Safety at home means more than feeling comfortable. It means protecting yourself and your family from dangerous problems and health issues. Learn more about some of the most common household hazards in this article.
Home sweet home, that’s what they say!
But what about the not-so-sweet parts of the home? What about the parts of your home that you don’t even know about, but that could result in dangerous or harmful consequences?
Safety at home is not something to take lightly, especially because it’s supposed to be the place where you feel the most comfortable & safe.
So, let’s look at some of these hidden, yet common, household hazards that you should be aware of in your home.
Radon
You might’ve noticed that home inspections during the buying and selling process often include (or suggest) that you also get radon testing.
But what is radon? According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer [and other health problems].” These health problems build over time, making it even harder to detect when there’s an issue.
Because radon is both colorless and odorless, it is impossible to detect in a home without specialized equipment. Radon testing ensures that the levels of radon are safe for inhabiting the home.
If radon is found, don’t worry. There are simple and relatively inexpensive options for controlling radon concentrations inside the home to mitigate any dangerous effects.
Carbon Monoxide
Similar to radon, carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can cause serious health issues. Unlike radon, though, carbon monoxide can be fatal very quickly. Carbon monoxide poisoning leads first to flu-like symptoms like headaches, vomiting, chest pain, and weakness before, eventually, leading to death.
Carbon monoxide usually enters the home from a leak. It can be generated from grills, fireplaces, stoves, small engines, cars, trucks, etc.
The best defense is a carbon monoxide alarm. This alarm will sound, similar to a fire alarm, when carbon monoxide is present. This alerts you to get out of your home and call professionals to find the source of the issue.
Dryer Lint
Clothes dryers are one of the top fire hazards in the home. One thing that increases your risk of starting a fire is lint build-up in your dryers lint screen. Not only is lint itself extremely flammable, but the oxygen circulation combined with the heat from the dryer creates a “perfect storm” for fire ignition.
Reduce this risk and increase your safety at home by consistently cleaning out the lint screen.
Creosote
Speaking of build-up, creosote is defined as the build-up of soot, chemicals, water, and other materials inside of the chimney. Creosote is extremely flammable. When combined with a roaring fire underneath it, you could be looking at a very dangerous situation.
Have your chimney and vents inspected at least once per year in order to avoid dangerous build-up. You should also have your chimney cleaned regularly to reduce any build-up that’s already occurred.
Lead Paint
While lead is no longer used in commercially available paint, that doesn’t mean that your house doesn’t contain it. Lead paint has only fallen out of favor in the last 30 years or so meaning that if your home was built or painted prior to that time, you could still be exposed to dangerous lead paint.
Paint inspections can reveal whether lead paint is an issue and they’ll also provide you with potential solutions or options for remedying the situation.
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