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.

How to Prevent April Showers from Damaging Your Home

We all know the saying, April showers bring May flowers.

But that’s not all they bring. If you aren’t prepared, April showers can also result in power outages, basement flooding, water damage, and a variety of other problems. Follow these tips from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home safe from the upcoming spring storms:

• Clean your gutters. The best way to protect your home from water damage is by keeping your gutters clean. Clogged gutters force rainwater to dump over the edge of your roof, where it can pool near your foundation and seep into the ground.

• Repair your roof. Has the long winter taken its toll on your roof? Now is the time to get it repaired. Damaged or missing shingles can lead to roof leaks, which in turn can cause mold growth and water damage in your attic.

• Trim your trees. Remove any damaged, diseased, or dead branches from your property before they become a projectile weapon during the next storm.

• Seal your foundation. Cracks in your foundation don’t just provide water easy access into your basement, they can compromise the structural integrity of your entire home. If you notice any cracks in your foundation, have them professionally inspected and sealed as soon as possible.

• Install a vapor barrier. Once rainwater has seeped into the ground, it can later evaporate into your crawl space – up to ten gallons of moisture per day! This can lead to humidity problems, mold growth, pest infestations, and more. The best way to seal your crawl space is with a professionally-installed polyethylene vapor barrier.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional mold removal, crawl space cleaning, and water damage restoration services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us today 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.

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.

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.

How to Prevent Water in Your Crawl Space

A little bit of water can cause a lot of problems if your home is built atop a crawl space. Excess moisture in crawl spaces often leads to mold, which can weaken your home's framework and compromise your indoor air quality.

Use these three tips to keep your crawl space dry and your home safe.

Clean Your Gutters

The gutters on your home are not just for decoration; they are actually a very important component that helps prevent water damage. When your gutters are clogged, rainwater cannot properly drain through your downspout, and instead will pour over the edge of your roof. This water puddles near your foundation, where it can seep into your crawl space. Prevent this from happening by cleaning your gutters twice per year: once at the start of spring, then again at the end of autumn.

Check Your Foundation for Cracks

In addition to providing water an easy path to infiltrate your crawl space, cracks in your foundation can compromise the structural integrity of your home. Foundations can crack for a variety of reasons, including uneven pressure, extreme soil saturation levels, and concrete shrinkage. If you notice any cracks in your foundation, have them professionally sealed as soon as possible.

Install a Vapor Barrier

Believe it or not, the most common source of water in crawl spaces actually comes from the ground. Moisture from the soil can evaporate straight into your crawl space. In areas where the water table is only slightly below ground level, this evaporation can exceed 10 gallons of water per day! Installing a vapor barrier (a thin sheet of high-density polyethylene) can help keep this water in the ground and out of your home.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional crawl space cleaning services to homes across Long Island. If you are experiencing mold, wood rot, or excess water in your crawl space, give us a call 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.

Spring Crawl Space Cleaning Checklist

Now is the time of the year when homeowners everywhere are focused on spring cleaning. While we all know to clean the kitchen and bathroom, one place that many people forget about is their crawl space.

Homes that do not have a basement are generally built on a crawl space - an area of limited height underneath your floor. The main purpose of a crawl space is to promote air circulation throughout your home and grant easy access to plumbing and electrical components.

This area can get very wet and dirty, and keeping up with maintenance is important to prevent mold and the problems associated with it. Here is a crawl space cleaning checklist to help you out:

• Inspect your insulation. It should be dry, undamaged, and show no signs of deterioration. 
• Check for air leaks around the vents and windows. Use a caulking gun to seal any leaks you come across.
• Check for signs of mold along the floor, walls, insulation, and wood. Clean up all mold using a speciality mold killer.
• Check for cracks in the foundation wall and make note of the size. Return in a month to check on them. If they grew bigger, there is a serious problem.

If you run into any problems while cleaning your crawl space, or you simply don’t want to do it, give a call to the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. We offer specialty cleaning services to all of Long Island - including air duct cleaning, attic and crawl space cleaning, mold removal, and water damage restoration. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

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.