Most people strive to make their house a safe space but don’t realize health hazards lurking in their home. Make sure you don’t have any of these four health hazards in your home.
Indoor Air Quality
Houses are more efficient than ever, but sealed up homes are at risk for poor indoor air quality. When you don’t have fresh air circulating through your house, you’re relying on your air filter to keep your air clean. Poor IAQ can lead to headaches, cold and flu-like symptoms, and inflamed allergies. To keep your air fresh, change your air filter regularly and keep your house clean. Sweep and dust often, don’t smoke in the house, and use your ventilation system when showering or cooking to keep poor IAQ at bay.
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew look bad and can also be dangerous. Mold can get into the air and cause serious health concerns. It can cause respiratory concerns, inflame allergies, and trigger asthma. If you spot mold in your home, there’s a good chance there is more than what you see, so you should call in an expert for mold removal. Keep the humidity down in your home, and consider installing a warning system in your basement to catch flooding early to prevent mold from growing in the first place.
Fires
Fires are obviously dangerous to your health, but you might not realize how easy it is for a fire to start. Heating blankets and portable heaters are two prominent perpetrators of fires. Make sure no cords are frayed on your blanket, and never leave a portable heater unattended. Don’t let it lie directly on carpet, either.
Another big fire concern is that people tend to take the batteries out of fire alarms if the alarms go off frequently. If your fire alarm is oversensitive or causes other issues, replace it with one you do like. It’s a small investment that is worth every penny if there is an actual fire.
Asbestos and Lead
Most older homes had lead-based paint and asbestos in the attic. If lead enters the body, it causes all sorts of issues including behavioral concerns in children and seizures. In the most extreme cases, it causes death. Lead-based paint was used before 1978, so be aware if your home has it. If the paint starts to chip, kids might pick it off and eat it. The dust could also cause IAQ concerns. Make sure you dust often to keep any lead out of the air.
If you have asbestos in your home, you also need to be careful. As long as it’s undamaged and untouched, it won’t cause your family any issues. If you notice damage or plan to do some remodeling, however, it’s best to have an expert come in and remove this toxic substance.
You should always feel safe in your home, but unfortunately, you may not even realize when something is a danger. Take proper precautions to keep your home a safe space.