What Kind of Debris is in my Attic and Crawlspace?

 

When you think about the dirt and debris that may be in your attic or crawlspace, what comes to mind? More than likely, there is a lot of dirt and debris that can't be seen from the outside. There are many items that people store there, from old toys to dusty furniture to holiday decorations. As these items sit in your space for years without being touched, they collect all sorts of contaminations and debris.

Here are some of the worst pollutants that can be found in these areas of your home.

 

Dirt

When you think about your attic and crawlspace, you may not consider them to be a place that can get dirty. The space is typically closed off from the rest of the house, so dirt doesn't seem like an issue. However, grime can find its way into these spaces through gaps in roof shingles or cracks around window frames. Filth will eventually settle on the floorboards of your attic or crawlspace if it's left there long enough.

Mold

When the temperature changes from warm to cold, this moisture will condense on the surfaces of your insulation. As humidity levels increase, mold can grow quickly in these areas. It's true that, unfortunately, mold can creep its way into virtually any part of your home during any time of the year. But it's for this reason that it's important to inspect your attic and crawlspace for this issue. Mainly because these areas hardly get enough attention, mold will grow more and more without notice.

 

Animal Droppings

Have you noticed various animal droppings around your attic and crawlspace? Now is the time to act — you could be dealing with an infestation! These unwanted residents need to be taken care of immediately before they make their way into the rest of your home, such as your air ducts. These droppings are not only unsightly, but they can also cause allergic reactions in people with asthma or allergies to dust mites.

Plus More

There can be up to 600 pounds of dust and debris inside an average-sized home's attic or crawlspace. Plus the above-stated issues, there could also be infestations of:

• Insulation fibers
• Lint
• Dust mites
• Mouse droppings
• Feathers
• Bird nests
• Leaves
• Dead insects
• Pet fur
• Mildew

And plenty more! Attics and crawlspaces are the largest single cause of poor indoor air quality and various moisture-related problems in your home. That's why our team here at Greenpro Cleaning and Restoration is here to help.

 

Contact Us For Attic and Crawlspace Cleaning on Long Island

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can guide you through the many problems associated with attics and crawlspaces on Long Island. Our Free Inspection will involve a thorough examination of your attic or crawlspace, both inside and out. We will explain the causes of your attic or crawlspace problems, what can be done to correct them permanently, and provide you with a written estimate. Our goal is to solve your specific issue in the most cost-effective, non-intrusive way possible.

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.

Why Do I Need My Crawl Space Cleaned?

Cleaning a house means more than just dusting and mopping. For a home to be completely clean, the less visible locations need to be dealt with as well, and that means the basement, attic, and crawlspaces. 

These locations can hide some of the very things that cleaning is meant to dispel, and not cleaning them means that those forces can fester and use those locations as a staging ground as they invade the rest of the house. With all of the various insects and molds plaguing home-owners, it can only help to clean the house thoroughly and those locations need to be cleaned just as much, if not moreso, than the rest of the house, and companies such as GreenPro Cleaning can help.

 While not all homes have a basement or attic, most do have some sort of crawlspace. While the crawlspace may not be as heated as the rest of the house, it may not be as cooled as the rest of the house either. While this means that the crawlspace may be cooler than the rest of the house in the winter months, the area will be warmer during the summer; combine with any kind of humidity, and that creates a great environment for mold.

The mold can then easily spread to the rest of the house through the ducts and other connecting crevices, virtually ensuring a mold problem. It doesn't help that the crawlspace is rarely cleaned, even after the house is built. This means that there is the possibility that garbage from the construction of the house could be lying around.

Dust also builds up in, and all of these factors combine to insure that there will be something for insects to gather. Admittedly they may not be the larger insects, but even dust mites can be a problem. Also, the dust represents a build up of other pollutants that rather than being released to the local environment can build up to a critical mass and cause health problems later on. Between the potential for mold, the collection of insects, and the build up of pollutants, cleaning the crawlspaces is a paramount necessity.

Companies like GreenPro Cleaning are more than willing to help, with both the experienced personnel and equipment to deal with even the most recalcitrant crawlspace. Contact GreenPro Cleaning today to set up an appointment to have your crawlspace cleaned, before it becomes a problem.