What Happens When You Don't Change Your Furnace’s Air Filter

Your furnace is part of one of the most expensive and integral systems in your home, your central heating and cooling (HVAC) system. Because the HVAC system controls not only the internal temperature of your home but also the air quality and humidity, it is crucial to maintain your equipment properly.

One of the most common and easy ways to maintain the system is by changing the air filter regularly. Neglecting to change your air filter routinely can cause many different problems.

Problems Caused by Dirty Air Filters

The air filter prevents various air pollutants from entering your HVAC system by trapping them. Things like dust, pollen, pet dander, and other common particles can quickly clog an air filter. If the air filter gets too dirty, it will disrupt the flow of air through your heating and cooling system.

Without adequate airflow, your HVAC equipment will have to work much harder just to maintain your desired temperature. If the unit is forced to work harder and run longer, the next inevitable consequence will be much higher energy bills. In the meantime, your indoor air quality will also decline, as pollutants detach from your air filter and start circulating through your air ducts and into your home. For those with respiratory problems such as allergies or asthma, this can be especially problematic.

Additionally, if your HVAC equipment has to work harder to compensate for poor airflow, its components will suffer premature wear and tear, shortening the system’s lifespan. One typical example of this is frozen evaporator coils or even a broken air blower. After extended periods of wear and tear, the damage to the unit will eventually cause it to break down.

Ultimately, the cost of not regularly replacing an air filter can end up being thousands of dollars. The simplest and most efficient way to maintain your HVAC system is to replace the air filter as a regular part of your home's maintenance.

HVAC specialists recommend that you replace the air filter at least every 30 to 90 days. Some manufacturers will make different recommendations based on the ability of their product, so be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations.

Take the next step toward healthier air in your home by getting your air ducts professionally cleaned. Contact GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for an estimate: 631-940-8100.

4 No-VOC Paints for Decorating Your Home

Have you ever noticed that a fresh coat of paint inside your home will sometimes bother your sinuses, make you dizzy, or trigger a headache? That’s because many traditional household paints contain harmful pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are easily able to transform into a vapor or gas, and breathing in these gases can have a number of bad effects on your short-term and long-term health.

Fortunately, now that there is growing awareness about the dangers of VOCs, there is a variety of low-VOC and no-VOC interior paints on the market. Now you can paint your home to your heart's content without worrying about compromising your indoor air quality.

Here are 4 popular no-VOC paint options for your next home makeover.

1. BioShield Clay

This is the paint of choice for folks with fragrance sensitivity. Even though paints without VOCs will not smell as strongly as their traditional counterparts, if you’re sensitive to smells, you might still get a headache or nasal discomfort. BioShield Clay has a particularly understated, clay-like smell that is far less likely to disrupt your comfort.

2. Benjamin Moore Natura

This big name in household paint has released its zero-VOC line, Natura, and the best part is that it’s available in every color Benjamin Moore offers in their other products. If you have allergies or asthma, an added perk of this paint is that it is certified allergy- and asthma-friendly.

3. Behr Premium Plus

Skip the primer with this amazing, no-VOC paint from Behr. The Behr Premium Plus line contains both paint and primer in one formula, allowing you to skip a step and get right to applying color. Like Bioshield Clay, this is another great, low-odor option for those with fragrance sensitivity.

4. Sherwin-Williams Harmony

Who would’ve ever thought that paint could actually help purify your home’s air? In fact, that is exactly what the Sherwin-Williams Harmony line does. By reducing VOC levels in your home and diminishing common indoor odors caused by things such as cooking, pets, and smoking, Harmony Interior Acrylic Latex paint helps keep your home’s air fresh and healthy. This paint is even resistant to mold and mildew, making it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we believe that by respecting the environment we promote a healthy, safe, and clean area for your home, workplace, and life. All of our products are bio-safe, and all of our methods are bio-friendly.

5 Reasons to Buy a Dehumidifier

We often hear about the benefits of keeping a humidifier in your home, but many people would actually benefit more from owning a dehumidifier. As its name implies, dehumidifiers help remove moisture from the air, and they come in different models and capacities--but what is it that they can really do for you?

Aside from removing the mugginess from your home’s air, here are 5 notable benefits that come with owning a good dehumidifier.

