When it comes to home safety, you may be missing a few things if all you think you need is a smoke detector and a good lock on your doors. Homes pose many dangers, some of them hidden within the walls. Some of them are only dangerous with prolonged exposure, while others could kill nearly instantly.
When was the last time you truly considered the dangers your home may be hiding from you? Unless you’ve recently seen something on carbon monoxide poisoning on the news, it’s probably something you don’t often think of. Here are some things that could be going on in your home, which could be hazardous to your health.
Radon And Carbon Monoxide
Gas leaks, radon poisoning, and carbon monoxide poisoning are all things that happen in the common household. But they are all preventable accidents as well. You can get detectors that will let you know when any of these obnoxious fumes are in the air, much like a smoke detector.
With each change of the season, get your things like your heater and even your connection to your gas stove checked out by a professional. This will save you a lot of headaches, and could actually save your family. Know safety when it comes to using things like generators as well.
Mold
Lead and asbestos aren’t the only things to worry about in older homes. And, mold can even be a factor in newer homes if you’ve ever had a leak of any kind. Look for mold not just under sinks and in walls where pipes reside, but also in basements and attics.
Mold in itself might not be a huge issue, but if someone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, it could make living in that home hard. And, if you have black mold, it could cause people that don’t normally have respiratory issues to also get sick.
Infestations
Mold infestations are one thing, but bug and critter infestations can be a problem as well. Termites will eat your home around you, while carpenter ants will weaken the wood of your home. Some bugs may just be a nuisance to you, but some are also damaging to your home.
If you have critters living in your home, from squirrels and raccoons in the attic, to mice wherever they please, their urine and feces will start to build up and can make you and your family extremely sick.
Even when all of these things are covered, you still want to make sure that you are checking batteries on occasion, to make sure any kind of detection systems you have are working. Also, check for new leaks often. Your home should be a safe haven, not a death trap.
Originally posted on July 23, 2016 @ 9:53 pm