3 DIY Checks To See If You Need An Air Duct Cleaning

Dan Rose

The HVAC air ducts in your residential or commercial buildings have been pumping cool air straight through the hot summer months here in Flushing, Queens. With the summer humidity, and the cool air passing through the dark duct system is a perfect recipe to create a number of issues within the ducts, like mold, mildew, and dust buildup. Most buildings require a professional Queens air duct cleaning company to come in with the specialty equipment, and a highly trained team to service and clean the ducts every 2 years or so. This is very important for large and small jobs, especially if there is a serious build-up of debris and dust in the ducts. But there might be some situations that you can check yourself, and perform the minor ducts cleaning jobs on your own.

But first…

Why do air ducts need cleaning?

Air ducts are rarely touched or manipulated by people. This means that whatever happens inside of an air duct, will remain there, until, well… whenever a cleaner comes in to clean them. This makes them perfect nesting grounds for rodents and insects, and it’s not uncommon to find spiders, roaches, and mice in the air ducts in large buildings in Queens NY. By keeping up with regular cleanings you can prevent dust buildup, allergens, mold, and other harmful bacteria out of the ducts. When doing a DIY check is it very important to always use eye protection, gloves, and safety equipment and tools.

Check the vents

Cleaning the air vents is one very important and effective DIY task to clean the HVAC system. The vents that release air into each room often act as a filter to block dust from blowing into the room. But as the dust builds up on the vent itself, the airflow is restricted, more allergens accumulate on them, and large pieces of dust might blow out and into the room. In the safest way possible, with a ladder on a flat surface, use a vacuum to clean all the vents that you see. Although this is a superficial level of cleaning it can be very effective and is possible for most people to complete.

Check the inside the ducts for moisture

This can be an easier check for those with larger duct systems or with locations where you can see inside with little effort. With the proper safety equipment and a flashlight, you can open the vents to see inside.

Check along the sides, top, and bottom of the ducts for any build-up of moisture. Moisture leads to mold and mildew which are harmful to your health. But the moisture itself is one of the early warning signs that there are issues within the duct, and can lead to physical damage of the ducts in the long term,

Check the Air Filter

Checking the air intake filter of your HVAC system is another simple way to see if it’s time for a local professional duct cleaning company. At the intake for the main HVAC unit, you will find an air filter that requires regular cleaning and/or replacement. Many of them simply slide out to remove, and if it is made from a  durable material you can clean with a hose or you can vacuum it. If you see that it is extremely dusty, dirty, or with mildew, it might be a sign you need a more complete cleaning.

 

These 3 simple DIY checks were provided by one of the top-rated HVAC duct cleaning companies in Queens. If you want a free quote for a professional cleaner or have additional questions contact them today!

ChutePlus LLC 938 Rockaway Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11581 (347) 671-1083 https://www.chuteplus.com/

What’s The Deal With Construction Accident Injuries

Dan Rose

With Queens and NYC starting to slowly open back up from the COVID pandemic there are more construction workers going back to work. Some sectors were labeled as essential work and never ever cut back or paused. But when construction work increases, there is another unfortunate statistic that increases as well, construction site accidents.

Construction accidents resulting in injury are one of the most common forms of workplace injury in NYC.  This makes the construction industry one of the most dangerous industries to work in.

The fear is that with rapid rehiring, and start-up of new construction sites across Queens and the 5 Boroughs, that employers, contractors, and property owners might try to take some shortcuts in safety and regulations. This has happened in the past, and it is why there are relatively strict safety regulations relating to construction sites, scaffolding, roofing, demolition, and other construction sites.

When safety shortcuts are taken, it directly affects the safety of the construction workers. If you have been injured on a construction site in Queens NY, we have a highly recommended personal injury lawyer near Flushing, Queens who specialized in construction accidents.

So what are the most common construction site accidents?

Construction site accidents can vary depending on what area of construction you are working but there are some serious accidents that stand out:

Falling

Falling on construction sites is by far the leading type of accident, it is a universal accident that can happen in almost any conditions. Some falls are heigh related, so from rooftop or scaffolding. But other falls are due to unkept construction sites with heavy equipment or tools on the ground. Even uneven ground that is not clearly marked or wet liquids that make a slippery service.

Equipment related Injuries

Accidents caused by equipment is also a leading cause of accidents. This includes heavy equipment, from tractors, cranes, excavators, and others. But also small equipment like hammers, nail guns, and drills. Proper precautions almost must be taken by the work but also by the company according to OSHA guidelines. If your construction employer neglected safety equipment that caused your accident you need to contact a local accident attorney immediately.

