6 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution has been linked to several short- and long-term health problems, and it affects more homes than you might think. Avoid these six common mistakes to keep the air in your home clean and healthy:

1. Smoking indoors.

News flash: smoking is bad for you. It’s not just firsthand and secondhand smoke, either. The toxic particles in cigarette smoke can stick around your home long after the cigarette has been put out, a phenomenon known as thirdhand smoke.

2. Using high-VOC products.

Home products such as paint, adhesives, and even cleaning products have been known to emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which have been linked to cancer. Look for “no VOC” labels when purchasing these types of products.

3. Lack of ventilation.

Indoor air pollution is usually higher than outdoor air pollution because the airborne contaminants are confined to a small area. Improving the ventilation in your home gives harmful particles a place to escape, and can help prevent mold by controlling humidity levels.

4. Using air fresheners.

Wait a second, don’t air fresheners freshen the air? Contrary to popular belief, no. According to the NRDC, most store-bought aerosol sprays contain dangerous phthalates, even those labeled as “all natural”.

5. Not having any houseplants.

Houseplants aren’t just for decoration, certain types of plants can naturally improve air quality by filtering out harmful particles. Not all plants are created equal, though. Among the best air purifiers are the snake plant, peace lily, and english ivy.

6. Neglecting your air ducts.

Your home’s air ducts are a common hiding spot for allergens such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold. Once these particles enter your air ducts, they can spread throughout your entire home. A professional air duct cleaning is the best way to keep your ducts clear of contaminants.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional air duct cleaning 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.

3 Most Common Problems With Home Air Ducts

Although they are an afterthought for most homeowners, air ducts are an important part of the home. They are responsible for circulating air from your heater or air conditioner, and play a key role in energy efficiency as well as indoor air quality.

Unfortunately, air ducts are susceptible to a variety of problems that can impact both your energy bills and the health of your family. Here are three common problems that homeowners may experience with their air ducts:

1. Leaky ductwork.

Think that your ductwork is airtight? Think again. It is estimated that the average home loses between 20-40% of the air circulating through their ducts. Gaps, cracks, and broken seals in your ductwork can lead to inconsistent temperatures, high energy bills, increased wear and tear on your HVAC system, and…  

2. Pest infestations.

Pests can enter your air ducts through the aforementioned gaps and cracks, as well as through exterior vents. Some animals commonly found in air ducts include mice, rats, spiders, and cockroaches. These critters can leave behind their droppings and carcasses, leading to unpleasant odors and air quality problems.

3. Pollutant accumulation.

Did you know the average three-bedroom home produces more than 40 pounds of dust per year? Much of this dust accumulates in your air ducts, where it can circulate throughout your entire home and cause allergic reactions. Air ducts are also known to harbor pollutants such as animal dander, pollen, and even mold. The best way to remove these contaminants is by hiring a professional air duct cleaning contractor.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional air duct cleaning services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us for 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.

Top Sources of Crawl Space Odors

Do you have a strange, unpleasant odor permeating through your home that you just can’t put a finger on? If your house was built atop a crawl space, that could be the source of the scent. There’s a lot of smelly stuff that could cultivate underneath your floorboards; here are some of the most common examples that we see:

Pests and their droppings

Small animals that currently live (or previously lived) in your crawl space are one of the most common sources of bad odors. Rodents, especially mice and rats, are known to infest crawl spaces and leave behind their droppings and – even worse – their carcasses.

High Humidity

We know that high humidity can make us feel uncomfortable, but it can also generate some pretty foul odors. Crawl spaces are notorious for having humidity problems, which can lead to a stale, stagnant smell that infiltrates your entire home.

Mold

Mold can grow wherever excess moisture is present, making crawl spaces a prime location. Mold not only produces a mildewy scent on its own, it can causes the wooden joists in your crawl space to decay, further adding to the smell.

Soil

If you do not have a vapor barrier installed in your crawl space, the smell could be coming from the ground itself. Soil is filled with all kinds of organic material, which can decompose over time and release odors.

Is your crawl space radiating unpleasant odors throughout your home? The crawl space cleaning experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can remove the source of the stench and leave your home smelling fresh. If you live on Long Island, call us today for a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

Did you know that clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires per year? The majority of these fires are fueled by lint, which is highly flammable. Most of us know to clean the lint screen before each load of laundry, but what about the exhaust vent?

Your dryer’s exhaust vent is the windy aluminum tube that connects to the back of your appliance. It is responsible for venting excess heat and moisture to the outside. After several loads of laundry, stray lint can begin to accumulate in this vent – creating a major fire hazard.

To keep your home safe, experts recommend cleaning your exhaust vent at least once per year. Here is how to clean your dryer exhaust vent:

• Disconnect your dryer from the electrical outlet and cut off the gas line (if applicable).
• Slide the dryer away from the wall.
• Using a screwdriver, loosen the vent clamp on the back of the dryer and slide off the exhaust tube.
• Vacuum any lint around the opening, and use the nozzle attachment to reach inside of the tube. Most of the lint tends to accumulate within 1 foot of the edges, not so much towards the middle.
• Reattach the exhaust vent to your dryer and tighten the clamp. Slide your dryer back into place.
• Locate the exterior vent on the side of your home. Remove the cover.
• Using your hands or a portable vacuum, clean the lint from the exterior vent. Replace the cover.
• Reconnect your dryer to the electrical outlet and gas supply.
• Run the dryer for 15 minutes to clear up any loose lint.

If you lack the tools or expertise needed to clean your own dryer vent, professional help is available from the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. If you live on Long Island, contact us today for a free dryer vent cleaning estimate at (631) 940-8100.