5 Common Health Hazards In Your Home

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This article was submitted by the Handyman, author of Handyman Fix Home Repair (rss feed). He strongly believes in cheap kitchen remodeling. If you like the guest post please check out his website and consider subscribing to his rss feed.

Our homes are our castles, but few of us realize just how many dangers may be lurking there. If you are not taking steps to monitor your home’s air quality and looking for potential problem areas, you can end up suffering from a host of different maladies. For people with allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems, many of these symptoms may actually be caused from irritants within your home. Here are five common health hazards that every home owner needs to be aware of.

1. Radon. This is a very serious issue for many, particularly in areas where this a high concentration of uranium in the soil. The only way to know if you have radon present in your home is to purchase a test kit and sample the air. The good news is that there are radon remediation companies that can assist you if there are harmful levels of radon in your home.
2. Black Mold and Regular Mold. While all mold is bad, black mold is particularly harmful to humans and pets. If you have damp areas in your home, or there is a problem with drainage, you are running the risk of creating the ideal breeding ground for mold. Even areas that are very dry can still have homes with mold overgrowth. Mildew is a related problem for many, particularly in crawl spaces and bathrooms where ventilation is poor. Here is an entire post of how to handle mold in the home.
3. Dust Mites. These nasty little creatures are pretty much going to be an inevitable problem for any home, but the rub comes from having too many. If you are finding that your allergies are worse than ever, or you suddenly have breathing problems, these little critters may be the culprit. It is necessary to install dust mite proof bedding and vacuum frequently if you have been overrun with dust mites. There are specialists available in most areas that will be able to assist you in testing your home for dust mites and coming up with a solution.
4. Lead Paint. This is a definite problem in older homes, but it may also be an issue with furniture and even toys that you bring into your home. If you know for a fact that your home has lead paint, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with a removal company. You should never attempt to remove lead paint on your own or without protective gear. These particles are very harmful if you breathe them in and can create lasting health problems.
5. Asbestos. Even though the big asbestos scares of the 1980’s and 1990’s have died down, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have this harmful form of insulation in your home. If your home was built prior to 1975, it is a very good idea to get your house inspected for asbestos. This was also a common insulator used in old appliances, so be wary of fixing any of these on your own. Asbestos should only be removed by professionals due to its potential to cause life threatening lung conditions.

With diligence and proper testing, you can rest easy knowing that your home is free of these harmful contaminants. For further reading please see my post a beginners guide to home inspections.

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This post deals with:

black mold, breathing problems, dust mites, health hazards, mite proof bedding, respiratory problems

... and focuses on:

Sickness Prevention

Posted by Lazy Man on September 16, 2008 in Sickness Prevention.

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