Your home is a place of reprieve and rest–a space where you can just be yourself without worries of the outside world. Unfortunately, your home may be posing a danger to you and your family. You might be surrounded with health hazards and not even aware of it. Consider these often looked over threats to your safety:
Impure Water
Your tap water may be infected with microbial cysts, lead, or even pharmaceuticals, among other things. Fortunately, you can purchase water filtration units that attach directly to your tap from any home improvement store. When you consider the relatively low price and ease of installation associated with do-it-yourself tap water filtration devices, there’s no arguing that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Carbon Monoxide
This odorless and colorless gas is also extremely poisonous, and it can leak from any of a number of systems in your home, including your heating system, fireplace, or furnace. The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is to install carbon monoxide detectors in any room where it is possible carbon monoxide might leak.
Mold and Mildew
These microscopic spores can cause some very serious health problems–even death, if you are exposed for too long. Mold and mildew thrive in moisture, so be especially vigilant about cleaning up all standing water puddles and ensuring damp areas like the bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen are adequately vented.
Heavy Furniture
This hazard is especially relevant if you have young children who are learning to walk and climb. Things like bookshelves, television carts, narrow dressers and even your coffee table can sometimes all-too easily tip over when they are pulled on or bumped into. Hedge the associated risks by securing your heavy furniture to the wall with straps or furniture brackets.
Smoke
You might not know that the leading cause of death in a house fire is not the fire itself, but is inhalation of smoke. You should have smoke detectors in every room of your home, and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors the moment you get the signal. Remember that smoke rises and tends to travel along the walls, so your smoke detectors should be installed at the highest point of your ceiling, and just a few inches from the wall.
When you think about it, there may be many hidden health hazards in your home. Fortunately, there are also many quick fixes that are not only cheap, but easy to execute. Consider all of these potentially dangerous cuprits when sizing up your home’s safety.