Why You Should Test Your Home's Indoor Air Quality

When was the last time you had your home's air quality tested? If it's been a while (or never), you should have it done as soon as possible. Here are three reasons why...

Winter is approaching.

What does the upcoming cold season have to do with your indoor air quality? For one, owners will be sealing air leaks around their home in an effort to prevent heat loss. While this does help keep your home warmer, it also prevents pollutants from escaping to the outside, leading to higher concentrations of contaminants in your home. The cold weather also means we will be using our heating equipment, which can emit harmful gases. Combine this with the fact that we will be spending more time indoors, and it is clear to see why the winter season is the most important in terms of maintaining indoor air quality.

There could be harmful pollutants that you are not aware of.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in most of our homes. Most of these sources disguise themselves as everyday goods that we think are completely safe. Products such as cleaning agents, air fresheners, candles, pesticides, and carpets could all be filling your home with dangerous toxins.

Indoor air pollution can have devastating health effects.

If you think indoor air pollution is no big deal, think again. In the short-term, exposure to indoor air pollution can cause allergic-like reactions, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headaches, fatigue, and nausea. But the long-term health effects it can have are much, much worse. Indoor air pollution has been linked to health problems such as lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory infections, and more.

If you live on Long Island, trust the indoor air quality experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to leave your home as clean and healthy as possible. We offer a variety of non-toxic cleaning services that are 100% safe for the environment and your family. Visit our website to learn more, or call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.

5 Ways to Clean Up the Air in Your Office

Indoor air pollution isn't limited to just your home, it can be found anywhere with four walls and a roof – including stores, hospitals, schools, gyms, and even your office. Since many of us spend 40 hours a week (or more) in our workplace, clean air is important.

Use these five tips today to start improving the air quality in your office:

1. Keep your workspace clean. It is crucial to keep up on cleaning your work area, as accumulated dust, dirt, and moisture can all impact air quality. Make sure not to neglect germ hot spots such as your keyboard, mouse, and phone.

2. Use natural cleaning products. Don't use store-bought products for your cleaning needs, they are loaded with harmful chemicals (even the ones labeled “all natural”). Instead, use baking soda, vinegar, and lemon – you'd be surprised at everything you can clean with these simple ingredients.

3. Boost ventilation. Do anything you can to improve the air flow in your office: use fans and open up your windows when the weather permits. This keeps air moving and can even vent some toxins to the outside.

4. Add more plants. Did you know that house plants can improve air quality by naturally removing airborne toxins? Some plants are more effective than others – these five in particular are very useful for air purification.

5. Have the air ducts cleaned. The air ducts in your office could be harboring all kinds of contaminants such as cigarette smoke, pet dander, dust, pollen, and mold. These pollutants can use the ductwork as a transportation system to circulate through your entire office.

Not only does poor air quality affect employee health, it affects their productivity too. If you are a business owner on Long Island, cleaning your air ducts can provide you with real, tangible benefits. Want to learn more? Give GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration a call at (631) 940-8100.

How To Improve Your HVAC System

Fun fact: most of the energy consumed by your home is used for space heating and cooling. In many homes, more energy is used for space heating and cooling than water heating, lighting, appliances, and electronics combined!

Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to improve the energy-efficiency of your HVAC system. Use these tips to stay comfortable all year long without breaking the bank:

• Replace your air filter. Some experts estimate that over 80% of all furnace problems are caused by dirty air filters. Make sure to clean or replace the air filter on your HVAC system every 30-60 days. Refer to your owner's manual for specific instructions.

• Schedule a tune up. Having your HVAC system tuned up every year by a professional can lower your energy bill and extend the lifespan of your unit. In fact, many manufacturers will void their warranty if their equipment is not annually serviced by a licensed technician.

• Insulate your home. Upgrading your home's insulation will slow the air change rate between your home and the outside. This means that your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard to maintain your desired temperature.

• Control humidity levels. The same temperature can feel very different depending on the humidity level of the air. Humid air feels much warmer than dry air, so using humidifiers in the winter and dehumidifiers in the summer can help keep you comfortable.

• Have your air ducts cleaned. If you have never had the air ducts in your home professionally cleaned, they are probably harboring dust, pet dander, and even mold. Not only can these contaminants affect your health, they can also hinder the energy-efficiency of your HVAC system.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers air duct cleaning services to homes and businesses on Long Island. Our cleaning methods are 100% eco-safe and have proven to give our clients results! If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.