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.

How to Prep Your Air Conditioner for Spring

Your air conditioner has been idle for months, but soon it will be working around-the-clock to keep your home cool and comfortable. This sudden increase in workload can lead to costly breakdowns if your system isn’t properly prepared for the change of seasons.

Follow these five steps from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, and your air conditioner will be just as ready for the warm weather as you are:

1. Change your air filters. It is estimated that dirty air filters are responsible for roughly 80% of all HVAC-related breakdowns. A dirty filter limits fresh air intake, increasing wear-and-tear on your system. Change your filter at the start of the season and once per month afterwards.

2. Clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils on your air conditioner are responsible for releasing warm air. If these coils are coated in dust and dirt, they will not be able to effectively vent this heat, and your energy efficiency will suffer as a result. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to locate and clean the coils on your unit.

3. Clear the surrounding area. It’s not just debris on the coils that can impact energy efficiency, but also debris around the coils. Ideally, your air conditioner should have two feet of space on all sides to “breathe”. Trim any surrounding branches or shrubbery if they encroach on this space.

4. Switch your ceiling fans. Most ceiling fans have a small switch at the base which allows users to change the direction of the blades. Set them to rotate counterclockwise during the warmer months; this pushes air down into the room and creates a cooling breeze.

5. Have your air ducts cleaned. The air ducts in your home are a common hiding spot for dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, and other allergens. The air from your A/C can carry these pollutants with it as it travels through your ductwork, circulating them throughout your house. The best way to remove these contaminants is by having your air ducts professionally cleaned.

Air duct cleaning requires specialized tools and equipment, which is why it is a job best left to the pros. If you live on Long Island, look no further than GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for your air duct cleaning needs. Call us today at (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.

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.

Don’t Forget These Areas When Spring Cleaning!

Spring is almost here, which means it’s time to get started with your spring cleaning. While you put together your list of areas to clean, make sure to include these three often-forgotten areas…

Air Ducts

Why they need to be cleaned: The air ducts are the lungs of your HVAC system. Over the course of several months and years, these ducts begin to collect dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, and a variety of other contaminants, including mold. Removal of this debris requires a high-powered rotary brush and truck-mounted vacuum, so unless you happen to have these laying around, it’s best to call a professional service. Experts recommend having your air ducts cleaned every 3-5 years.

Dryer Vent

Why it needs to be cleaned: Clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 house fires every year, the majority of which are caused by flammable lint. While cleaning the filter before each load is a good safety precaution, lint can still accumulate in the exhaust vent – the winding, aluminum tube that connects to the back of your appliance. This vent should be professionally cleaned at least once per year to remove the buildup and lint and help prevent fires.

Crawl Space

Why it needs to be cleaned: If you live in a single-story home, more than 50% of the air you breathe comes from your crawl space. If your crawl space suffers from high humidity or mold, the air in your entire home could suffer. Crawl spaces are easy to forget about, and even if you remember, cleaning them is a tough task. If you spot mold in your crawl space, leave removal to the professionals. DIY mold removal can cause illness and actually cause mold spores to spread if done incorrectly.

If you live on Long Island, let GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration help with your spring cleaning this year. We offer professional air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and crawl space cleaning services to Nassau County and Suffolk County. Call us today to get started with a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.