1. Your home will be less susceptible to mold and mildew.

Mold and mildew thrive in warm, moist environments. If your home is humid, that means it has a lot of moisture in the air, which can contribute to the mold and mildew growth. This growth can occur on walls, ceilings, curtains, furniture, and even clothing.

Mold spores release musty smell-gas, reduce your home’s indoor air quality, and can aggravate allergies, asthma, and other chronic respiratory illnesses. It’s much better to prevent mold in the first place than to fight to control it after it has spread. This makes a dehumidifier an anti-mold weapon that you definitely want in your arsenal.

2. You’re less likely to have issues with dust mites.

Just like mold spores, dust mites also thrive in environments that offer warmth and moisture. Contrary to what most think, people with “dust allergies” are, in fact, allergic to dust mites. Reducing the moisture in the air with a dehumidifier and frequently laundering your bedding in hot water can help prevent and combat a dust mite problem in your home.

3. You won’t have to work your conditioner as hard.

Humid air tends to retain heat more than dry air. Therefore, when the air is more humid in your home, your air conditioner has the task of cooling muggy air that wants to “hang onto” its heat. With a dehumidifier removing excess moisture from your home’s air, your air conditioner will be able to operate more efficiently and cool your home more quickly. That means that your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard and can last longer as a result.

4. Food won’t go bad as quickly.

Many foods tend to go stale and grow mold faster in a humid environment. This is especially true of bread, cereal, and many types of tree fruit. If you feel like you’re constantly throwing out food that has gone bad before you’ve had a chance to eat it, a dehumidifier might help!

5. Clothes will air-dry more quickly.

Using an outdoor clothesline can increase the amount of dust and pollen that get onto your clothes, so many people choose to air-dry their clothes indoors. However, if the air is humid in your home, it might seem like ages before your clothes dry all the way. Many people who purchase dehumidifiers find their laundry dries indoors much faster than before.

Has excess humidity created a mold problem in your air ducts, attic, or crawl space? Contact GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for an earth-friendly approach to a cleaner, healthier home.

How Your Crawl Space Affects Your Home’s Air Quality

The old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind”, could apply quite well to many people’s crawl spaces. What they don’t imagine or realize is just how much of an impact a crawl space has on the air in their main living space.

What’s Happening Inside Too Many Crawl Spaces

What happens inside a crawl space is directly affected by the weather and temperatures outside of it. The most ventilation your crawl space receives probably comes from a conveniently-directed gust of wind or pressure changes. Even so, nearly all crawl spaces are not well-ventilated, and this causes stagnant air to gather inside.

Moisture is also drawn into the crawl space due to a few different factors:

• The dryness of the dirt inside it compared to the dirt around the foundation
• Your house drawing moisture up from the ground
• Warm, humid air on hot days entering the cooler environment of the crawl space through foundation vents, thereby increasing the humidity

When that moisture evaporates, the water vapor will rise and settle in various areas, such as the floor insulation or ductwork. In the warmer months, the increased humidity caused by warm air entering the crawl space results in condensation that can also settle on the ductwork and floor insulation, as well as the subfloor and floor joists.

What You Didn’t Want to Know About Your Crawl Space

If you have a crawl space, it’s probably not well-ventilated because most crawl spaces aren’t. This lack of ventilation results in stagnant air.

Now, remember that moisture and condensation we were just mentioning? Here’s the bad news: not only does the condensation lead to mold or even radon growth--the damp, musty environment being created down below along with all of that stagnant air becomes a habitat for unwanted pests, namely rodents and termites. In other words, your crawl space becomes an ideal environment for things far less than ideal.

How Crawl Space Air Gets into Your Home

You’ve probably experienced how upstairs rooms during summertime are a lot hotter than the rooms downstairs. This is because cooler air is drawn up from below as the warm air in your house rises. This is how that cooler air from your crawl space enters your house, which can be quite problematic if that air is smelly or of poor quality.

Using the exhaust fans in your bathroom or kitchen might worsen the problem. Running those fans creates negative pressure in your house, which will then pull in air from the outdoors and from your crawl space. If your HVAC system is located in the crawl space, even more of that dirty air might be finding its way into your house. Dank air can creep into leaks in your ductwork or air filter and then be circulated by your HVAC throughout the entire house.

