Preparing Your Attic for Rainy Season

 

Your attic is often one of the first lines of defense between the interior of your home and the outside. If your attic is not prepared for the rainy season, then the rest of your home is in danger of facing water damage or mold growth. By taking a few simple steps, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in repairs later. Here's how to get everything ready before more April showers come along:

 

Inspect Your Roof

Before constant, tedious rain begins to fall, give your attention to your roof. Ensure any potential problem areas are inspected and found so that repairs can be completed in time. If you have a leaky roof, it's essential that you install new shingles before it's too late and the water damage travels through your house.

 

Air Duct Cleaning

Did you know that debris and dirt in your air ducts and vents can prevent air from circulating in your attic? When this space doesn't have constant air moving freely, dampness and moisture can fester.

There are many sources of moisture that can affect your attic or crawlspace. Open vents, lack of a vapor barrier, un-vented appliances, and foundation sidewall penetration can allow enough dampness to keep the humidity levels excessively high. This, in turn, causes odors to appear, and bugs and critters that like damp environments will want to come and invade your space. Make sure you get those ducts properly cleaned for the season!

 

Invest in Seals and Insulation

The best way to prevent mold from growing in your attic during the rainy season is by having a tight seal around areas where water could seep through, such as windows or vents. And the moment you suspect there's a leak or issues with your insulation, it's time to contact a professional.

It's important to ensure that all leaks are sealed and any exposed insulation is protected from mold growth or insect infestation. If you don't take care of these things, then the rest of your home will be in danger!

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

From attic cleanings to water damage removal, cleaning and organizing your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

Four Things You Should Know About Water Damage

 

Water damage is a serious issue that can lead to mold and mildew growth. And unfortunately, water damage is an issue that can happen during any season throughout the year. It's important to take precautions when dealing with water-related pains to avoid any more problems down the line. Here are four things you should know about water damage:

 

1. Water Spreads Quickly

Water can spread rapidly in a home, even if it is just a small leak. And one of the most unlucky factors is that water damage isn't just limited to flooding; often, even high humidity can cause enough moisture in your home to lead to water-related problems spreading throughout your home.

 

2. Electric Shock Possible

First and foremost, do not touch anything wet or with standing water on it. You can get electric shocks if you come in contact with any electrical sources like outlets, lights, etc., and the materials that have become wet near or touching an electrical source. You should always shut off your electricity before coming into contact with anything wet to avoid electrical shock.

 

3. Water Damages What it Touches

Water damages nearly everything it touches, so dry out your home as quickly as possible. Remove any wet items from the house as soon as possible, but be careful not to spread the moisture by stepping on carpeting or rugs while they are wet.

 

4. A Professional Should Be Contacted Immediately

The second you suspect you are dealing with water damage in your home, it's time to take action. The restoration process takes time and expertise to ensure it's done right, so don't wait too long before hiring a professional! It may seem daunting, but water can do a lot of damage quickly and lead to mold if not dealt with properly. So make sure you reach out for help as soon as possible.

 

Water Damage Evaluation in Suffolk County

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we will come test for water damage to ensure you and your family are safe after a rainstorm. If you suspect that there may be a problem in the home or building, call us to schedule your indoor evaluation at 631-940-8100.

How To Tell If Water Damage is Old or New

 

Water damage can happen to anyone. A leaky pipe, your water heater bursting, or even your sprinkler system could be the culprit. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell how long you have been dealing with this type of issue. But, we have some helpful tips to help you determine just how long you have had this problem on your hands!

Standing Water

Many signs can help you figure out whether water has been leaking for a long time or just recently began to leak. Notice standing water on the floor around any of your appliances such as an oven, dishwasher, washing machine, or dryer? This could be an indication that there was previous damage here before.

 

Foul Odor

If you notice any foul odors coming from your basement or other areas where there might be water leaks, you probably have a water damage problem on your hands. Not only that but if it has had time to sit and permeate enough to cause a stench, then it’s been there for quite some time.

 

Noticeable Dips Throughout Your Home

A noticeable dip in your flooring or ceiling is a clear sign of water damage— and one that has had plenty of time to do tons of damage. This dip may seem like it would be obvious, but it’s pretty easy for spots like this to go unnoticed. Keep an eye out for these bubbles after big rainstorms or near appliances.

 

Fading Water Spots

Sometimes you notice problem areas when it’s too late! For example, if you see water spots in different places around your home that seem to be fading, then the damage came and left a mark that is now in the process of dissolving— but it’s long from being over.

 

Get in Touch With Us For All Your Water Damage Needs

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we will test for water damage to ensure you and your family are safe after severe weather. If you suspect that there may be a problem in the home or building, call us to schedule your indoor evaluation at 631-940-8100.

Water Damage Facts and Myths

 

The question is not if your home will ever experience water damage, but when. Water damage is one of the most common home disasters, but some homeowners don't know what to do when it happens. Many myths surround this type of home damage, but many are not true.

