If you’re concerned that something is negatively affecting your health, the first place you look might not be in your own home. Unfortunately, this is exactly where most health problems can start. Here are a few hidden home issues that might be affecting your health and how you can address them.
Air Pollution
When you think about air pollution, it’s likely that big cities or industrial areas come to mind. While those are accurate pictures, you should be looking much closer to home. In fact, you should be looking inside of your home for pollutants that might be negatively affecting the air quality inside. Whether it’s been a while since you’ve had your HVAC unit serviced or there’s a lot of dust in your house, you could be suffering from poor indoor air quality. As a result, your sinuses and lungs could be taking unnecessary damage. One of the first things you can do is make a point to vacuum, dust, and clean your air filters more often. Ceiling fan blades are also notorious for picking up dirt and dust and then spreading them around your home, so give those a good clean, too. In addition, you may want to have your home tested for radon. Almost one in 15 homes in the U.S. have radon levels above the EPA action level. This is dangerous because radon, an odorless gas, can seep into the air and may cause serious illness if left unstopped and inhaled by you and your family.
Mold
Mold is one of the biggest health hazards in any home. While it’s a fairly easy fix if you catch it early enough, maintenance and moisture reduction are going to be incredibly important if you want to prevent it altogether. If you’re concerned about mold in your home, make a point to check up on areas that see a lot of moisture. Your bathroom, basement, and under your sinks are good places to start. A dehumidifier can help you reduce the likelihood that mold will start growing if you’re diligent about emptying it on a regular basis. And if you do find serious mold growth in your home, it may be time to consider a remodeling project. Since most homeowners plan on spending $10,000 or more on remodeling projects, this could be the perfect opportunity to put that budget to good use.
Old or Faulty Electrical Work
Electrical work is almost always a hazard you need to be aware of, especially if you live in an older home. Whether you’re house-hunting or you’ve just closed on a gorgeous old house, it’s critical that you have an electrician come out and look at the electrical work inside. If they find something that needs to be replaced, make that your top priority before moving in. At the very least, get to it as soon as possible. Older electrical work increases the possibility of electrocution, especially if you have curious younger kids in the house. And if you’re one of the 28% of homeowners who get the urge to move every few years, checking up on the status of a building’s electrical work needs to be at the top of your to-do list.
When you’re trying to preserve your health and the health of your family, it’s important to keep a close eye on the state of your home. If you’re concerned about one of these hidden health hazards, make sure you’re taking steps to remedy it as soon as possible.
7 comments
You are right, whether it is a new or an old house – when moving into it, first of all you should take care of the electrical work. This is your comfort and safety, take seriously the choice of an electrician. I think this information will help you understand what you should pay attention to when choosing an electrical contractor
You made some very good suggestions for improving indoor air quality. Thank you! I also want to remind you how important it is to clean the air ducts in the house. Over time, air ducts accumulate dust, bacteria, and even mold, which negatively affect our health.
About the cost, how often you should do it, and whether you can do it yourself, find out here: http://www.edelmaninc.com/your-hvac-duct-cleaning-questions-answered/.
Thanks for creating and sharing such helpful content!
To prevent increased humidity levels in your home and mold growth, remember to change AC filters at least once every 2-3 months. If the air filter is clogged, air cannot flow through it effectively, allowing moisture to accumulate due to improper ventilation. As a result, mold forms in your HVAC system, which you may not notice for a long time.
Oh, yeah. Faulty wiring is one of the most common problems in older homes. So if your is from the 1900s, its wiring inherently should not be considered safe. Except if it has been changed.
A big problem from the 70s was the use of aluminum wiring. It expands and contracts as it heats and cools. As a result, connections become loose, causing a huge danger of electrical fires.
Your bathroom, basement, and near-sink areas are not the only ones prone to excess moisture and mold growth. During the hot summer days, the humidity level in your entire home may also rise. Especially if all the doors and windows are closed throughout the day, your AC is shut off, and you are not running fans. As a result, the air isn’t circulating, creating a hot mess in your house.
It doesn’t mean that you have to run your AC 24/7. But it’s a good idea to use a programmable thermostat to keep your home within a reasonable temperature range when you’re gone. This will keep humidity levels down and go a long way to avoid a mold problem.
Too little humidity, as well as too much humidity, can affect your health.
Just look what consequences this can have and how to solve the problem of dry air: https://polestarplumbing.com/tips-tricks/humidity-and-the-home-what-customers-should-know.
Yes, poor indoor air quality can be bad for our health. In this article, we put together some more tips for better air quality in a home: https://escoutah.com/breathe-easy-tips-improve-indoor-air-quality/.