Before we look at ways to make your home healthy and safe, let us start with some of the things that make a home unsafe. Most homes have health hazards that you may not be able to detect. This includes radon, carbon monoxide, lead-based paint, pests, structural problems, and secondhand smoke.
The following are some measures you can take to help keep your home healthy and safe.
Install Smoke Alarms to Keep Your Home Healthy and Safe
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. They are especially important in your living room, kitchen, and bedrooms, but should also be added to hallways, the laundry room, and the garage. Test your smoke alarms monthly and change their batteries twice a year. Working smoke alarms are critical to keeping your home healthy and safe. Smoke alarms save lives by alerting people to a fire in time for them to escape to safety.
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can enter the home when fuel-burning appliances aren’t properly vented. To keep your home healthy and safe, install carbon monoxide detectors. If your carbon monoxide detectors start beeping, gather your family and pets and vacate the house.
Call the fire department once you are safe outdoors. They will come and measure the carbon monoxide levels in the home to determine whether or not it is safe for you to go back into the house. Change the batteries on your carbon monoxide detectors twice a year and test them regularly to guarantee they are working.
Dust Often to Make Your Home Healthy and Safe
Dusting helps keep the air in the house cleaner. Thoroughly dust your home when cleaning. Dust in the air can lead to breathing problems and trigger allergies. Dusting often also helps prevent dust mites from inhabiting your home. Use a microfiber cloth instead of a feather duster, which only pushes the dust around and into the air.
Test for Lead Paint
Have your home tested for lead paint, especially if it was built before 1978. Lead is toxic and causes health problems, especially for young children. It is so dangerous that when it is absorbed in the body, it can damage vital organs. Lead poisoning happens slowly over time, so this is a danger that’s critical to address.
Have Your Home Tested for Radon
Radon is hazardous to your health but is impossible to detect without a test. Radon exposure can lead to lung cancer. Get your home tested for radon to protect you and your family. If high levels of radon are found, install a radon mitigation system.
Other methods you can practice to make sure you are keeping your home healthy and safe are:
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- Keep your floors clear of any clutter
- Cover your trash
- Open windows and doors daily to get fresh air
- Check the roof for water leaks
- Change the HVAC filters regularly
- Filter drinking water
It’s worth the effort to make your home a healthy and safe environment. You’ll improve your family’s well-being and have greater peace of mind.
Veterans First Home Inspections offers inspection services, including radon testing, to the nation’s capital. Contact us to request an appointment.