Creating a safe home isn’t just about preventing break-ins. Properly protecting your family also means getting rid of toxins and pollutants in the home. Make an effort to maintain a safe and healthy home with these methods.
How to Keep Your Home Healthy and Safe
Certain dangers in the home can go unnoticed. Here are a few steps to take to keep your home safe and healthy for your family.
Test for Radon
An often overlooked yet dangerous contaminant in the home is radon. Radon cannot be smelled, tasted, or seen, so it’s easy to be unaware of it. However, this gas increases one’s risk of lung cancer. Protect the health of your family by testing your house for radon.
If high levels of radon are discovered, take steps immediately to reduce the levels. Enlist the help of a radon mitigation professional.
Eliminate Mold to Keep a Safe and Healthy Home
Another way to keep your home healthy and safe is to eliminate mold. Exposure to mold can lead to health issues like allergies, eye and throat irritation, fatigue, and more. To prevent mold, dry any wet areas in the home, ventilate and dehumidify the air, and clean your house on a regular basis.
If you have mold in your home, locate the source of the moisture. Major mold issues should be handled by professionals because disturbing mold can cause health problems.
Use Smoke and CO Detectors
Fire and carbon monoxide are frightening threats to your home and family. Install smoke detectors throughout your home. If your home is already equipped with smoke detectors, set a reminder to replace their batteries at least twice a year. Additionally, place a CO detector on every floor of your home and near gas-powered appliances.
Reduce VOCs to Maintain a Safe and Healthy Home
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that are found in many things in the home. Carpeting, furniture, flooring, paints, and cleaning products may contain VOCs. VOCs are unhealthy to breathe, so you should only bring items into your home that are labeled VOC-free. Formulate your own cleaning products from white vinegar and essential oils to reduce these dangerous chemicals in your home.
Filter Drinking Water
Ask your municipality for a water quality report or have your well water tested. If you’re not using a water filter for your drinking water, you may be consuming pollutants and chemicals in your tap water. There are many types of water filters on the market. Knowing the contaminants in your water will help you choose the right filter for your household.
Sunbelt Inspections provides home inspection services to Houston and the surrounding areas. Contact us to request an appointment.