In Need of a Clean Crawl Space?

If you’re noticing poor air quality, moisture issues, or bad odors in your home, a dirty crawl space might be the culprit. GreenPro offers professional, bio-friendly cleaning services, including an EPA-registered, non-toxic, chemical-free, botanical fungistat/disinfectant that kills 99.99% of harmful odor-causing bacteria.

Schedule your free inspection today!

You Might Need an Air Duct Cleaning If…

If you own a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, at some point it’s going to need a thorough cleaning. It’s important to know what factors might be increasing your need for a professional cleaning sooner rather than later, and the information below can help!

You might need an air duct cleaning if...

…You Have Pets

If you have pets, they are most likely spending a lot of time indoors, especially during the colder months of the year. What you might not know is that your pet is continuously dropping off pet dander that can travel all over your house, wherever your pet goes, wherever you go, and wherever there’s an air vent--basically everywhere.

Dander itself is skin flakes that all animals produce, and dander--not hair--is what causes people with animal-related allergies to have an allergic reaction. Over time, your pet’s dander will find its way into your air ducts, where it will collect and be released by your HVAC throughout each room of your house. As a result, your home air quality will start to diminish.

...You Have Allergies or Even Asthma

Literally millions of Americans suffer from allergies and asthma. On an annual basis, 50 million Americans are suffering from allergies, and 24 million are affected by asthma. So what does this have to do with air ducts?

As you can probably guess, components of your HVAC system can become coated with dust, allergens, spores, and other irritants that then get pushed out into your home, affecting its air quality. If you suffer from allergies and asthma, having clean air ducts may help lessen the volume of air particles triggering your symptoms.

...Children or Elderly Individuals Live in Your House

Children and the elderly can be especially susceptible to the harmful effects of poor air quality. While many people may know this, research from the American Lung Association has revealed that 87% of Americans don’t know that the indoor air in most American homes is actually more polluted than the air outdoors. Keeping this in mind, it’s also important to remember that children and the elderly--especially those with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases--are probably spending more time indoors than anyone else.

Before welcoming a newborn baby or an elderly parent into your home, you may want to inspect the cleanliness of your HVAC system to help ensure a cleaner living space and prevent allergic reactions and illness.

...Someone in Your Household Smokes Indoors

While smoking can be detrimental to your health, it can also increase your need for an air duct cleaning. Unfortunately, when someone smokes indoors, the smoke doesn’t have many places to go. It’s almost a certainty that it will be pulled through your air ducts and that the smell will start to saturate your home. Even if you are not particularly bothered by the smell, the smoke particles are also going to be forced back into the home by the HVAC system, which could cause guests to become ill or suffer an allergic reaction or asthma attack.

It’s perfectly normal for your air ducts to need a professional cleaning from time to time. At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we provide comprehensive air duct cleaning services, including inspections, cleaning of entire HVAC systems and their components, and anti-microbial treatments registered with EPA. If you have any of the four factors listed above, contact us to schedule an inspection.

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Home is where the heart is — but if you don’t take the proper precautions, it can become full of airborne contaminants. That’s why GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is here to provide some life-changing tips to help you improve your indoor air quality:

• Adopt a Houseplant: Nurture that green thumb. Healthy houseplants naturally clean the air in your home and help balance humidity levels throughout the day. Our top picks include the peace lily, reed palm, English ivy, Boston fern, tillandsia, and cactus.

• Control your Moisture Levels: High humidity levels can lead to mold. In addition to houseplants, invest in a dehumidifier for those extra muggy days.

• Be Sure to Dust and Vacuum: A clean home is a happy home — and it has cleaner air. Free yourself from indoor allergies by dusting and vacuuming regularly. (Pro Tip: Use a microfiber cloth when you’re dusting. They’re specially designed to trap particles as you clean.)

• Avoid Burning Candles: Those precious scented candles we all know and love are actually releasing harmful carcinogens into the air with every use. For that fresh scent you desire, try diffusing essentials oils instead. Lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils begin eliminating airborne fungi in under an hour.

• Make Your Own Cleaning Solutions: Even if they are marketed as “all-natural,” store bought cleaning products are full of harmful chemicals. Instead, mix up your own. Vinegar, baking soda, and water should do the trick.

