Top 5 Reasons to Seal Your Crawl Space

The crawl space is one of those areas that homeowners don’t think about until something goes wrong. More times than not, problems coming from the crawl space are caused by high moisture levels. Luckily, you can avoid these types of issues by installing a vapor barrier on the floor of your crawl space.

Read below to learn more about vapor barriers and why you should consider installing one in your home…

What is a vapor barrier?

Crawl spaces are vulnerable to moisture problems, and one of the biggest sources of water comes from the ground. In some areas, more than 10 gallons of water per day can evaporate from the soil into your crawl space. A vapor barrier is a thin sheet of polyethylene installed over the ground to prevent this moisture transfer.

Why should you install a vapor barrier?

Vapor barriers are a smart investment which every homeowner should consider for their crawl space. Reasons to install a vapor barrier in your home include:

1. Improve indoor air quality. Up to 50% of the air you breathe in your home comes from your crawl space. If this air is damp, it could carry particles that trigger allergic reactions – such as mold spores.
2. Prevent structural damage. Mold isn’t just bad for our health, it’s bad for our homes. Mold thrives in humid areas, and is often found in abundance in crawl spaces. If mold begins to grow on the support beams in your crawl space, it could compromise the structural integrity of your entire home. Sealing your crawl space with a vapor barrier can also help to keep out destructive pests, such as termites.
3. Keep temperatures consistent. Unconditioned air can escape from your crawl space through small holes and cracks, leading to inconsistent temperatures throughout your home.
4. Lower energy consumption. Temperature fluctuations force your HVAC system to work harder to maintain your desired temperature. This leads to higher energy bills and increased wear-and-tear on your system.
5. Increase property value. When your home is clean, healthy, structurally sound, comfortable, and energy efficient, its value rises.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional crawl space cleaning and mold removal services to homes 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.

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.

3 Things Impacting Your Home's Air Quality

If you didn't already know, your home's air supply could be more contaminated than even the dirtiest of cities. While indoor air pollution can come from a variety of places, these three sources seem to be the biggest culprits.

Household Cleaning Products

Cleaning products make your home cleaner, right? Not necessarily. The truth is, many commercial cleaners actually contain harmful chemicals that release into the air when used. Surprisingly enough, the worst kind of cleaning products are air fresheners. They don't “freshen” your air at all, they just mask it with dangerous toxins.

Air Ducts

Air ducts are an afterthought for most homeowners, but they are actually harboring all kinds of pollutants and allergens. It is not uncommon to find high levels of dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander in home air ducts. Once these particles make their way into your ducts, they can use them as a transportation system to spread through the rest of your home.

Crawl Space

If your home is built atop a crawl space, it could be greatly impacting the air quality of your home. In fact, up to 50% of your first floor's air supply comes from your crawl space. As we have discussed in the past, many crawl spaces suffer from humidity problems – which often leads to mold growth. This is bad news, as exposure to mold spores can cause asthma attacks, allergic reactions, and respiratory infections.

If you live on Long Island, GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can help you with all of these problems and more. We offer specialty cleaning services such as crawl space and attic cleaning, air duct cleaning, water damage restoration, and more. We only use environmentally cleaning products and procedures to ensure your home is safe and free from harmful chemicals. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

Why Do Crawl Spaces Have Moisture Problems?

Crawl spaces aren't very high on most homeowner's priority lists, but they can lead to some serious consequences if neglected.

One of the most prevalent problems in crawl spaces is high moisture levels, and the subsequent issues they can cause. Keep reading to learn why excess moisture is a bad thing, and what you can do to prevent it in your crawl space.

Why is moisture in my crawl space a bad thing?

Excess moisture means high humidity, which is never something you want in your home. Here are just a couple problems that can result from high humidity levels in your crawl space.

• Mold growth. High humidity is almost always associated with mold growth. Mold can not only compromise the structural integrity of your home, it can cause health complications if it is not removed in a timely manner.
• Indoor air pollution. Did you know that half of the air you breathe on the first floor of your home comes from your crawl space? If yours is infected with mold, your air quality – and health – could be suffering.
• Pest problems. Many creepy crawlies are drawn to dark, humid climates. An insect infestation isn't just gross, certain bugs (termites) can cause damage to your home.

What causes crawl space moisture problems, and how do I prevent them?

Moisture in your crawl space can come from a variety of sources, but the most common is groundwater evaporation. This is especially true in areas where the water table is barely below ground level. In these regions, the ground can evaporate more than 12 gallons of water per day – you don't want that to get trapped inside your crawl space.

