5 Healthy Home Tips for 2014

Create a Healthy Home in 2014

Nobody wants to live in a home that is dusty, dirty, crawling with pests, or filled with toxic air. Living in a home that isn’t properly maintained can actually make those living in the home and those who visit physically sick; especially individuals who are prone to allergies.

Keeping your home maintained and clean not only shows you have pride in your abode, but also shows that you care about the well-being of yourself, your family, and your friends. 2014 is just around the corner, and that means that now is as good a time as ever to put those healthy home tips into place.

Maintain Your Home’s HVAC Unit

Maintaining your home’s HVAC unit is a priority for a healthy home. The filters in your HVAC unit collect dirt and potentially dangerous grime over time. Dust collected on the unit can be rotated through your home several times a day, creating a consistent stream of allergen-ridden air. The cleaner the HVAC filter and unit are, the cleaner the air circulating throughout your home and the lower the chance of allergic reactions or chronic allergy issues. Contact a professional HVAC company like Bob Jenson for regular maintenance of your HVAC system.

Keep Dust to a Minimum

Dust rolling around the house and hiding in unsuspecting places causes allergies to flare up and creates an uncomfortable living space full of sniffles and sneezes. One of the easiest ways to keep dust at bay is to vacuum a couple times a week. Ensure each time you vacuum that the vacuum bag or dirt container and filter are clean and adequate suction is maintained. Vacuuming with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter is also recommended for allergy-prone individuals. A HEPA filter helps get all the unwanted particles out of the air—even those small enough to slip through conventional filters. Dust build-up can also become great kindling in areas that commonly overheat. This means that the dust in your home is not only hazardous for allergy sufferers, but it can also be a fire hazard.

Have Your Home Tested for Lead and Radon

Lead and radon poisoning can be detrimental to a household if not caught early and taken care of right away. Lead poisoning can cause serious damage, especially in young children. This type of damage can range from behavioral problems and learning disabilities to seizure or even death. The biggest source of lead in a home comes from old, peeling paint and the dust created as it erodes. The easiest way to test for lead paint is with a lead paint testing kit that can be purchased from your local home improvement store or health department.

Radon is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This type of gas is colorless and odorless, and some level of radon exists in most homes in the U.S. This type of gas is created as uranium breaks down in the soil underneath the home and leaks into the house. Radon home test kits are also available at local hardware and home improvement stores for a low cost.

Limit the Use of Pesticides

Using certain pesticides in your home to kill unwanted critters such as mice, bugs, or other intruders can put your family at risk. Pesticides can cause learning disabilities, asthma, and even brain development problems if family members are exposed. A better option is to focus on prevention by putting safeguards in place to keep unwanted critters at bay or try a safer alternative. For example a little dish soap and water sprayed on red ants can kill them and is non-toxic! Keep food off the counters, block up external entrances to the home (drafty doors or open cellars), and take out the trash regularly to keep up a clean, uninviting space. Ask your local pest management company about their organic options the next time you’re due for a service.

Filter Your Tap Water

Filtering your tap water can remove an array of contaminants, including chemicals, bacteria, and sloughed-off elements from eroding pipes. Studies show that filtered tap water may even be better for you than bottled water, as the regulations on tap water are stricter than bottled. A yearly report is required to be published by the EPA to identify known contaminants in tap water so that you are aware of what you are exposed to. Although there are EPA regulations in place on tap water, filtering adds an extra layer of protection for you and your family.

A healthy home environment can help keep individuals in the home illness and disease free. By vacuuming regularly to keep the dust to a minimum, maintaining the HVAC unit, testing for lead and radon, stopping use of commercial pesticides, and filtering tap water, you build a healthier environment in which to not just live, but thrive in 2014.