What is Causing my Crawl Space to be Odorous?

Resolving Crawl Space Odor

If you own a home you know it seems there are always a few mysteries that need solving when working home maintenance as the years go by. For people who have crawl spaces, there can be more than a few mysteries that seem a bit evasive to fix because crawl spaces are not as readily accessible as basements. Because of this, problems can occur that seem to be a bit of a mystery that you need to solve over the years.

One of the bigger concerns arises when an odor arises out of a crawl space in a home. Because the area is smaller and more difficult to get to, the issue on how to resolve can be troublesome. There are a few things that can cause an odor in a crawl space. No matter what the problem is it should be dealt with quickly so that the problem does not worsen. The three primary concerns for a crawl space odor are:

Standing Water And Contaminants

If the crawl space area has a seeping water problem, whether it is because of cracked pipes, seeping water from underground or extensive rain, water can grow mildew and standing water often grows bacteria which can be very unhealthy. The fumes from this can permeate to the main portion of the house and should be taken care of so Mold does not begin to grow into the main portion of the house through floor boards and walls. This should be cleaned thoroughly and the water seepage location should be sealed off and repaired.

Propane Or Natural Gas

If there is a sulfur smell or chemical smell, this is a sign that your Natural Gas or Propane Gas has a leak in a piping system and this should be taken care of immediately. Natural gas is a hazard and can cause fire, explosion, toxic air and death. Because of this, if your home uses Propane or Natural Gas that is piped in through your crawl space area, you should open windows and doors to let fresh air into the home right away. Then you should contact a technician immediately and turn off your Propane or Natural gas source.

Wild Animals

One of the more common problems for property owners with a crawl space is an animal that gets trapped in the space. These animals can be alive or dead and can cause a bit of an odor problem either way. Animal feces and certain wild animals can cause an odor situation in the home. The first concern is getting the animal removed by a wildlife professional. Once this is done, it is advisable to get a cleaning company to come in and clean the area of any remaining odor causing problems. The area should be resealed properly to make sure no more animals enter the crawl space.

Having a crawl space with odors from animals or from water seepage can be difficult but rest assured that our professionals at Go Green Pro Cleaning can help you restore your crawl space back to a safe clean environment. For more information go to Go Green Pro Cleaners to learn more.

Don’t Forget These Critical Places During Spring Cleaning

Now that Spring is almost here, it's time for spring cleaning! While this is usually the time when people do a big clean, it's easy to forget some areas. In order to do a full deep-cleaning of your house, you want to make sure you remember to clean these areas, as well as the other ones!

Tops of Cabinets and Appliances
You want to make sure you wash the tops of cabinets and appliances because they can easily collect dust and dirt. Leaving these can actually make your allergies flare up and keep germs trapped.

Fans and Lights
It's also really important to clean all your fans and lights. Having dirty and dusty fans can fling this debris into the room and let it stay in the air, which can get allergies riled up. As far as lights go, you want to make sure you get the debris off so they can stay bright. You also don't want to have guests look up and see a disgusting light.

Baseboards
Baseboards collect a lot of dirt and germs since they are all around the floors. Even if you vacuum and shampoo, that only gets the dirt up out of the carpets. Another issue is when you shampoo the scrubbing brushes can fling up dirt onto the baseboards. You want to make sure you wash these when you wash the walls so there isn't a huge color difference and so there isn't dirt left on either area.

Mattresses
Since your mattress collect things such as sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells, you want to make sure you clean or flip your mattress. Not only will this help you sleep better because you won't have all of this going into your mouth and nose, but you have the chance of getting sick less because those germs won't still be circulating.

Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are another thing that is regularly forgotten with spring cleaning. Since they usually sit on couches and chairs, that means that multiple different people are leaning against them and you never know what they might have on them. Cleaning them will make them look better, as well as help keep everyone healthy.