So, how can you as a homeowner minimize groundwater evaporation and keep your crawl space moisture levels in check? The most effective solution is investing in a vapor barrier. When properly installed, these thin polyethylene sheets keep water in the ground and out of your home.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is Long Island's premier crawl space cleaning company. If you are experiencing mold, structural damage, or pest problems in your home's crawl space, look no further than us for help. Call for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

What You Don’t Know About Your Crawl Space

Your crawl space is something most people don’t think about, but when ignored, it can become a major problem. Crawl spaces generally have very high humidity, which is open season for mold and other microbial infestations. Mold needs the same things we do to grow: food and water. Its food is the wood around your crawl space, and its water is contained within the humidity in the air.

Let's take a deeper look into common crawl space problems and potential solutions!

Bulk Water

Standing water in your crawl space is a huge no no. Builders sometimes ignore crawl spaces because they are not used frequently, but you can’t afford make that mistake. If a crawl space is not water-proofed, any kind of drainage problem or leak could lead to disaster.

Moisture Evaporation

Soil evaporation can also be a significant source of crawlspace moisture. In areas where the water table is only slightly below ground level, this is a particularly big problem. In these types of areas, the ground can evaporate up to 12 gallons of water a day.

Outdoor Air

Some people think that bringing in air from the outside will help alleviate the moisture problems in your crawl space, but this isn’t always the case. When you bring in air through the use of vents, you are actually increasing the relative humidity in your crawl space. Cold air can not hold as much moisture as warm air, so when you bring hot summer air into a colder environment (like your crawl space), it increases the humidity. This is bad news for you because as we know, mold and bacteria love humidity!

The Solution

There are a few things you can do to alleviate your crawl space moisture problems; the first is properly maintaining your plumbing. Drainage leaks lead to severe water damage that can permanently derail a crawl space. To solve the evaporation problem, you should equip your crawl space with a professionally-installed vapor barrier. This thin sheet of high-density polyethylene keeps groundwater in the ground and out of your home.

If you live on Long Island, trust GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to help you with all of your crawl space problem. We offer vapor barrier installations, mold removal, and crawl space cleaning services to homes across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Call us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

Don't Forget These Places When Spring Cleaning

Break out your brooms and dustpans, because it's time for a little bit of spring cleaning. Before you get started on your checklist, make sure you aren't neglecting these often-forgotten places.

Your Air Conditioner

Dirty air filters and coils can reduce your air conditioner's performance, energy efficiency, and lifespan. Take the time to clean them this spring so that your unit operates at peak capacity all summer long, or schedule a tune up with a local HVAC service and they will do it for you.

Your Gutters

Leaves, twigs, and other debris can accumulate in your gutters over the winter months. If you don't clean them now, the upcoming spring showers can cause roof leaks, basement flooding, mold growth, and more.

Your Crawl Space

When was the last time you cleaned your crawl space? Now is the perfect time to check for signs of pest invasions, mold, and cracks in your foundation. If it's been a while since you've last been down there, it may be too tough of a job to tackle alone. Look for a professional crawl space cleaning service in your area.

Your HVAC Ducts

Did you know that the average three-bedroom house generates more than 40 pounds of dust per year? Much of this dust collects in your air ducts, where it can circulate throughout your entire home. Other contaminates that may be hiding in your air ducts include pet dander, mold, and pollen. Duct cleaning isn't a DIY job – experts recommend hiring a professional service every 3-5 years.

Spring cleaning your Long Island home? Let GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration give you a hand! We offer specialty cleaning services to Nassau and Suffolk counties including air duct cleaning, crawl space and attic cleaning, mold removal, water damage restoration, and more. Visit our website or call us at (631) 940-8100 for more information.

Common Crawl Space Problems

As Long Island's premier crawl space cleaning service for the past decade, we have seen our fair share of issues. Many crawl spaces are built on dirt floors, and most homeowners tend to neglect them. When this happens several problems can occur, such as these.

Moisture

High humidity tends to be the most common problem in crawl spaces. If you do not have a vapor barrier installed, moisture from the ground can evaporate into your crawl space. Warm air from the outside also enters your crawl during the summer months, which leads to even higher humidity levels. The real problem with excess moisture is that it leads to the other problems listed below.

Pests

Many creepy crawlies are attracted to dark, humid climates. Your crawl space fits this description perfectly. An insect infestation isn't just gross, but some kinds of bugs (such as termites) can actually cause structural damage to your home.

Mold

Mold can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present, and your crawl space is no exception. Mold can compromise the structural integrity of your home and make your family sick. It is believed that more than half of the air you breathe on the first floor comes from your crawl space; you don't want that air to be contaminated with mold spores.

Rotting Wood

Fungal growth eats away at wood, deteriorating it to the point where it may eventually disintegrate. You can see how mold can quickly become a serious problem if it is growing on your home's support beams. If you notice mold growing in your crawl space, call a professional service to remove it immediately.

