The majority of people view their homes as a relaxing place where they can feel safe and secure. Unfortunately, there are many hidden dangers within many homes. You should carefully inspect the interior and exterior of your home in order to identify any potential risks your house may contain.
Maybe you have just moved into your new home. Perhaps you have lived in your house for some time and are now discovering certain, shall we say, disturbing things about it. No matter if you are a new or established homeowner, you can realize that your home could harbor harmful secrets without living in the Amityville Horror house. Especially if you live in an older home, you might find dangerous building materials in the floors, walls, or ceilings.
There are hidden dangers in newer homes as well. Check these out and beware!
9 Home Security Threats You Might Ignore
1. Asbestos
Asbestos is an inexpensive and highly effective flame retardant that was once widely used in home construction. Found in insulation, vinyl and linoleum floors, and roof shingles, asbestos becomes hazardous to your health when damaged materials break apart and are inhaled. Asbestos is no longer used in construction, but if you live in an old house, it could still be lingering in the walls.
Natural asbestos occurs in the earth’s crust. Because it is fibrous, it is heat- and fire-resistant. The material was widely used for construction materials, including insulation, flooring, and siding, during the 1940s and 1980s. Because asbestos fibers are so small, they can easily float through the air and cause inhalation. A disturbed asbestos exposure can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and scarring in the lungs.
As long as it is not disturbed, asbestos in your home is not necessarily dangerous, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you plan to renovate, you should have your home tested for asbestos before you begin. You may need a professional to take a sample of the suspect material and test it safely if your home is older. In the case of asbestos, you need to get professional help for its removal if it has been damaged or frayed. Avoid removing asbestos yourself. An asbestos lawyer might also be needed in some cases. A mesothelioma lawyer might help you obtain compensation for your losses if you are diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma.
2. Stairs and Flooring
People could be at risk of injury from the stairs and flooring in your home. Children and elderly people are particularly vulnerable. A slip and fall injury injure 2.8 million children every year, which equals approximately 8,000 children each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People over the age of 65 are also particularly vulnerable to serious injuries or death as a result of falls.
It may be difficult for people in your home to use wooden stairs or floors with slick surfaces. Here are a few steps you can take to make your floors and stairs safer for your family and guests.
- Keep your floors dry at all times.
- Clean up spills promptly.
- Clean your kitchen tiles with degreasing agents.
- Do not use cleaners that can build up on the floor’s surface.
- Every exterior door should have an entrance map.
- After you have cleaned hard floors, use a dry mop.
- If you have older adults living in your home, you might want to consider installing short-nap carpeting.
3. Get the Lead Paint Out
There’s a good chance that your home was painted before the 1980s, so there might be lead in the paint on your walls. In the late 1970s, lead paint was banned due to its toxicity. A simple test kit can help you find out if it’s present on your walls. Getting rid of it requires a trained professional. Airborne particles of lead can enter your house from common DIY activities like sanding, posing a serious health risk.
4. Radiation Risks
Radon enters a house through cracks in foundations, gaps around pipes, or wall joints. Almost all homes contain some amount of it, but at high levels, it acts as a carcinogen. To check for radon, you’ll need a test kit such as this one from The Home Depot, since the gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Adding ventilation or sealing cracks in the foundation can help mitigate the problem if your house is affected.
It’s hard to tell just by smelling or looking in your house if you have elevated radon levels. Your home can be tested for radon by a radon professional. You can also buy a device and test it yourself. Test your radon levels by placing the device at the lowest area of your house you use most often. If you have radon levels over 4 picocuries per liter, the EPA recommends repairs.
Radon mitigation may be necessary if you have an elevated radon level. Unless you’re an expert and have specialized tools, this isn’t a do-it-yourself job. For reducing the levels of radon in your home, you can also consult with a professional radon installer.
5. Dangerous Gases
Carbon monoxide gas is invisible and odorless, but it poses a serious threat nevertheless. Several appliances, such as stoves, water heaters, and cars, can leak gas. A carbon monoxide leak can make you very ill, even at low levels, which is why every floor of your home should be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm.
Unsuspecting people can be quickly killed by carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas. Among the many sources of this gas are gas appliances, stoves, vehicles, and wood-burning fireplaces. People and pets can become poisoned by carbon monoxide if it builds up in enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide poisoning results in an average of 430 deaths and 50,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Make sure you service your fuel-burning appliances every year. Generators and grills should not be used inside of your garage or home, or close to a window or door. Keep your stove from being used for heating, and avoid using an unvented fireplace for burning things. Last but not least, don’t run your car in the garage. As a result, carbon monoxide levels can quickly rise to dangerous levels.
6. Mold
A musty odor in the bathroom or basement indicates mold growth. Excess moisture can lead to mold growth in ductwork, behind walls, and under floors. In addition to smelling for mold, you can shine a bright light on any suspect areas or use a black light to detect it. With commercial cleaners, this household irritant can be removed easily. Mold can be prevented by using dehumidifiers and fans.
Mold can also pose a health threat. As per EPA, mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and irritation to the lungs, eyes, throat, nose, and skin, even if you don’t have allergies or asthma. Mold spores can attach themselves to moisture and spread throughout your home. It is important to hire mold remediation professionals to inspect the home otherwise the presence of mold and excessive moisture can also result in property damage.
A mold remediation Denver expert should take the following steps:
- Prevent the mold from spreading
- Filter the air to eliminate spores
- Dispose of any porous materials that are wet or mold-damaged
- Using antimicrobial treatments for disinfection and deodorization
- Renovation of ceilings, walls, and flooring
7. Airborne Hazards
Do you plan to replace your carpet? Paint your walls? Replace your furniture? Your upgrades are likely to include volatile organic compounds. These chemicals break down and release gas into the air, causing headaches, sore throats, and other symptoms. Whenever possible, buy no- or low-VOC products to minimize off-gassing. Ventilate a newly furnished room for at least a week following installation.
8. Tiny Dust Mites
In your furniture, carpets, or bedding, you can find microscopic dust mites. Asthma attacks or allergies may be caused by these little critters that feed on dead skin cells and hair. Although you cannot get rid of them, you can reduce the symptoms they cause by vacuuming carpets and furniture regularly, washing bedding and area rugs in hot water every week, and purchasing tightly woven, barrier-style pillow protectors and mattress covers.
9. Insects
A variety of household problems can be caused by pests. Wood floor and wall damage can be caused by termites, carpenter ants, mice, and cockroaches. In addition to toxic effects on children and pets, chemical treatments and poisons emit noxious gases. Identifying infestations and prescribing the correct treatment for unwelcome guests is the job of a qualified home inspector.
Final thoughts
Your home is a source of many potential health risks that could harm your well-being. Being aware of potential threats to our health is the first step. Keeping your home and family safe begins with having proper cleaning habits and knowledge of how to deal with harmful substances.
