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.

9 Ways to Prevent House Fires

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than 350,000 residential fires in the United States every year. These fires are responsible for more than 10,000 injuries, 2,500 deaths, and $7 BILLION in property damage.

On the bright side, most house fires are avoidable. Follow these nine simple tips from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home safe and prevent fires:

1. Keep an eye on what you fry. Cooking equipment is responsible for nearly half of all house fires. The best thing you can do to avoid these is never let your food cook unattended, especially on the stove top.

2. Never leave candles burning unattended. While they may smell delectable, it is important to remember that candles are an open flame, and therefore a fire hazard. Keep them away from all flammable materials, and never leave them burning in an empty room.

3. Have your home’s electrical system inspected. Electrical fires usually involve some type of failure or malfunction in the electrical system. A professional electrician knows how to spot faulty equipment, and can repair it before it becomes a problem.

4. Hire a professional chimney sweep. If your home uses a fireplace, it is important to have it professionally cleaned in order to remove the buildup of flammable creosote.

5. Don’t smoke in the home. This is a no-brainer. If you must smoke, do so outside and make sure your butts are completely out before disposing of them.

6. Maintain a three-foot safety zone with all heating equipment. Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from your furnace, radiator, stove, grill, fireplace, space heater, and other types of heating equipment.

7. Never use electronics with damaged wires. Plugging in an electronic device with a frayed, exposed, or damaged wire is asking for trouble.

8. Clear your dryer’s lint screen before each load. Clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 fires per year, many of which are caused by a dirty lint screen.

9. Have your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned each year. In addition to the filter screen, lint can accumulate in your dryer’s exhaust vent – the windy, metal tube attached to the back of your appliance. Have this vent professionally cleaned once per year to remove this buildup of flammable lint.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, give us a call at (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

Did you know that clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires per year? The majority of these fires are fueled by lint, which is highly flammable. Most of us know to clean the lint screen before each load of laundry, but what about the exhaust vent?

Your dryer’s exhaust vent is the windy aluminum tube that connects to the back of your appliance. It is responsible for venting excess heat and moisture to the outside. After several loads of laundry, stray lint can begin to accumulate in this vent – creating a major fire hazard.

To keep your home safe, experts recommend cleaning your exhaust vent at least once per year. Here is how to clean your dryer exhaust vent:

• Disconnect your dryer from the electrical outlet and cut off the gas line (if applicable).
• Slide the dryer away from the wall.
• Using a screwdriver, loosen the vent clamp on the back of the dryer and slide off the exhaust tube.
• Vacuum any lint around the opening, and use the nozzle attachment to reach inside of the tube. Most of the lint tends to accumulate within 1 foot of the edges, not so much towards the middle.
• Reattach the exhaust vent to your dryer and tighten the clamp. Slide your dryer back into place.
• Locate the exterior vent on the side of your home. Remove the cover.
• Using your hands or a portable vacuum, clean the lint from the exterior vent. Replace the cover.
• Reconnect your dryer to the electrical outlet and gas supply.
• Run the dryer for 15 minutes to clear up any loose lint.

If you lack the tools or expertise needed to clean your own dryer vent, professional help is available from the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. If you live on Long Island, contact us today for a free dryer vent cleaning estimate at (631) 940-8100.

Is it Time to Clean Your Dryer Vent?

When was the last time you had your dryer exhaust vent professionally cleaned? A clear exhaust vent can reduce risk of fire, improve your appliance's energy efficiency, and prevent breakdowns. Here are a few signs that you could be overdue for a cleaning...

• Your clothes are taking longer to dry. Are normal loads of laundry suddenly taking two, or even three cycles before they become completely dry? A clogged exhaust vent could be limiting your appliance's ability to perform at full capacity.

• Your dryer is excessively hot. It's normal for your dryer to become a little warm while in use, but excessive heat is cause for concern. “Excessive heat” can be defined as the dryer feeling hot to the touch, or releasing enough heat to warm up your entire laundry room.

• Lint is accumulating around the dryer vent. Take a look at the back of the dryer, where the exhaust vent connects to the appliance. Is it clean, or is there a build up of lint beginning to accumulate? If there is lint collecting outside of the exhaust vent, the inside is likely much, much worse.

• It's been more than a year since your last cleaning. Experts recommend that the average homeowner clean their dryer exhaust vent at least once every year. If you have a large family, or do a lot of laundry, you may need to clean yours as often as every six months.

Is your dryer exhibiting any of these signs? Contact the professionals GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration! We offer dryer vent cleaning services to homes all across Long Island. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us to schedule an appointment at (631) 940-8100.

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

With the weather starting to cool off around Long Island, we at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration would like to take the time to remind everyone about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is fatal in high doses. Since it is colorless and odorless, it is undetectable by humans, which is why many people call it “the silent killer”. Carbon monoxide poisoning rates tend to spike in the colder months because most home heating equipment emits it as it operates, and we tend to spend more hours indoors.

