Unknown Dangers in Your Home

Your home is supposed to be a sanctuary; a safe spot for you and your family to eat, sleep, and live. Unfortunately, your home might not be as safe as you think it is – especially with these hidden dangers lurking around...

Mold

Mold is a toxic fungus that can wreak havoc on your home and your health. Mold can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present, which makes it a common resident of damp basements, attics, bathrooms, and appliances. Mold produces spores which can cause sneezing, coughing, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and respiratory infections. It can even compromise the structural integrity of your home by eating away at wood surfaces.

Air Ducts

Air ducts are an afterthought for most homeowners, but they could be harboring all kinds of contaminants such as mold, dust, pollen, and pet dander. Once these particles are in your air ducts, they can circulate throughout your entire home, causing allergic reactions and making your life miserable.

Clothes Dryer

The clothes dryer is a staple in the modern household, however it does pose a significant fire risk. In fact, clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 house fires every year. The most common cause of dryer fires is failure to clean the lint screen and exhaust vent. This leads to an accumulation of lint which can easily catch fire and spread.

Poor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution sounds like a fictitious problem, but the danger is real. The EPA estimates that more than 90% of North American homes suffer from at least one air quality problem. Indoor air pollution has been linked to life-threatening diseases such as lung cancer.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers speciality cleaning services that can help remove these hidden risks from your home. If you live on Long Island, call us at (631) 940-8100 to learn about our mold removal, air duct cleaning, and dryer vent cleaning services.

Is it Time to Clean Your Dryer Vent?

When was the last time you had your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned? A clear exhaust vent can reduce risk of fire, improve your appliance's energy efficiency, and prevent breakdowns. Here are a few signs that you could be overdue for a cleaning...

• Your clothes are taking longer to dry. Are normal loads of laundry suddenly taking two, or even three cycles before they become completely dry? A clogged exhaust vent could be limiting your appliance's ability to perform at full capacity.

• Your dryer is excessively hot. It's normal for your dryer to become a little warm while in use, but excessive heat is cause for concern. “Excessive heat” can be defined as the dryer feeling hot to the touch, or releasing enough heat to warm up your entire laundry room.

• Lint is accumulating around the dryer vent. Take a look at the back of the dryer, where the exhaust vent connects to the appliance. Is it clean, or is there a build up of lint beginning to accumulate? If there is lint collecting outside of the exhaust vent, the inside is likely much, much worse.

• It's been more than a year since your last cleaning. Experts recommend that the average homeowner clean their dryer exhaust vent at least once every year. If you have a large family, or do a lot of laundry, you may need to clean yours as often as every six months.

Is your dryer exhibiting any of these signs? Contact the professionals GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration! We offer dryer vent cleaning services to homes all across Long Island. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us to schedule an appointment at (631) 940-8100.

3 Crawl Space Moisture Mistakes to Avoid

As a homeowner, the last thing you want in your crawl space is too much moisture. Whether in the form of water or vapor, excess moisture can lead to mold, structural damage, indoor air pollution, pest infestations, and other costly problems.

Here are some common mistakes you should avoid if you want to keep your crawl space clean, dry, and problem-free.

Not installing a water vapor barrier.

The ground is a huge natural source of water, and some of this moisture can evaporate straight into your crawl space. In areas where the water table is only slightly below ground level, as much as 12 gallons of water per day can evaporate. A vapor barrier is a thin sheet of polyethylene installed on the ground in your crawl space. When properly installed, these barriers can keep water in the ground and out of your home.

Venting appliances to the crawl space.

Appliances (such as your clothes dryer or home heating system) should always be vented directly to the outside, but many homeowners make the critical mistake of venting into their crawl space. This is a big problem for two reasons. First, the air that is vented is usually warm and humid, thus bringing more moisture into your crawl space. Second, and more importantly, these appliances may be producing carbon monoxide; a poisonous gas you want as far away from your home as possible.

Gutters and downspouts too close to the house.

Your gutter system isn't just for looks, it is an important component that helps protect your home from water damage. If your gutters are clogged, water could be pouring over the edge of your roof, dumping next to your foundation and seeping into your crawl space. Make sure your gutters are cleaned at least twice per year, and your downspouts are directing water far enough away from your home.

Has too much moisture led to problems in your crawl space? Contact Long Island's crawl space cleaning experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us today for a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.