Whether you now own a house or are still currently renting, there are home issues you simply cannot ignore. This goes beyond maintaining your home for your family’s safety. If left alone, these can be the very reason why your family’s health continues to go down the hill.
Some home issues can be harmless to you and your family’s health. But there are things that can cause health issues ranging from acute allergies here and there to full-blown life-threatening diseases. Since health is your family’s number one health, it is time to stop ignoring these home health hazards.
High Humidity Levels
Excessive moisture in your home is common during the wet seasons. If your home is not properly ventilated, excessive moisture can penetrate your deck, walls, crawl spaces, and basement. It can lead to a number of problems, including the following:
- Bed bugs and other pests
- Molds and mildew
- Wood decay and deformation
- Electronics damage
- Health problems
Humidity levels can affect air quality. If there is too much humidity, our sweat won’t evaporate at the usual rate. This then impacts your body’s ability to regulate your body temperature. In turn, it can cause the body to overheat, making us feel exhausted.
Different microorganisms can cause allergies and respiratory issues. They thrive in highly humid areas. One can end up with feelings of faintness, difficulty breathing, and inability to focus.
Addressing high humidity becomes a must if you want to keep our family healthy and our home in great shape. You need to find the source of the moisture problem and remove it asap. There are also a series of preventive tactics you can use to avoid moisture problems in the future.
For instance, you can invest in the right moisture barrier system for your floors for the designated ASTM F3010 moisture barrier. You can ask professional contractors to install the moisture barrier system. Note that this is best done for newly constructed concrete floorings.
Investing in a dehumidification system can be a great investment during the summer. Make sure your exhaust ventilation systems are working efficiently. Seal openings and install exhaust fans in areas where high moisture can quickly buildup.
Critters
You may not be bothered by seeing critters here and there. But these pests can quickly bring a family member to the hospital if you don’t get rid of them soon enough. Even the tiniest critters can do enough damage if we simply leave them be.
Bed bugs, for instance, can transmit one of the most deadly diseases in the U.S. It carries triatomines that cause Chagas Disease. Aside from discomfort and sleepless nights, Chagas can cause someone to suffer from long-term cardiac issues and gastrointestinal complications.
Rats and mice can carry numerous viruses and bacteria that can cause a number of diseases to humans. Leptospirosis, for instance, causes mild headaches and fevers to meningitis. Severe cases of Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM), on the other hand, can lead to encephalitis and myelitis.
Pest prevention is the best way to stop pests from making their home out of your house. You’ll want to remove their food sources and close off spaces where they can enter. For any pest issues, you can contact a local pest control company instead.
Asbestos Problem
Houses that are more than 50 years old were often built with harmful materials like asbestos. Asbestos can hide anywhere from your floors, walls, ceilings, sidings, and insulation. If these get damaged, you can get exposed to the toxic dust and get sick.
Asbestosis causes inflammation and scarring caused by asbestos fibers. This can cause cough, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. If you leave this untreated, it can lead to pulmonary heart disease and lung cancer.
If you suspect asbestos in your home but the materials containing the asbestos are in good condition, these are unlikely to cause any damage. Keep an eye on these materials but don’t touch them. If, however, these are damaged or disturbed in any form, you will want to call an accredited asbestos professional to do the repair or removal.
When hiring an asbestos professional, it is best to hire a separate inspector and contractor. This helps avoid conflict of interest. You will want to make sure that each party can provide proof that they have enough training and accreditation to inspect, remove, or repair the asbestos-containing materials.
These are but three issues that can harm your family’s health if you choose to ignore them. There is no reason to wait before signs and symptoms appear before you address each issue. The earlier you deal with these home issues, the easier it will be for you to avoid the potential health risks they can bring into your home.