With that said, here are a few safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this season:

• Test the alarms in your home. Since carbon monoxide is impossible to detect on our own, we have to use the help of electronic sensors. Take five minutes to test the detectors in your home and replace the batteries. If you don't have sensors, make installing some a priority.
• Have your heating equipment inspected. Furnaces and fireplaces both produce carbon monoxide as they generate heat. Usually, this gas is safely released to the outside, but even a small block in the vent could prove to be deadly. Have your systems professionally inspected each year to make sure everything is operating efficiently and safely.
• Clear your car tailpipe. Believe it or not, you are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when you drive your car. Vehicles produce carbon monoxide and release it through the tailpipe. However, if your tailpipe is blocked with snow or slush, the gas could release to the inside of the car. Make sure your tailpipe is completely clear before starting your car in winter conditions.

GreenProCleaning & Restoration offers air duct cleaning services to homes and businesses across Long Island. Visit our website to learn how we can improve the air quality in your home, or give us a call at (631) 940-8100.

Top Causes of House Fires in the United States

According to the NFPA, more than 350,000 residential fires occur on a yearly basis. While a variety of sources contributed to this alarming number, these five causes were more prevalent than the rest.

#1: Cooking Equipment

It shouldn't surprise anyone that cooking equipment is at the top of the list. Stoves, ovens, grills, and other cooking equipment were responsible for a staggering 45% of all home fires reported between 2009-2013.

How to prevent: Never leave food cooking unattended. Remember the golden rule: Keep an eye on what you fry!

#2: Heating Equipment

Heating equipment – such as furnaces, space heaters, fireplaces, and water heaters – cause about 16% of all home fires. The leading reasons for this include failure to clean, and putting flammable materials too close to the equipment.

How to prevent: Have your heating equipment professionally serviced every year, and keep the surrounding area clear of curtains, clothing, upholstered furniture, cardboard boxes, and other flammable goods.

#3: Electrical Fires

Electrical fires involve some type of failure or malfunction in the electrical system. This can happen to any device powered by electricity, but it most commonly occurs in wiring equipment.

How to prevent: Have your home's wiring system inspected by a professional electrician, and never use devices with frayed or damaged wires.

#4: Smoking Materials

Though responsible for just 5% of house fires, smoking materials accounted for 23% of all fire-related civilian deaths. The vast majority of these fires were created when garbage or furniture were ignited by a lit cigarette.

How to prevent: If you smoke cigarettes, smoke outside and always make sure your butts are completely out before disposing of them.

#5: Clothes Dryers

The main cause of dryer fires is failure to remove lint – which is extremely flammable. If just a small piece of lint makes its way into your dryer's heating element, it can quickly ignite and cause your machine to burst into flames.

How to prevent: Clear your lint screen before every load of laundry, and have your dryer vent professionally cleaned at least once per year. Many people do not know this, but large quantities lint can make its way past the filter and accumulate in the exhaust vent.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services at an affordable price to homeowners on Long Island. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, give us a call at (631) 940-8100.

4 Signs of a Clogged Dryer Vent

Most of us know that dryers produce lint as they operate, which is why we need to clean the lint screen before every load of laundry. However, many of us don't know that this lint can make its way past the filter, all the way into the exhaust vent, where it can accumulate over time.

This build up of lint can lead to several problems, including reduced efficiency and the increased risk of a fire. In fact, clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 house fires each year – that's more than chimneys.

Luckily, this usually doesn't happen out of nowhere. Lint usually takes several months to accumulate to this level, and there are plenty of warning signs along the way. Here are four signs that your dryer vent might be clogged:

1. Your clothes are taking longer to dry. Are small loads of laundry suddenly taking two or three cycles to dry completely? This could be due to a clogged exhaust vent hindering your appliance's efficiency.

2. The dryer gets unusually hot when it operates. It's normal for your dryer to get warm when it runs; but when it feels hot to the touch, that is cause for concern. In extreme cases, a dryer with a clogged vent can even heat up an entire room.

3. You notice lint around the dryer vent. Is there lint collecting around the outside of your dryer vent attachment? If so, the inside is likely much, much worse.

4. It's been more than a year since you've cleaned your dryer vent. Experts recommend having your dryer vent cleaned at least once per year to keep your home safe. Since specialized tools and equipment are needed, it is best to leave the job to the professionals.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers dryer vent cleaning services to homes and businesses on Long Island. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

Surprising Facts About Clothes Dryers

Clothes dryers are a necessity for laundry day, but did you know they can also be a serious fire hazard? Don't believe it? Just take a look at some of these stats from the National Fire Protection Association:

• Clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 fires every year – that's over 40 per day!
• One out of every 22 house fires is caused by a drying machine.
• Clothes dryers cause more residential fires every year than chimneys.
• By far, the leading cause of dryer fires was identified as "failure to clean". 