We have some of the top myths and facts about water damage so that you can enter the rest of this hurricane season prepared!

 

Preventative Measures

Myth: All types of water damage are preventable.

Fact: The truth is that some water damage incidents are unavoidable. Flooding, for example, has many causes, including natural disasters like storms or accidents like broken pipes. Be sure to keep an eye out in vulnerable areas such as under your sink or near appliances so you know when an issue has occurred.

 

Standing Water

Myth: Many believe it's not too bad if you have standing water in your basement or crawlspace.

Fact: Standing water is dangerous because mold spores may grow on the walls, flooring, ceiling tiles, and insulation. The moisture content can also cause these materials to rot, which could cause issues with your home's foundation.

 

Isolated Water Issues

Myth: The flood only happened in one room, so it's just an isolated incident.

Fact: Just because the flood was isolated, it does not mean that the water damage stayed only in that room. Water is sneaky! It can seep into other parts of your home undetected for hours before it's noticed, which makes water damage very hard to detect and easy to forget.

Waiting Period

Myth: You can wait before hiring a restoration company after flooding or other incidents.

Fact: Waiting could cause more problems, like mold growth and additional structural damages. If there is any visible standing water in your home, you should call for help right away so that professional cleanup services can come to solve the problem before it builds and gets even worse.

 

Get in Touch With Us For All Your Water Damage Needs

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we will test for water damage to ensure you and your family are safe after severe weather. If you suspect that there may be a problem in the home or building, call us to schedule your indoor evaluation at 631-940-8100.

Why You Should Never Ignore A Flash Flood Warning

 

There are many areas across Long Island that are more prone to dangerous flooding than others. If you live in an area under a flash flood warning, and you know how severe water buildup is where you live, take caution. You might think that you can't do anything about a flash flood warning, but the truth is that there are many things you can do to prepare for these sudden storms.

What Are Flash Floods?

Flash floods are the most common type of natural disaster in the United States. They happen when too much rain falls in one area and overflows into streets, homes, businesses, or even rivers. Flash floods are so dangerous because they happen quickly and with little warning—usually just hours before it starts raining.

 

The Dangers of Flash Flooding

When the rain comes down extremely fast and builds up quickly, it's easy for water to pool in areas with low drainage or uneven surfaces. Some extremities that can occur are:

• Severe flooding
• The rapid flow of water
• Water flooding into your home
• Pooling on your property
• Mold and mildew
• Breaks and structural issues
• Unsafe driving conditions
• And more

How To Prepare

Firstly, you should make sure you don't have to be driving during a significant rainstorm. When water is hitting your windshield that fast, it can impair your vision and cause accidents. Not only that, but cars should not be driving into flooded areas, as this can create issues with your engine and leave you stranded with a vehicle that doesn't work. Secondly, if you live in a dangerous flooding area, know your evacuation routes and keep an emergency kit on hand. Lastly, after the storm has passed, be sure to check your home or business for any signs of water damage. You may have to contact your local cleaning and restoration company to help clean up the mess before it gets worse for anything severe!

Water Damage Evaluation in Suffolk County

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we will come test for water damage to ensure you and your family are safe after a rainstorm. If you suspect that there may be a problem in the home or building, call us to schedule your indoor evaluation at 631-940-8100.

Could You Be Facing Bad Luck in the Warmer Season?

 

Sometimes each and every household is prone to some kind of emergency. Unfortunately, no home is immune, whether it involves water damage, HVAC issues, or a creepy crawler invasion. If you don’t have good luck on your side this season, you could be dealing with these potential problems!

 

Keep an eye out for these home emergencies:

Water Damage

If water damage is a problem in your home or office, you must clean up the water-damaged area and eliminate sources of moisture. If left to sit for too long, it could turn into more significant issues such as mold or mildew. It’s vital to fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent further water damage. If you suspect you have water damage in your home or building this rainy season, do not touch wet or damaged items with bare hands, do not breathe in damp or odorous air, and contact a certified water damage repair expert if you suspect a problem.

HVAC Performance Issues

If your HVAC system is having issues keeping your home cool or warm, it could be because of excessive dust and debris in your air ducts. Some occupants are more sensitive to these contaminants than others. Allergy and asthma sufferers, as well as young children and the elderly, tend to be more susceptible to the types of poor indoor air quality that only an air duct cleaning can help to address.

Bugs and Bad Odors

Odors are one of the most common problems found in attics and crawl spaces. The most likely source of odors is damp air. And if you have some kind of critter infestation, they could eat into your foundation and cause significant issues throughout your home. You can call a professional to explain the causes of your attic or crawl space problems and what can be done to correct them permanently!

