you spend so much time there, you need it to be a safe and healthy place to be. Unfortunately, there are many ways in which your home can negatively impact your health. While many can be fixed, it’s important to know that they exist in the first place. Here are some unexpected ways your home is inhibiting your wellness.
Old Air Filters
When was the last time you changed the air filters in your HVAC system? According to HomeAdvisor, you should change the air filter in your air conditioner or furnace every 30 days. Many people don’t do this and it can have a negative impact on their health. The filter catches dust, debris, and other particles that come out of your HVAC system. If it’s dirty, those particles are going to get into the air in your home. This can cause respiratory problems, like allergies and illness. By changing your air filter every month as recommended, you can remove this threat from your home.
Wall to Wall Carpeting
Having wall-to-wall carpeting can be comfortable and convenient. However, it’s also an environment that encourages germ growth and is difficult to clean completely. Your carpets capture dirt, pet hair, and dander. They also can hold onto anything that might get stuck to the bottom of your shoe when you’re outside. Since vacuuming doesn’t do anything for germs, the carpet never gets fully cleaned. While having some wall-to-wall carpeting can be good, having it all over your house can decrease the air quality and make your floors dirty and uncomfortable to walk on.
Water Leaks
Is there water leaking somewhere in your house? There are some obvious places where you might see leaks, like the toilet or exposed pipe. But sometimes the leaks occur where you can’t see them. If this is happening in your home, the leaking water can pose a major problem. Mold thrives in wet, enclosed environments. A leaky pipe within a wall or ceiling is an ideal place for it. There are over 10,000 species of mold, but only five of them are regularly found indoors. Unfortunately, these five can cause respiratory problems and make you and your family sick. Mold can also make your home feel and smell bad, which can have a negative impact on your mental health. So be aware of this possibility if you find unknown stains or smells in your home.
Lack of Cleaning
Sometimes the problem is a lack of cleaning in the home. If you’re unwilling or unable to thoroughly clean your house, it can become a depressing and unhealthy place to live. This means that your wellness will continue to suffer for as long as the house is dirty. You don’t need a pristine house. 70% of people admit to putting furniture over a stain instead of cleaning it up. Your home can have some dirt and messiness without it impacting your health. But if it has been neglected for too long, the environment can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. Hiring a professional cleaner can help you get it back in shape and improve your wellbeing.
It’s important that your home is a safe place for you to live, work, and relax. If it isn’t clean and comfortable, it can impact your mental and physical health in significant ways. So, whether you’ve just moved into your home or are trying to figure out what’s going wrong in the home you’ve had, keep these possibilities in mind. These four unexpected ways your home is inhibiting your wellness might be your key to solving the mystery.
2 comments
Yes, dirty filters cause poor indoor air quality, which is bad for health. Poor air quality in a home may cause such ailments as dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and even respiratory and heart problems.
Here are some recommendations for choosing a good filter for your AC: https://escoutah.com/breathe-easy-tips-improve-indoor-air-quality/.
If you use ducted HVAC systems in your home, then air ducts can be another health hazard. The thing is different types of rodents like living in them. This is especially true for damaged or dirty air ducts. If pests carry in dander or leave behind droppings, they will get into your airstream, spreading diseases like the hantavirus. That’s why you should remember to inspect ducts from time to time and clean and seal them if needed.
According to experts https://happyhiller.com/blog/how-to-inspect-clean-seal-air-ducts/, you should do it once a year.