The accidents are no joke, especially in Queens NY. They can result in very serious injuries like

  • Broken bones
  • Amputation
  • Electrocution
  • Burns

Don’t let yourself fall victim to one of the construction injuries that are overlooked. You can easily be compensated for medical costs, disability, lost wages, pain and suffering & more.

Right around the corner from Flushing, we have one of the top injury attorneys in the area, contingency fee-only, and free consultations daily:

Ribowsky Law 109-12 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 (718) 659-5333 https://www.mrinjurylawyerny.com/

Tips To Get The Cheapest Car Lease In All Of Queens

Dan Rose

Trying to find the best car lease deals in Queens can feel like an overwhelming task. In the past, you had to drive around, from car lot to car lot, looking at the inventory, negotiating with a pushy sales team, getting a quote, seeing the leasing options, and it went on and on and on.

That is if you were lucky enough to even find a car that you were looking for, It consumed your money and more importantly, it consumed your time. Many people are not aware of the differing leasing option and the methods of finding the best car lease deals in Queens NY.

We have compiled some of the easiest ways to find the lease you want:

Lease online

Leasing online avoids all of the troubles we mentioned above. When you shop for a car lease online, you can streamline the process, without ever leaving your house, Compare prices, research about the automobiles, apply for a quote, you can even have the car delivered to your home. You save time and money when you shop for a car lease online

Fewer miles

When you lease a car the monthly lease price can rise or fall based upon how many miles you are permitted to drive per year. This one can be tricky depending on your needs. If you know for a fact that you don’t drive often, or you won’t be needing to drive long distances, you can easily request a smaller mile allowance on your lease, say only 8,000 miles per year. But if you do drive over the mileage cap, then you are charged a fee per mile at the end of the lease which might not make it worthwhile. In that case, just request a larger mileage limit like 10,000 or 12,000.

But why does mileage affect the lease price? Well, it’s a simple formula, the more mileage on a vehicle, the lower the value is, which leads us to the next point.

Choose a car that doesn’t depreciate quickly

Some cars, especially higher-end cars like BMW and Mercedes tend to hold their value for longer periods of time. While other cars might depreciate very quickly year to year. The greatest determinant of the lease price is the depreciation of the car. Typically, they take the length of the lease, say 3 years. The expected value at the end of the lease, minus the current value is how much you will be paying for the leased car.

Good Credit

When you are trying to lease a car the higher your credit score is, the lower your lease payment will be. When you shop for a local car lease, you can check your credit score, and see how it will affect your payments. Also with a higher credit score, you can qualify to lease higher-end vehicles that maybe if you were buying it, would be more difficult to afford.

With just a few simple tips to getting the best car lease in Queens and NYC, you can be well on your way to driving the car of your dreams. Good Luck!

 

These useful and actionable car lease tips were brought to you by the cheapest car lease companies online with a local car lot right here in Queens:

VIP Auto Lease of Queens 139-46 Queens Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435 (347) 384-7214 https://viplease.com/jamaica-ny-office/

3 Risks of DIY Teeth Whitening Kits At Home

Dan Rose

Let’s face the truth, who doesn’t want a whiter smile? We see it and magazines, we see it on TV and quite honestly we feel more confident when our smile is whiter. This is why the teeth whitening industry in recent years has BOOMED. If you walk down the aisle of any drug store or pharmacy in Queens you will see teeth whitening products galore. Higher-end ones, lower-end ones, all the top brands, and generic brands. Each one makes promises, like results in 5 days, 10 days, or 15 days. But are DIY teeth whitening kits really that effective?

We have outlined 3 risks associated with using teeth whitening kits at home

Enamel

Enamel is the outermost covering of your tooth, and if you guest that it was important, you would be correct. It is the most important part of your tooth, Enamel is mineral-rich and the strongest substance in the body. It protects your teeth from all the substances we eat and drink that can break it down, like soda and candy. Enamel also prevents some staining and prevents cavities. Many of the DIY teeth whitening kids can be very harmful to your enamel, When your enamel breaks down it causes your teeth to be more sensitive, and in the long run can cause more staining, completely counterproductive. You definitely want to avoid any abrasive DIY teeth whitening. When you instead get teeth whitening at your local cosmetic dentist, the process is much smoother and does not erode your enamel.