If you live in Long Island and are experiencing any of these problems, contact the crawl space cleaning professionals at Green Pro Cleaning & Restoration. We serve all of Nassau and Suffolk County, and only use environmentally-friendly products to get the job done. Call us at (631) 940-8100 for a free quote.

3 Reasons to Have Your Crawl Space Cleaned

When you did your spring cleaning earlier in the year, did you have the guts to venture into your crawl space? If not, you aren't alone. Although the crawl space is actually a very important area in your house, many homeowners often neglect it. If you think the crawl space is too dark, dirty, and scary to clean, here are three reasons you should consider changing your mind. 

To improve your home's air quality.

Did you know most of the air you breathe in on the first floor of your home actually comes from your crawl space? If your crawl space is infested with mold, rodents, and high moisture levels, your air quality – and health – could be suffering.

To save your home from structural damage.

Unless you have a professionally-installed vapor barrier in your crawl space, it probably has a very high moisture level. As you know, mold can grow anywhere moisture is present, which is why crawl spaces are such a common hiding spot for it. If you let this mold spread for too long, it could infect your support beams and weaken the structural integrity of your entire house.

To expand storage space.

Many homeowners use their crawl space as an extra storage room, but this is impossible to do if yours is already jam-packed. Things you don't use very often (such as Christmas decorations) can be stored here instead of taking up valuable space in your garage or closets.

Is your crawl space too dirty, small, or infested with mold or rodents for you to clean yourself? Call in the experts at GreenPro Cleaning &Restoration! We serve all of Nassau County and Suffolk County, and only use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. If you live on Long Island and need your crawl space cleaned, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

About Our Services

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is based out of Deer Park, New York. We provide specialty cleaning services to all of Long Island, including both Nassau County and Suffolk County. We are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and have rave reviews on Home Advisor.

Continue reading below to learn more about the different services we offer:

Air Duct Cleaning

Most homeowners never even think about cleaning their air ducts, but they are secretly one of the dirtiest areas in your entire house. Over the years, dust, pollen, pet hair, and even mold can contaminate your HVAC ducts, where they can be circulated throughout your entire home. These unwanted substances can pollute your household air and cause allergic reactions and even respiratory infections. If you haven't had your air ducts cleaned in more than three years, call us today.

Attic & Crawl Space Cleaning

Did you know that crawl spaces are the largest single cause of indoor air quality problems? Most of us never peek into our crawl space, but if you did you will probably find plenty of mold, rodents, and bad odors. Our crawl space and attic cleaning services include mold removal, pest control, debris clean up, and moisture control. Contact us for a free inspection and we will perform a thorough examination of your crawl space before determining what needs to be done.

Water Damage

There are plenty of ways for your home to incur water damage: burst pipes, leaky ceilings, and bad thunderstorms are just a few examples. Long Island is in the middle of its hurricane season, and we are sure to see our fair share of severe storms over the next couple of months. If your home has suffered from water damage, don't touch affected items with your bare hands and don't breathe in the damp air. Instead, call the water damage repair experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration.

Not only is GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration committed to keeping your home clean and safe, we are also committed to protecting the environment. All of our products are environmentally-preferred, and our cleaning methods are proven to be bio-safe. We produce superior results without the use of toxic cleaning products. If you want to inquire about any of the aforementioned services for your Long Island home, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

What's Hiding in Your Crawl Space?

If your crawl space is like most, it is small, dark, dirty, and even a little scary. It is easy to see why crawl spaces are often neglected, but most homeowners don't know how important they are to maintain. As much as 50% of the air you breath on the first floor comes from your crawl space, do you know what you are breathing in? Here are three contaminants commonly found in people's crawl spaces.

Mold

Exposure to mold can be dangerous for your health – especially over a long period of time. Mold spreads by reproducing microscopic spores, which can be inhaled and cause side effects such as sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and even respiratory infections. If you notice mold growing in your crawl space, call a professional service to remove it immediately.

Pests

All kinds of animals can infest your crawl space; from ants and termites to mice and raccoons. These pests can not only damage the foundation of your home, they can cause terrible odors by leaving behind their urine, feces, and decomposing carcasses.

Water

Excess moisture in your crawl space can come from a variety of sources; evaporation of ground water, cracks in the foundation, and leaky pipes just to name a few. Standing water can lead to all sorts of problems such as mold growth, musty odors, and rotting wood – which can harm the structural integrity of your whole home.

If you haven't had your crawl space inspected in more than one year, grab a flashlight and take a peek as soon as you can. Don't want to do it yourself? Call GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. As Long Island's leading crawl space cleaning service, we will not only thoroughly inspect your crawl space for you, we will report our findings and resolve any issues we come across. Visit our website for more information or call us at 631-940-8100.