The Condition of Your Home Affects Your Health

Your home is more than shelter from the elements. It protects you from all kinds of health risks. The condition of your home can affect your home’s effectiveness in protecting your health. Here are three threats that can be affected by the condition of your home.

Radon

Radon gas is a radioactive gas that can seep into your home through cracks in the foundation or even seams between concrete slabs. Radon gas is a naturally occurring element. It is odorless and colorless. The only way you can detect radon is with a test kit.

Since radon is radioactive, it is carcinogenic. Radon causes about 20,000 cases of lung cancer every year. Most of the continental U.S. has naturally occurring radon. Homes that are at greater risk for radon include:

• Homes with basements.
• Homes with cracked foundations.
• Homes with poor ventilation.

To reduce the risk from radon in your home, you should use a test kit to determine your level of exposure, and talk to a building contractor about ways you can patch your foundation and improve the circulation of air through your home.

Lead

Both the conventional press and the blogging world have written about lead. The city of Flint, Michigan experienced a serious and ongoing case of lead contamination in its municipal water supply. But even in cities that have replaced their lead pipes, the pipes in your home can contribute lead to your drinking water.

Lead comes from the pips and solder used in older homes. Although the Environmental Protection Administration banned lead in plumbing in 1986, older homes may contain lead.

To determine your potential exposure to lead, you should consult a building contractor and review your construction blueprints, otherwise known as construction plans or construction drawings. These will be 2D drawings that tell you the details necessary for a project, in this case, the outline of your home.

Mold

Since mold thrives in dark, damp places, it will grow in your walls after a water leak. Broken pipes, a leaky roof, or water damage from a flood can lead to mold spores in your walls.

To determine your risk for mold, you should contact a roofing contractor to inspect your roof for leaks. Construction experts expect growth of over 4% yearly in the roofing industry to reach $19.9 billion by 2021.
Your home can have a major impact on your health. Take care of it and you will take care of yourself.