Washer and Dryer
Throughout the year, your washer and dryer takes a lot of beating up. They can easily get dirt build up from the clothes so you want to make sure you wash and sanitize them. The last thing you want is to put a load of laundry in just to pull them out and see that they have dirt, grease, or other things from the washer or dryer stuck on them.

Trash Cans
Trash cans keep all your nasty and old trash so you want to make sure you clean these. Not only can this prevent mold from growing, but it can also make everything smell better.

If you are gearing up for Spring cleaning and you need a little bit of help, don't hesitate to call GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. They will be able to help you with any of your cleaning needs and they will get the job done right!

Things You Should Know About Water Damage

Important Things About Taking Care Of Water Damage In Your Home

When you have suffered some type of water damage in your home, you know it can be a big mess. Whether the damage is from flooding, burst pipes or an internal plumbing problem, getting the mess cleaned up can be a big and immediate concern. While homeowners may think just getting the water out is their only concern for their home, this would be a false assumption

Types Of Water Damage

For many people the original concern is to just get the water off the flooring areas and the furniture. While this is important, standing water in a home whether it is in the basement or on the primary floor area can cause extensive structural damage and health concerns.

Wall Damage

Standing water can start to erode the sheetrock or plaster from the walls. This generally will cause staining on the exterior of the sheetrock or plaster. However, internally it can compromise the materials and cause them to begin to disintegrate. This will also cause a bowing out of or warping of the sheetrock or plaster materials. This can also cause extensive damage to wall coverings like paneling, wallpaper and brick facades if the materials start to buckle as the wall material underneath becomes warped or damaged.

In addition, beyond the baseline of the sheetrock and plaster, the 2 x 4’s can start to bow as well. This can cause a structural concern for the home. When 2 x 4’s start to warp, they can cause wall cracking and ceiling cracking because the wall is now buckling in parts.

Electrical Damage

Standing water in a home also causes problems for electrical wiring and can cause shorts within the system. Electricity should be turned off to any area that has outlets submerged under water. Water is a conductor of electricity and electricity flowing through water is deadly. Water should be removed quickly from any area where electrical outlets are submerged to prevent safety hazards from becoming deadly. Then the water should be removed as soon as possible to allow for a drying out of all electrical equipment. Electrical outlets and devices should not be used until dry.

Mold And Mildew

Mold and Mildew can be the most problematic reason to get the water damage taken care of quickly. Standing water for any length of time can cause Mold and Mildew to form. Because these are live organisms they can spread quickly throughout interior walls and become a health hazard as well as a compromise to the structural area infected with the Mold or Mildew. If the water is removed quickly and the area is dried out properly Mold and Mildew usually does not have time to grow and cause any health concerns.

Top Tips to Improving Your Indoor Air Quality

When it comes to your home we all know that you want the best service and the best products for yourself and family. There are many ways to improve your indoor air quality for you and your guests. 

Here are some quick tips and advice to improving your indoor air quality for your home. 

Air Purification 

Using a high-efficiency particular air filtration can quickly purify and freshen the room air. Air purifier units can relieve itchy stinging eyes, dust, and pollen for allergy sufferers. Highly recommended for Spring time for allergy prone people. 

Plants

Plants not only brighten up a room and give it some style, but they also can cleanse the air naturally. Rubber plants and Janet Craig, Peace Lily, Golden Pothos, English Ivy, Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, and Dragon Tree are some of the plants to highlight for indoor use. They aid in the removal of pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide.

Self Maintenance

One of the best things you can do this is to make sure that the filters on your air conditioning are brand-new and all of good quality. They act as a buffer for the AC. Having a new and clean one placed every 2 months will assist with controlling the quality of air your AC pumps through.
 
Hired Cleaning Assistance

Bringing on GreenPro can bring a major helping hand to improving your air quality. 
GreenPro can clean out:

• Air Ducts
• A/C Coils
• Registers
• Grills
• Air Plenum
• Blower Motor/Housing
• Air Filter
• Air Cleaner

We hope we highlighted a few helpful options to guide you into a cleaner and purified home.