• Have Your Ducts Cleaned: Be sure to have your air ducts cleaned thoroughly every 3-5 years. Over time, they can accumulate a number of contaminants like dust, mold, and pollen.

• Open Your Windows: Proper ventilation is the key to maintaining good indoor air quality. In addition to regular duct cleanings, be sure to let the fresh air flow through your home by opening your windows when the weather permits.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers specialty cleaning services that can help improve the air quality in your home. If you live on Long Island, contact us today at (631) 940-8100 to learn about our mold removal and air duct cleaning services.

Most Common Allergens in the Home

Spring is allergy season, but it’s not just the outdoors you have to worry about. Often times, the worst allergy triggers could be hiding right under your nose.

Here are six of the most common allergens you might find in your home:

• Dust. The average three-bedroom household generates about 40 pounds of dust every year. Much of this dust can collect in your air ducts, where it can quickly circulate throughout the home.

• Dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic insects which thrive on dust. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, dust mites are the most common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms. They are most frequently found in pillows, bed sheets, and carpets.

• Pet dander. Pet dander is tiny flakes of skin shed by animals. Pet dander can come from virtually any pet with fur or feathers, including dogs, cats, rodents, and birds. It is estimated that up to 30% of people with allergies can be triggered by pet dander.

• Pollen. You probably already know that pollen is a common allergen, but you may not realize its prevalence indoors. Pollen can enter the home through open windows and doors, or by sticking to your clothing, shoes, or pets.

• Mold. Mold can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present, making it a common allergen in the home. Mold is most commonly found in damp, humid areas such as the bathroom, basements, attics, crawl spaces, and air ducts.

• Cigarette smoke. Though not a traditional allergen, the chemicals found in cigarette smoke are known to trigger asthma and allergies. These chemicals can linger around the home for weeks after the smoking has ceased, a phenomenon known as thirdhand smoke.

Is your Long Island home harboring any of these allergens? Let GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration remove them. We offer professional air duct cleaning, attic and crawl space cleaning, and mold removal services to homes in Nassau and Suffolk County. Visit our website to learn more, or call (631) 940-8100.

6 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution has been linked to several short- and long-term health problems, and it affects more homes than you might think. Avoid these six common mistakes to keep the air in your home clean and healthy:

1. Smoking indoors.

News flash: smoking is bad for you. It’s not just firsthand and secondhand smoke, either. The toxic particles in cigarette smoke can stick around your home long after the cigarette has been put out, a phenomenon known as thirdhand smoke.

2. Using high-VOC products.

Home products such as paint, adhesives, and even cleaning products have been known to emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which have been linked to cancer. Look for “no VOC” labels when purchasing these types of products.

3. Lack of ventilation.

Indoor air pollution is usually higher than outdoor air pollution because the airborne contaminants are confined to a small area. Improving the ventilation in your home gives harmful particles a place to escape, and can help prevent mold by controlling humidity levels.

4. Using air fresheners.

Wait a second, don’t air fresheners freshen the air? Contrary to popular belief, no. According to the NRDC, most store-bought aerosol sprays contain dangerous phthalates, even those labeled as “all natural”.

5. Not having any houseplants.

Houseplants aren’t just for decoration, certain types of plants can naturally improve air quality by filtering out harmful particles. Not all plants are created equal, though. Among the best air purifiers are the snake plant, peace lily, and english ivy.

6. Neglecting your air ducts.

Your home’s air ducts are a common hiding spot for allergens such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold. Once these particles enter your air ducts, they can spread throughout your entire home. A professional air duct cleaning is the best way to keep your ducts clear of contaminants.

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

6 Tips to Healthy Indoor Air this Winter

Winter is here, which means most of us will be spending more time indoors. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be dangerous for your health if your home suffers from indoor air pollution. Use these six tips from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to keep your home’s air clean and healthy this winter:

1. Leave your shoes at the door. During the winter months, the ground is covered with rock salt and synthetic de-icers. You don’t want to drag these chemicals throughout your home, so enforce a strict no-shoes policy for your family and friends.

2. Keep a healthy humidity level. Many people use humidifiers during this time of the year to combat dry air. While this is all right, you don’t want your humidity level to exceed 50% -- otherwise, you could be promoting dust mites and mold growth.

