled. It develops in areas of your home with excess moisture. Some places to monitor include:

• Air Ducts
• Attics
• Bathrooms
• Basements
• Beneath Carpets
• Crawl Spaces
• Dishwasher Seals
• Refrigerators
• Roofs
• Washing Machines
• Windows

Mold Removal

If you discover mold growth in your home, it’s important not to try and remove it yourself. DIY mold removal can cause mold spores to spread and actually make you sick if done incorrectly.

Are you in need of a high-quality mold removal service for your Long Island home? Look no further than GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration! Our methods are environmentally safe and proven to work. We service all of Nassau and Suffolk County. Contact us today at 631-940-8100 for a FREE quote.

Things to Look Out For When House Hunting

Congratulations! You’re ready to purchase a new home, but do you know what to keep an eye out for? Just because you got your dream home inspected, doesn’t mean they’ve caught every potential problem. Educate yourself on what to look for so you don’t risk facing any expensive surprises down the road.

1. Bad Wiring: Overused and aging systems, as well as DIY additions, are the most common causes of faulty wiring. Not only is it unsafe, but it can be expensive to repair. 
2. Roofing Issues: To the untrained eye, a standard looking roof may seem like it’s not a problem, but it’s important to make sure it doesn’t need to be replaced. Repairs can be manageable, but depending on the materials a new roof can cost thousands. Find out if the roof has ever been replaced. If so, was the old roof removed or was a layer (or layers) of shingles installed over the original? If the base layer is over 20 years old, odds are you’ll need a new roof in the near future.
3. Plumbing Problems: Be on the lookout for leaky pipes and find out if the home is using any outdated plumbing systems, like polybutylene. For the most part, plumbing problems can be addressed and repaired, but every so often you’ll find the system needs to be completely replaced.
4. Poorly Maintained: Think twice before you pour your life savings into that fixer upper. If the entire home is poorly maintained, there’s a good chance you’ll have to blow your renovation budget on an unforeseen issue lurking under the surface.
5. Inadequate Insulation/Ventilation in the Attic: Don’t neglect the attic. Make sure it has proper ventilation and insulation. If not, you’ll be throwing money away every month on your utility bill.
6. Heating/Cooling System Defects: Be sure your inspector thoroughly checks both your heating and cooling systems. It’s easy to neglect one or the other depending on the time of year.
7. Mold: It’s bad for your health and bad for your home. Be sure to carefully inspect a house for mold before closing on the property. Mold digests organic material and eventually destroys it before moving on to bigger and better surfaces. It can cause permanent, irreversible damage and make your home dangerous to live in. Mold left to fester in your ceilings, crawl space, and/or support beams can cause the wood to rot, weaken, and compromise the structural integrity of your home.

If you’re searching for high-quality mold removal for your Long Island home, look no further than GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. Our methods are environmentally safe and proven to work. We serve all of Nassau County and Suffolk County, so contact us today for a free quote at 631-940-8100.

How to Keep Your Home's Humidity Levels in Check

Balancing the humidity in your home can be a difficult task to accomplish. Too much can lead to mold, while too little can cause dry eyes and skin, and even compromise your immune system. Here on Long Island, we suffer from extreme seasonal highs and lows, which can make it difficult to maintain an ideal humidity level in your home.

Luckily for you, the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration are here to offer their professional advice. Here are four ways you can keep your humidity levels in check:

1. Open your windows in the spring and fall: Ahh! Fresh air! During the spring and fall, you can easily regulate the humidity levels in your home by simply opening the windows. Take this a step further by opening two adjacent windows to create a cross breeze.

2. Invest in a dehumidifier for the summer months: With summer fast approaching, we recommend investing in a dehumidifier. This household item filters the air in your home and controls the amount of moisture present. Just choose your desired humidity level and let the appliance do the rest. You can truly set it and forget it, as long as you remember to empty the tank every so often.

3. Use a humidifier in the fall and winter: Ever get shocked when you touch the doorknob? This is a clear sign that your humidity levels are too low, something that frequently happens during the late fall and winter months. This can leave you susceptible to increased health risks, in addition to irritated skin and eyes.

4. Place plants around your home year-round: House plants are for more than decoration; they can actually help regulate the humidity levels in your home. Plants naturally clean the air, create oxygen, and balance humidity. Not all plants are created equal, though. Our top picks include:
• Peace Lilies
• Reed Palms
• English Ivy
• Boston Ferns
• Tillandsias
• Cactus Plants

As the temperatures rise, you may experience high humidity levels and mold in your home. If this happens to you, please DO NOT attempt to remove the mold yourself. Give the professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration a call. We serve all of Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island; contact us online to learn more or dial (631) 940-8100.

How to Prevent April Showers from Damaging Your Home

We all know the saying, April showers bring May flowers.

But that’s not all they bring. If you aren’t prepared, April showers can also result in power outages, basement flooding, water damage, and a variety of other problems. Follow these tips from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home safe from the upcoming spring storms:

• Clean your gutters. The best way to protect your home from water damage is by keeping your gutters clean. Clogged gutters force rainwater to dump over the edge of your roof, where it can pool near your foundation and seep into the ground.

• Repair your roof. Has the long winter taken its toll on your roof? Now is the time to get it repaired. Damaged or missing shingles can lead to roof leaks, which in turn can cause mold growth and water damage in your attic.

• Trim your trees. Remove any damaged, diseased, or dead branches from your property before they become a projectile weapon during the next storm.

• Seal your foundation. Cracks in your foundation don’t just provide water easy access into your basement, they can compromise the structural integrity of your entire home. If you notice any cracks in your foundation, have them professionally inspected and sealed as soon as possible.

