It can be surprising how dangerous your home can be. People often end up in accidents at home but that is only one part of the risks. There are quite a few health hazards that can be found in a normal house that the owner doesn’t know about. If you are not careful, you can quickly become sick and you won’t even know the reason why. For those who want to be more careful with their health, here are some potential risks to your good health inside your home.
Carbon Monoxide
One of the major health threats you don’t know about is carbon monoxide. A gas generated by various engines, furnaces, and other appliances that burn, it can build up inside the home and slowly poison those who live in it. Normally carbon monoxide would disperse but homes trap the gas inside and it builds up.
Too much carbon monoxide is very deadly to living creatures. The symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, chest pains, and vomiting. It may seem like the people inside the house have the flu so many people assume it is a disease. Additionally, people sleeping in a house full of carbon monoxide will often die in their sleep. Those with preexisting conditions are also at risk.
The problem with carbon monoxide is that it is odorless and tasteless. You won’t know that it is even building up. If you want to be sure that you are safe from it, you should install several carbon monoxide detectors in your home to detect it. You should also take steps to upgrade your ventilation system so that air can move freely out of your house.
Radon
Another undetectable source of health problems is radon. Radon is an undetectable radioactive gas that is from the decay of various radioactive isotopes in the ground. In nature, it is no problem since it freely disperses in the air. The problem is when radon enters the house from its foundations. Instead of dispersing, the radon builds up. This is a problem since radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer out there.
Similar to carbon monoxide, radon is tasteless and odorless. Additionally, radon’s effects are not noticed until years later. This makes it important that you implement radon testing on your home as soon as possible. Fortunately, these tests are inexpensive and can be done in a short time.
If the tests do show the presence of radon, you will need to make some changes to your home. For one, you will need to seal your foundations so that no further radon would be able to enter. You will also need to install a vent pipe and fan system that draws out the radon from your home and dumps it outside. This ensures that any radon does that enter your home will be vented out.
Allergens
If you always seem to have trouble breathing, it might be because of the presence of allergens inside your home. It can be surprising how many of them can be found in your home. The most common form of allergy is dust allergy. This is more than just dust that you could be allergic to. This allergy can be triggered by pollen, pet hair, mold, and more.
To avoid sneezing all the time and having a runny nose, you need to be more diligent when it comes to cleaning your home. It is not just floors you must clean up. For example, your carpet can absorb all the allergens in your home and become a persistent source of misery. Take it to a carpet cleaner regularly to ensure your home is clean of allergens. You should also aim to lower the humidity of your home since that encourages the spread of dust.
Hazardous Materials
Some dangers in your home can be leftovers from the previous owners. Hazardous materials like asbestos and lead were a common part of construction practices in the past. Nowadays, they can be a health risk. If you recently bought an old house, you should invest in a complete house inspection that evaluates all the parts of the house so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises. If you do find hazardous materials, you should contact experts to dispose of them.
Your good health is the result of you taking the initiative in caring for yourself. Eliminating the various health risks around your home is an excellent way to ensure that you stay healthy. With the right approach, you can be sure that our house will be a safe place to live.