3. Don’t smoke indoors. You may not want to venture out into the cold to smoke your cigarette, but you shouldn’t smoke in your home. The toxins and harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke can stick to your walls and furniture, continuing to affect your health long after the cigarette has been put out.

4. Ditch the commercial air fresheners. Most store-bought air fresheners emit harmful particles known as phthalates. Stay safe and keep your home smelling good with one of these homemade air fresheners instead.

5. Stock up on house plants. Houseplants are for more than just looks, certain types can actually act as a natural air filter. According to NASA, the peace lily, English ivy, and chrysanthemum are the best at removing harmful particles from the air.

6. Have your air ducts professionally cleaned. Air ducts are a common hiding spot for dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, and more. Once these allergens are in your air ducts, they can circulate throughout your entire house.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers professional air duct cleaning services to homes and businesses across Long Island, New York. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 940-8100.

Is Poor Indoor Air Quality in Your Office Affecting Your Work Productivity?

When you think of air pollution, you most likely picture thick smog that tends to hang in the air in heavily industrialized areas. But in reality, indoor air pollution is typically much higher and worse than outdoor pollution.

When buildings circulate air, they often do not replace enough indoor air with clean outdoor air, which can lead to a buildup of harmful contaminants. Many textiles, building materials, and cleaning solutions contain what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause health problems ranging from allergies and headaches to nervous damage and dermatitis.

In addition to health issues, these pollutants can also affect your work productivity. OSHA estimates that companies cost themselves $15 billion in reduced efficiency and sick leave due to poor air quality. Employers are focused on maximizing productivity, so they often encourage their employees to eat right and exercise, but do very little to improve the quality of air in the office.

According to research done by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, employers can improve workforce performance by up to 10% by simply improving air quality. Some ways to do this include:

• Clean up spills ASAP to reduce the chances mold and mildew growth.
• Forgo air fresheners. They release VOCs into the air and mask odors that can indicate a mold problem.
• Maintain your HVAC and other building systems and change the air filters regularly.
• Don’t use pesticides to manage pests.
• If you can, use building materials and textiles that are eco-friendly and contain little-to-no amount of VOCs.

While employee workout classes and healthy eating might help, if you’re really looking to increase office productivity, start by improving your indoor air quality. If you own a business on Long Island, GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can help. Visit our website to learn about our air duct cleaning services, or give us a call at (631) 940-8100.

What You Don't See CAN Hurt You

Carbon monoxide has long been dubbed “the invisible killer”, but it's not the only toxin that could unknowingly be lurking in your home's air.

Indoor air pollution is a very serious risk that affects more than 90% of North American homes; and most people don't even realize it. Continue reading below to learn about the dangers of indoor air pollution, and what you can do to prevent it...

What is indoor air pollution?

Indoor air pollution is just what it sounds like – polluted air inside of your home. Many people think air pollution is exclusive to outside, but the air indoors could be much worse. In fact, it's not uncommon for household air to be up to 10x more polluted than the air in a major city.

What are the dangers of indoor air pollution?

Indoor air pollution has been linked to several health problems: both immediate and long-term. Short-term health effects of indoor air pollution mimic allergies, and include sneezing, coughing, headaches, and dizziness. Long-term affects are much more severe, as indoor air pollution has been linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and COPD. You can learn more about the health effects of indoor air pollution by clicking here.

What causes indoor air pollution?

Many household products contribute to indoor air pollution – even ones you think are completely safe. Some common sources of indoor air pollution include cleaning products, paint, new carpeting, hardwood flooring and cabinetry, candles, heating equipment, and ironically, air fresheners.

What can you do to improve the air quality in your home?

There are many steps you can take for better indoor air quality, but these are some of the most effective:

• Invest in a HEPA air filter.
• Swap out commercial cleaning products for natural ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar.
• Control your humidity levels to prevent mold.
• Stock up on these house plants, which can naturally remove harmful particles from the air.
• Have your air ducts professionally cleaned every 3-5 years.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers a variety of services to help you improve your home's air quality. Some of our work includes air duct cleaning, crawl space and attic cleaning, and mold removal. If you live on Long Island, call us for a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.