• Install a vapor barrier. Once rainwater has seeped into the ground, it can later evaporate into your crawl space – up to ten gallons of moisture per day! This can lead to humidity problems, mold growth, pest infestations, and more. The best way to seal your crawl space is with a professionally-installed polyethylene vapor barrier.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional mold removal, crawl space cleaning, and water damage restoration services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us today to get started with a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.

Common Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Think mold is harmless? Think again.

The toxic fungus can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present, which makes it a common occupant of damp basements, bathrooms, and refrigerators. Mold doesn’t just damage the structural integrity of your home, it can also make your family sick.

Mold spreads by reproducing microscopic spores, which can be inhaled by unsuspecting victims. When this happens, it often causes similar symptoms as other upper respiratory allergens, such as:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Irritated eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Tingling or numbness of the skin
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Reduced cognitive ability
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fever
• Skin rash

The symptoms listed above may make you miserable, but generally aren’t considered serious. However, certain conditions may cause victims to have more severe reactions to the mold. These include:

• Mold-induced asthma
• Sinusitis
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Side effects of mold exposure can range from mild to severe, and greatly vary from person to person. The severity of these symptoms is dependent on several factors, including the type and quantity of mold, length of exposure, and individual sensitivity. If you believe you are being exposed to mold, you should remove yourself from the contaminated environment immediately.

If you spot mold growing in your home, don’t attempt to remove it by yourself. Improper technique can lead to illness and actually cause the mold to further spread throughout your home.

If you live on Long Island, look no further than GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for all of your professional mold removal needs. Call us today to get started with a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.

Get a Head Start on Spring Allergies

Spring will be here before you know it, and so will those pesky allergies. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so get a head start on your allergies by taking these basic steps:

• Start taking your allergy medication now. If you wait until you start feeling symptoms to start taking your allergy medicine, it’s already too late. Start taking it regularly now so it is at full strength by the time peak allergy season rolls around.

• Give your home a thorough spring cleaning. Triggers inside the house, such as dust and chemicals, can worsen allergy symptoms. A good spring cleaning can remove most of these contaminants from your home.

• Bathe your pets regularly. Millions of Americans are allergic to pet dander, not to mention the other allergens that animals can harbor in their fur. Regularly bathing your pets will keep them clean and keep your nose clear.

• Find and eliminate any mold in your home. Mold is a common allergy trigger that can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. Know where to look for mold in your home, and call a professional mold removal service if you find any.

• Invest in a HEPA air purification system. HEPA filters are the most effective at removing airborne pollutants. Investing in one of these for your home can significantly lessen your allergy symptoms.

• Have your air ducts professionally cleaned. Your air ducts have been collecting dust all winter; you don’t want it circulating through your home all spring. A professional duct cleaning service can effectively remove these allergens from your ducts.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional air duct cleaning and mold removal services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us to get started with a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.

What Are Ice Dams?

Ice dams are an overlooked winter problem which can easily cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Read below to learn more about ice dams, what causes them, and how to prevent them this winter…

What is an ice dam?

An ice dam is a frozen sheet of ice that forms at the edge of a roof. This ice acts as a dam, preventing water from flowing into your gutters. With nowhere else to go, this backup of water can eventually seep into your roof, causing problems such as:

• Wood rot in your ceilings and walls
• Insulation damage
• Wet spots and mold growth
• Poor indoor air quality

What causes ice dams?

As you may recall from science class, warm air rises. When warm air from your home escapes through the attic, snow which has accumulated on the roof begins to melt, even if the outside temperatures are below freezing.

As the water from the melting snow flows down the roof, it will eventually reach its freezing point and turn back into ice. This forms a small dam at the edge of your roof, which continues to grow as snow continues to melt. When the ice dam becomes large enough and water can no longer reach the gutters, it begins to seep into the roof.

Solutions for ice dams

There are two ways to handle ice dams; the proactive way and the reactive way.

Proactive approaches are long-term solutions, and can help stop ice dams before they start. Proactive solutions include:

• Installing heated gutters
• Increasing roof insulation to minimize loss of warm air

Reactive solutions, on the other hand, are short-term fixes after the ice dam has already formed. These include:

• Removing the snow from your roof with a snow rake.
• Melting the ice dam with a garden hose.

If you wait too long to act on an ice dam, you could incur significant water damage in your home and attic. If this occurs, contact a professional restoration company for assistance. Attempting to fix water damage on your own can result in illness and structural problems to your home.

Long Island homeowners can count on the pros at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for all of their water damage restoration needs. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, give us a call at (631) 940-8100.

Why Mold in Your Home is a Problem

Mold is a toxic fungus that can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. Experts estimate that there are more than 100,000 different types of mold, but they all have one thing in common: you don’t want to find any of them growing in your home.

Mold is bad for your health.

Mold spreads by reproducing tiny, microscopic spores. When found in high quantities, these spores can have adverse effects on our health, including allergic reactions. Since these spores are so small, they can even be inhaled, leading to upper respiratory infections. A person’s reaction to mold depends on many factors, such as their sensitivity, the amount of mold present, length of exposure, and the type of mold. Common side effects of mold include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Asthma attacks
• Respiratory infections (in severe cases)

Mold is bad for your home.

Mold isn’t just bad for your health, it is bad for your home too. Molds digest organic material, eventually destroying it before spreading onto bigger and better surfaces. The organic material that mold feeds on can be found all over your home, including in your ceiling tiles, carpets, drywall, insulation, and wood surfaces. Mold can not only cause permanent, irreversible damage to these surfaces, it can weaken your home and make it dangerous to live in. Mold left to fester in your ceilings, crawl space, or support beams can cause the wood to rot and weaken, thus compromising the structural integrity of your home.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional mold removal services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.