 

Professional Cleaning and Restoration in Suffolk County

Cleaning and taking care of your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

5 Facts About Water Damage

Homes can suffer from water damage in numerous ways during any time of year. Whether water damage results from plumbing issues, frozen pipes, roof leaks, or floods, it can end up costing thousands of dollars to control and repair.

Here are 5 important facts to remember regarding the extent of the problems that water damage can cause.

1. Even after water is removed from your home, damage can still occur.

Once water is soaked up or pumped out of your home, there still might be moisture left behind. This moisture can threaten the structural integrity of materials like wood and drywall. Excess moisture can also lead to serious mold problems, which can weaken the structure of your home and also threaten your indoor air quality.

2. Mold can start growing in a few as 24 hours.

It’s never a good idea to put off water damage repairs. The biggest reason why is how fast mold is able to grow. If given the right combination of conditions (oxygen, moisture, darkness, and organic material), mold can start growing in less than one day.

3. Small plumbing leaks can give out a lot of water.

Aging pipes are prone to corrosion, which can lead to cracks and pinhole leaks. However, even a small leak can lead to a water damage disaster. It’s been shown that a one-inch crack in a pipe can leak up to 250 gallons of water in a single day. What’s worse is that because a lot of your home’s plumbing pipes are concealed behind walls, you are unlikely to notice the leak until water damage or mold growth becomes visible.

4. Some types of water cause more problems than others.

Generally, homes suffer water damage from either rainwater, fresh water, gray water, or sewage. Fresh water comes from your homes water line and is supplied to your faucets. Gray water is dirty water, such as the water that comes from your dishwasher or washing machine, but it is not as hazardous as sewage. Sewage contains a plethora of harmful bacteria that can make humans and animals extremely sick. Water damage from sewage requires special restoration methods in order to make you home sanitary once again.

5. Attics are particularly prone to water damage.

Commons sources of water damage in attics are failing gutters or leaky roofs. It’s important to inspect your attic for signs of water damage on a regular basis and to consult a water damage professional for an inspection if any signs are discovered.

If you suspect that your home has water damage, contact the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for an inspection as soon as possible: 631-940-8100.

Dangers of Water Damage

The effects of water damage can jeopardize your health as well as your home’s health, and the longer water damage goes untreated, the worse its results are likely to be. This article will touch on some of the common types of water damage and what can happen as a result of untreated water damage.

Water Damage from Flooding

Damage from floods can be considered the most drastic and hazardous to health. Floodwater can carry any number of contaminants into your home, including infectious microbes, chemical waste, and sewage.

Neglected water damage from a flood can lead to various forms of mold, which can aggravate asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions and cause throat, nose, and eye irritation. Some mold spore varieties can also result in fungal infections that cause spores to multiply inside a person’s body. The worst type of mold to avoid is toxic mold (also called black mold), which at its worst can even cause death.

In order to thoroughly extract the dampness and disinfect the area, professionals with the proper equipment and protective gear are going to be the best solution. You’ll want to call them as soon as possible to avoid any of the dangerous aforementioned problems with mold spores.

Water Damage from Plumbing Problems

Your home can experience plumbing-related water damage from things like overflowing toilets, burst pipes, or malfunctioning sump pumps. Unfortunately, this water can be quite dirty and terrible-smelling.

When cleaning up water from a plumbing problem, it’s important to protect yourself by wearing goggles, a respirator mask, gloves, and other clothing that will keep your skin from coming in direct contact with the dirty water. It’s also vitally important to disinfect the area once it’s dry in order to get rid of any contaminants the water left behind.

Water Damage from Appliance Leaks

This type of water damage comes from appliances like your washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, etc., so the damage can typically be found in places like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. The good news is that this water is “clean”, as opposed to dirty water that comes from a plumbing leak. The important thing is to act quickly because mold will start growing within one to two days:

1. Shut off the source of the water.
2. Wash the soaked area.
3. Dry the soaked area to the best of your ability to keep mold from growing.

In some cases, an extractor may need to be used to get the water completely out of the carpet so that the carpet pad won’t need to be replaced.

Water Damage from Humidity

Some water damage doesn’t even come from a leak--it can result from high indoor humidity levels, often found in areas like crawlspaces, basements, and bathrooms. The problems arise when that humid air condenses, especially where you can’t see it, such as above the ceiling or behind walls. This can result in structural damage to your home, as well as mold growth.

Your first clue that this kind of water damage is taking place might be a foul, musty odor, or you might literally see mold growth or water stains on walls, tile, underneath your sink, or on the back of your toilet. An appropriately sized dehumidifier can help prevent and combat problems with high humidity, but if you're already seeing or smelling the signs of water damage, it’s best to call a professional to keep the problem from persisting or worsening.

If you know or even suspect that you have water damage in your home or building, it’s a good idea to call a professional to make sure that no damage or health hazards are accumulating. Contact GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for a non-destructive visual survey and indoor evaluation.