How to Prep Your Air Conditioner for Spring

Your air conditioner has been idle for months, but soon it will be working around-the-clock to keep your home cool and comfortable. This sudden increase in workload can lead to costly breakdowns if your system isn’t properly prepared for the change of seasons.

Follow these five steps from GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, and your air conditioner will be just as ready for the warm weather as you are:

1. Change your air filters. It is estimated that dirty air filters are responsible for roughly 80% of all HVAC-related breakdowns. A dirty filter limits fresh air intake, increasing wear-and-tear on your system. Change your filter at the start of the season and once per month afterwards.

2. Clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils on your air conditioner are responsible for releasing warm air. If these coils are coated in dust and dirt, they will not be able to effectively vent this heat, and your energy efficiency will suffer as a result. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to locate and clean the coils on your unit.

3. Clear the surrounding area. It’s not just debris on the coils that can impact energy efficiency, but also debris around the coils. Ideally, your air conditioner should have two feet of space on all sides to “breathe”. Trim any surrounding branches or shrubbery if they encroach on this space.

4. Switch your ceiling fans. Most ceiling fans have a small switch at the base which allows users to change the direction of the blades. Set them to rotate counterclockwise during the warmer months; this pushes air down into the room and creates a cooling breeze.

5. Have your air ducts cleaned. The air ducts in your home are a common hiding spot for dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, and other allergens. The air from your A/C can carry these pollutants with it as it travels through your ductwork, circulating them throughout your house. The best way to remove these contaminants is by having your air ducts professionally cleaned.

Air duct cleaning requires specialized tools and equipment, which is why it is a job best left to the pros. If you live on Long Island, look no further than GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for your air duct cleaning needs. Call us today at (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.

Get a Head Start on Spring Allergies

Spring will be here before you know it, and so will those pesky allergies. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so get a head start on your allergies by taking these basic steps:

• Start taking your allergy medication now. If you wait until you start feeling symptoms to start taking your allergy medicine, it’s already too late. Start taking it regularly now so it is at full strength by the time peak allergy season rolls around.

• Give your home a thorough spring cleaning. Triggers inside the house, such as dust and chemicals, can worsen allergy symptoms. A good spring cleaning can remove most of these contaminants from your home.

• Bathe your pets regularly. Millions of Americans are allergic to pet dander, not to mention the other allergens that animals can harbor in their fur. Regularly bathing your pets will keep them clean and keep your nose clear.

• Find and eliminate any mold in your home. Mold is a common allergy trigger that can grow virtually anywhere moisture is present. Know where to look for mold in your home, and call a professional mold removal service if you find any.

• Invest in a HEPA air purification system. HEPA filters are the most effective at removing airborne pollutants. Investing in one of these for your home can significantly lessen your allergy symptoms.

• Have your air ducts professionally cleaned. Your air ducts have been collecting dust all winter; you don’t want it circulating through your home all spring. A professional duct cleaning service can effectively remove these allergens from your ducts.

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

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.

How to Improve Your Home’s Ventilation

With the recent trend in energy efficiency, many homeowners are focused on making their homes airtight in order to prevent heat loss. While this could lower your energy bills, it eliminates all natural ventilation from the home.

This may sound like no big deal, but ventilation is extremely important, especially if your home suffers from indoor air pollution (hint: it probably does). Read below to learn why adequate ventilation is necessary, and what you can do to improve yours.

Why ventilation is important…

The average person breathes nearly 3,000 gallons of air every day. Good ventilation removes harmful pollutants and ensures this air is clean. Other benefits of ventilation include:

• Remove unwanted smells. Unpleasant odors will disperse quicker with sufficient ventilation.
• Control humidity levels. Maintaining ideal humidity levels is important for comfort.
• Reduce the risk of mold growth. Mold can have detrimental effects on our health and homes.
• Improve indoor air quality. Indoor air can be up to ten times more polluted than outdoor air.

