Whether you’ve just bought a home or it’s been a while since you’ve taken a good hard look at its condition, you should take the time for a home health inspection. Not only can you get an idea of what improvements you can make to the home, but you can also see and fix some issues that might affect the health of you and the family. Here are a few of the real risks worth checking for.

Mind your leaks

Hidden leaks from damaged pipes or appliances or roof leaks can lead to the growth of mold and dampness. This can damage the structure of the home and also worsen respiratory health conditions such as asthma. It is important to have a roofing specialist inspect the roof for cracks, missing tiles, and other signs of wear and tear. If you notice mold or dampness inside the home, contact a plumber to find and fix the source of the leak

A colorless killer

As a toxic gas that’s produced when burning fuels like coal, propane, and natural gas, carbon monoxide can be deadly when too much of it is inhaled. As such, installing carbon monoxide alarms and ensuring that they have working batteries is crucial Beyond that, you can prevent carbon monoxide leaks by ensuring that your heating systems, fuel-burning appliances, and water heaters get the routine maintenance that they need.

The risk could be under the home

Radioactive uranium can be found in the soil beneath plenty of homes. While not an immediate risk, when it decays, this can result in radon gas seeping up into the homes, where our HVAC systems can spread it throughout. You should look at the radon maps available online to see if your home is in an area affected by radon. If so, there are testing kits that you can get to find and treat it.

Older homes are at more risk

Although it is banned as a construction material, asbestos is still routinely discovered in older homes, though the rate of these discoveries is, thankfully, starting to slow. This form of insulation is linked to some deadly respiratory diseases, as you can see from the survival statistics of some forms, like mesothelioma. Having your walls and attic inspected for asbestos is crucial if you’re in an older home.

Even peeling paint can be dangerous

Lead paint was also used routinely before 1978, which can pose serious health risks, especially to pregnant women and children. You can test for lead paint in your home if you see any of the signs of it being there and, if you find it, you should get in touch with specialist services to remove it for you. 

 

Every home comes with its own quirks and risks. However, if your home does pose any potential risk of the issues above, you shouldn’t simply sit on it. The sooner that you move to address the issue, the better your chance of not experiencing some of the worse health outcomes related to them.