Gum health

The same abrasive chemicals that hurt your enamel can hurt your gum and gum line. Your gums have nowhere near the strength of your enamel, so when DIY whitening starts to affect your enamel you can be sure it is harming your gums. The point at which your gum and your teeth meet can start to recess, pulling further away from the tooth. This can lead to gum disease, and exposed parts of the tooth that are much more sensitive, so when you drink hot or cold liquids you can feel it easier.

Improper Use

When you purchase a DIY whitening kit they sometimes come with strips, trays, or gel. It requires precise amounts in precise locations day after day. Many people skip days, or without following, instructions apply incorrect amounts. This can lead to uneven effects. Your teeth might be whitening at different degrees depending on the density. As compared to an expert Queens cosmetic dentist who is a professional and knows exactly the whitening process that is safe and effective for your teeth.

Teeth whitening should lead to a brighter and healthier smile, and that is why we recommended using a professional cosmetic dentist instead of the DIY teeth whitening kids.

 

If you are looking for a safe and healthy way to brighten your smile, we recommend Dr. Yelena Mullakandova the top local dentist:

Glendale Boutique Dental 68-35 Myrtle Ave, Glendale, NY 11385 (718) 821-0170 https://www.boutiquedentalny.com/

Benefits of Setting Up A Medicaid Trust In Queens

Dan Rose

Long term medical care and end of life care consume easily the largest medical expenditures in your life. Planning for these expenses takes time and careful consideration.

There are long term care insurance policies that you can start paying, and like any insurance the earlier you start the cheaper it will be. But the biggest issue is that it can be expensive, very expensive. You can easily end up digging into your assets that you were trying to protect and leaving your loved ones even less.

A far cheaper option is to create a Medicaid Trust. No, a trust is not an easy thing easy to set up on your own, but with an experienced Queens elder law and estate attorney the trust can be no problem at all.

How does a Medicaid Trust work?

A Trust, in general, requires a settlor, who is the individual transferring their own assets into the possession of the trust.

A trust, unlike corporations, has no shareholders and is considered its own owner. Once the assets are in the trust, they are not considered for taxes and eligibility qualifications for Medicaid.

A trustee is a third party who is responsible for carrying out the trust and managing it, with the ultimate goal of paying out the assets to a beneficiary, the person decided in advance to receive the assets, usually at a given time or after certain prerequisites are completed.

In the case of a Medicaid Trust. The elderly owners who plan to enter a nursing home are the ones that settle the trust (or create it). In order to comply with regulations, they must do it at least 5 years before the plan to benefit from Medicaid nursing home long term care.

The adult children in most cases are considered the beneficiaries (who will receive the money upon the death of the settlor). Local lawyers that specialize in Medicaid trust know all the guidelines and regulations surround trust so with their assistance they can be set up in no time.

What counts towards Medicaid long term care eligibility?

  • Bank accounts (i.e checking)
  • Investments (i.e Stocks)
  • CD investment
  • Any real estate other than your primary residence
  • Any cars above and beyond the first one.

This means that you can continue to own and drive your car, live in and own your home, have some minor cash funds, and keep some personal possessions. Other than that anything you might own can contribute towards disqualifying you from Medicaid.

A well-rounded estate attorney in Queens can also assist with protecting assets in wills, power of attorney, healthcare proxies, and more. Don’t wait to plan for your future!!

Sponsored by one of the finest probate and elder law lawyers we have in Queens NY, free consultation to anyone in our community:

Law Offices Of Roman Aminov 147-17 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11367 (347) 766 2685 https://www.aminovlaw.com/queens-ny-estate-lawyer/

The 411 On Commercial Roofing In Queens

Dan Rose

In Queens NY we have a lot of commercial real estate. And each property owner has asked themselves the question before “What do I do about my commercial roof?” There are seemingly endless questions about commercial roof repair and replacement and today we will outline the basics of everything you need to know about commercial roofing in Queens.

How do you find a qualified roofer in Queens?

First and foremost, you need to find a Queens commercial roofing company that you can trust.

When you are doing research for a commercial roofer, it is best to ask around to other property owners, friends, and family and see if they have anyone they have used. The more local the company the better because they will know about the unique roofing issues for your community, and will have likely serviced people you know. You should also search on the internet, Find a roofer that is highly rated with reviews on various websites and especially Google.

  • Check and make sure they are registered with the Better Business Bureau and Chamber Of Commerce.
  • Check that they are licensed and insured.
  • When you speak with them, find out exactly what is their guarantee and warranty.
  • They should always give you an upfront and transparent price

If you can find a roofing company that is certified but a big name in the industry, like a GAF certified roofer in Queens that would also be helpful.