How to improve your ventilation…

Luckily, there are many ways that homeowners can improve ventilation. Here are a few ways to let your home breathe:

• Open your windows when weather permits. This is the easiest and most effective way to instantly improve ventilation in your home.
• Run your exhaust fan after every shower. This is especially important for controlling humidity levels.
• Leave your interior doors open. Leave doors open in between rooms to promote airflow, but keep closet and pantry doors shut.
• Make use of pedestal and ceiling fans. Ideally, ceiling fan blades should rotate clockwise during the colder months, and counterclockwise during the summertime.
• Install a ventilation system in your home. These can be exhaust-only, supply-only, or balanced systems.

It’s important to note that if you have a home ventilation system, you want to ensure that your air ducts are clean. Otherwise, pollutants such as dust, dirt, pet dander, and mold could easily circulate throughout your home.

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, contact us online to get started with a free estimate, or call (631) 940-8100.

Safe Substitutes for Dangerous Cleaning Products

We use store-bought solutions to sterilize and polish nearly every surface in our homes, but have you ever stopped to think about what’s inside that bottle?  Despite being advertised as “cleaning” products, nearly all commercial cleaners contain harmful chemicals.

These chemicals pose a major threat to the health of your family and the environment, even those misleadingly labeled as “all natural”. Luckily, there are ways to clean your home without the use of these poisonous products.

These homemade cleaning solutions are every bit as effective as your favorite brands; the only difference is the lack of toxins...

Instead of air fresheners…

Grab several jars and fill them halfway with baking soda. Add a few drops of your favorite scented oils to each jar. Poke some holes in the lids and place them throughout your home to absorb unpleasant smells. If you are looking for a quick way to overpower strong bathroom odors, just light a match.

Instead of laundry detergent…

You don’t need a fancy liquid detergent to clean your clothes, just ask your grandparents. Instead, mix together one cup of grated bar soap, one cup of washing soda, and one cup of Borax powder. Add in one tablespoon of this solution the next time you load your washer and voila – fresh laundry that smells amazing.

For your all-purpose cleaner…

Combine ½ cup white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (for smell) and mix with warm water in a spray bottle. This simple, easy-to-make cleaning solution can be used anywhere in the home, including your countertops, floors, kitchen, and bathroom.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration knows a thing or two about safe, healthy cleaning. As Long Island’s #1 specialty cleaning service, all of our products and procedures are 100% eco-friendly.

Our services include air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, crawl space and attic cleaning, mold removal, and water damage restoration. If you live in Nassau County or Suffolk County, call (631) 940-8100 to get started with a free estimate.

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.

About Our Specialty Cleaning Services | GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is a Long Island-based specialty cleaning service. We dare to clean what most homeowners forget about and other companies won’t touch. Read below to learn more about our services.

Air Duct Cleaning

Air ducts can harbor all kinds of contaminants, such as dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, mold, and more. Once these particles enter your air ducts, they can use them as a transportation system to circulate throughout your entire home. Our professional air duct cleaning services will remove these contaminants from your ducts, improving both energy efficiency and air quality.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Did you know that clothes dryers cause more than 15,000 residential fires each year? The leading cause of these fires is lint. While cleaning off your screen before each load is a good start to preventing these fires, it is not enough. Lint can also accumulate in the exhaust vent – the windy, aluminum tube that attaches to the back of the appliance. Experts recommend having your dryer vent professionally cleaned once every year.

Attic and Crawl Space Cleaning

Crawl spaces and attics are susceptible to all kinds of problems, including excess moisture, mold growth, and pest infestations. These not only damage your home, they can compromise indoor air quality. You probably don’t want to journey into your dark, dirty crawl space to fix these problems, so let us do it for you.

Mold Removal

Mold is a toxic fungus that can grow virtually anywhere – indoors or out. High-moisture areas are the most susceptible to mold growth, including bathrooms, basements, attics, crawl spaces, and HVAC ducts. If you spot mold growing in your home, don’t attempt to remove it yourself. DIY mold removal often leads to illness and can spread mold spores around instead of eliminating them.

Water Damage Restoration

A little bit of water can cause a lot of problems. If you have recently experienced severe water damage in your home, don’t touch any wet items with your bare hands, and don’t breathe in the damp air. Instead, give GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration a call and we will restore your home to its previous condition.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration offers all of these services to homes and businesses across Long Island. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, call us at (631) 940-8100 for a free estimate.