So, how can you protect yourself from becoming a victim of clothes dryer fires? Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Clean the lint screen before every load of laundry.
• Make sure your exhaust tube vents directly to the outside – never to an attic or a crawl space.
• Don't run your dryer when the house is empty, and never ever run it while everyone is asleep.
• Have your exhaust vent professionally cleaned every year.

The exhaust vent is the aluminum tube that attaches to the back of your dryer. It is responsible for venting excess heat to the outside. Lint can accumulate in this vent, and when too much collects, it can catch on fire. In addition to creating a safety hazard, lint buildup also hurts your appliance's energy efficiency and shortens its lifespan.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services to homes and business across Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, contact us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

3 Reasons Why Your Dryer Isn't Working

The job of your clothes dryer is simple – to dry your clothes. Unfortunately, it's not always able to do that. Here are some of the most common reasons why your dryer isn't working.

You don't clean your lint screen.

Are you cleaning your lint filter before every single load of laundry? You should be. A dirty lint screen not only hurts your dryer's ability to operate properly, it can create a fire hazard as well. To clean it, just remove it from its housing area and wipe it until all visible lint is removed. Slide it back into place and start your cycle.

You are overloading your dryer.

Your dryer has a limit as to how many articles of clothing it can dry in one cycle. It is essential to be cognizant of your dryer's limitations and do your best to not overload it. It's also important to pay attention to how wet your clothes are before you put them in – some washing machine cycles leave your clothes more wet than others, and thus will take longer to dry.

Your exhaust vents are dirty.

The winding aluminum tube that attaches to the back of your dryer is called the exhaust vent, and is responsible for releasing excess heat to the outside. Stray lint particles accumulate in this vent, and after several months or years, they can begin to restrict airflow. This hurts your dryer's energy efficiency, ability to operate, and is a big fire hazard.

Most experts recommend cleaning your dryer exhaust vent every one or two years. This job requires special knowledge and tools, so if you don't know what you are doing, it is best to call a professional. GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers dryer vent cleaning services to all of Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, give us a call at (631) 940-8100 for a free quote.

What You Didn't Know About Your Clothes Dryer

Since they first started being mass produced in the early 1900s, clothes dryers have become a staple in our households. If you are one of the 80% of Americans that has a clothes dryer in their home, there's something you need to know...

They are a big-time fire hazard.

It's true – your clothes dryer is one of the biggest fire hazards in your house. But unlike furnaces, ovens, fireplaces, and candles, many people do not know about the dangers of clothes dryers. Check out these facts from the National Fire Protection Association.

• Clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires every year.
• One out of every 22 house fires is caused by a clothes dryer.
• Clothes dryers are responsible for more fires each year than chimneys.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

The most common cause of clothes dryer fires was failure to clean. As your clothes dryer spins your clothes around, they produce lint. Much of this lint is trapped in the filter screen, but some of itmakes its way to your exhaust vent. The dryer exhaust vent is the long, winding tube attached to the back of your appliance. It is responsible for releasing excess heat to the outside, but it cannot effectively do this if it's clogged with lint.

Use these two tips to stay safe:

• Clean the lint screen before every load.
• Have your exhaust vent professionally cleaned once every year.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional dryer vent cleaning services to homes and businesses on Long Island. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

The Hidden Dangers of Your Laundry Room

If we asked you to name the most dangerous room in your house, we're willing to bet you'd say the kitchen. With the sharp knives, hot stove tops, and obvious fire hazards, the dangers of the kitchen are abundantly clear.

What's not so clear, however, are the dangers lurking in your laundry room. You may think of it as one of the smallest, safest rooms in the house, but there are some hidden hazards that most of us aren't aware of. Here are a few of them for you to consider:

Water Leaks

Rubber hoses leading to the washer can become cracked or torn, bursting in an instant and flooding your home with water. Get in the habit of shutting off your washing machine's supply valve after every load of laundry, and invest in a reinforced, braided hose for your washer.

Mold Growth

Mold is a toxic fungus that can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems to those that are exposed to it. The key to preventing mold from growing in your home is by removing excess moisture, so make sure to clean up all spills and leaks immediately. You should also dry the inside of your washing machine after every use.

Toxic Chemicals

Your laundry detergent may do a great job at keeping your clothes clean, but it's not something you want your kids taste-testing. Consuming detergent and other laundry products sends thousands of children to the hospital each year, so make sure to store yours somewhere small hands can't reach.

Fire Hazards

Did you know that clothes dryers cause more residential fires every year than chimneys do? A build up of lint in the filter screen and exhaust vent are the leading causes of these fires. Always clear the lint trap before every load of laundry, and have your dryer vent professionally cleaned at least once per year.

Are you looking for a dryer vent cleaning service on Long Island? Look no further than GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. We provide prompt, professional service to homes in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Visit our website to learn more, or give us a call at (631) 940-8100.