What are roofs made from in Queens?

In Queens, we have a large variety of roofing materials but by far the most common for commercial buildings are flat roofs.

There are several possible materials that flat roofs are made from including:

  • Build Up Roof Membrane – your traditional “tar and gravel” roof is very common and inexpensive
  • EPDM Rubber – is a synthetic rubber
  • Polyurethane Foam – is a quick and easy coating
  • TPO – Thermoplastic Polyolefin – is a synthetic roofing cover that is excellent at resisting the elements
  • PVC – Poly Vinyl Chloride – is a single-ply roof that is very water-resistant and very common
  • Metal – the roof material that has been used the longest, it is strong but can be expensive.

Some commercial flat roof materials like metal can last 50 years or more, making the upfront costs well worth it, and others are cheaper and easier to apply like BUR or foam which last about 25 years.

Get a free roof estimate

When you speak with your local commercial flat roofer they will give you a free estimate, based on the condition of the roof, the size of the roof, which materials you wish to use. Don’t be shy to ask them for advice, get the pros and the cons of each roofing material for your building and ask them if they have used the same materials nearby so you can have a look.

This valuable information was sponsored by a roofing company who has been serving Flushing NY for years, don’t hesitate to ask them all of your commercial roofing questions:

Royal Renovators Inc 118-35 Queens Blvd Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 414-6067 https://www.nycrenovators.com/

Kim begins new roles as adjunct professor at two schools

Dan Rose

IMG_9056 copy

Assemblyman Ron Kim is taking on a new role: educator.

Kim began a gig as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School, where he will teach a seminar on FinTech with Cornell Professor Robert Hockett.

He will also be an adjunct at Riverdale Country Day School, his alma mater, where he will teach community activism to high school students.

Kim has previously lectured on new economic models at educational institutions like University of Tokyo, and as a guest lecturer at NYU, Columbia, Queens College and Boston University.

MetroCard mobile van coming to Fresh Meadows

Dan Rose
Screen shot via Google Maps
Screen shot via Google Maps

An MTA Mobile Sales Van is coming to Fresh Meadows for two days this September, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced.

The mobile van will be in the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, located at Horace Harding Expressway and 188th Street, on Monday, September 14, and Monday, September 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Services that are offered include applying for the Reduced Fare program, purchasing and refilling MetroCards, exchanging damaged reduced-fare MetroCards, and reporting a lost or stolen reduced-fare MetroCard.

Seniors or people with disabilities applying for the Reduced Fare program should bring proof of age documents, birth certificate, driver’s license, Medicare card or valid state ID or passport.

“It is oftentimes difficult for residents to access MTA services,” Rozic said. “That is why I am bringing the MetroCard Mobile Van to the neighborhood to make it more convenient for commuters to talk with a trained representative about their concerns or questions.”

Check out the “Museum Without Doors” outdoor exhibit

Dan Rose
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Photo courtesy of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce

A new pop-up community art project, “Museum Without Doors,” has come to the Flushing Greenmarket at Maple Playground.

The project is a collaboration among local artists, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, New Inspiration Cares, Crystal Windows and GrowNYC.

The first exhibit showcases the work of artists Joseph Hsu and Shih Pao Lin. Other artists that will be featured include Fred Adell and Eddie Abrams.

Hsu’s work includes four photographs from his “New York on PAUSE” series, depicting images of New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lin’s three-dimensional works and two paintings fall under the theme of “Bull Up the City.”

More funding coming to Flushing food pantries

Dan Rose
EKUD_Tzu_Chi_Clinic_5
Tzu Chi Foundation executive director Freeman Su

With so many New Yorkers continuing to suffer from food insecurity and hunger, food pantries are in desperate need of more funding and support.

Last week, Councilman Peter Koo announced the passage of a resolution in the City Council providing $65,880 in new funding for food pantries throughout Flushing.

The allocation will go to La Jornada, the Tzu Chi Foundation, South Asian Council for Social Services, Flushing Jewish Community Council and CCNS-St. Michael’s Church.

The funding will be used to purchase supplies for operational support.

“Thousands of New Yorkers are in need of emergency food assistance due to the pandemic, and this funding will help make sure those who are struggling through tough times will continue to have access to food,” Koo said.

“Food pantries in Flushing have lines around the block every day, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure the safe operation of those important public service centers.”