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6 ways your house can make you sick
Can my house make me sick? Yes!
Here’s my list of 6 things in your Colorado Springs house that can make you sick
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1. Radon: It’s a colorless, odorless gas that can seep into the home from the ground. Radon has been called the second most common cause of lung cancer. In the open air, radon usually dissipates into the atmosphere and is not likely to cause harm. When radon enters buildings and is trapped in high concentrations, it causes health problems. This typically happens in basements with poor ventilation. (See related article: Radon testing is important in Colorado Springs)
2. Asbestos: It’s a fibrous material that was once popular in building materials because it provided heat insulation and fire resistance. Asbestos was banned in 1985 but it still may be found in older home’s insulation materials, floor tiles, roof coverings, ceilings and siding. It is only harmful when it is disturbed or exposed causing it to become airborne; which can typically happens during home renovations. It can be costly to remove because the process requires state licensed technicians and specially sealed environments. (EPA Pamphlet)
3. Lead: It’s a toxic metal used in home products for many years which can contribute to several health problems, especially among children and the elderly. Exposure can occur from deteriorating lead-based paint, pipes, or lead-contaminated dust or soil. It’s estimated that 75% of all private houses built before 1978 have lead present. Presently, there is no federal law that requires homeowners to check for the presence of lead-based paint but lead-based paint hazards must be disclosed however. More information available on the EPA Pamphlet. Read the rest of this entry »
Basements and air quality, the two are related
Basements affect the rest of the house
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I recently attended a very informative class put on by Peak Basement Systems and I learned many new things about base
ments and structural problems.
What I found fascinating was learning about the “stack effect“. Air from the basement is drawn upwards into the first floor, then to the second floor. Essentially, warm air rises – because it’s lighter than cold air. When it rises, the air escapes out of the upper levels of our homes. When air escapes, new air has to come in to replace the air that escaped. The new air comes from the lower levels, through crawl space vents and up from the earth. The stack effect actually causes your house to suck on the ground.
Building scientists say that 50% of the air you breath on the first floor is air that came from the basement or the crawl space.
Consequently, whatever is in the air in the basement is in your house. If there is high humidity downstairs, there is high humidity on the main level. If there is mold in the basement, then there are mold spores upstairs.
Since the majority of homes in Colorado have basements in them; and basements are typically included as living space for many families, don’t underestimate the important of the air in your basement.
Knowledge is Power
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Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
