DETECTING INVISIBLE DANGERS IN THE HOME

The following checklist and information guide is meant to assist home owners in assessing the health and safety quotient of their homes.

• Electrical Deficiencies
  Do your wall switches or outlets ever feel warm to the touch?
  Have you noticed lights flickering?
  Do you use multiple outlet plugs or extension cords frequently?
  Do your fuses blow very often or your circuit breakers flip very often?

Aluminum wiring, which was installed in houses built from the mid-60's to the mid-70's, often experiences connection problems causing sparking and fires. Also, many older houses have undersized electrical systems resulting in a shortage of household circuits and outlets. Overtaxing such a system will result in blown fuses and flipped breakers.

• Lead-Based Paint
  How old is your house?
  Do you have young people or pregnant women in your house often?
  Is your interior and exterior paint flaking? 

In 1978, lead-based paint was banned for residential use. Houses built before 1978 probably contain lead-based paint, either on interior or exterior surfaces. Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning.

• Water Heater 
  Does your heater deliver scalding degree water?
  Does your heater have a properly installed relief valve?
  Is your heater a source of carbon monoxide?

All self-standing water heaters have a thermostat control to set the water temperature. If your household has young children or seniors, a safe setting of 120ºF is recommended. Check your water heater for an effective relief valve to protect against a tank explosion caused by excess pressure or temperatures. Water heaters should be properly vented to prevent a carbon monoxide build-up.

• Radon
  Is your house located in a "rocky" area?
  Have you heard of radon gas problems in your locale?

Radon is an odorless gas found naturally in nature, especially in areas of rocky sub-surfaces. A build-up of radon gas can cause cancer over time. Removing (mitigating) radon from a house is accomplished at a minimum of expense and inconvenience.

• Carbon Monoxide 
  Do members of the family often complain about headaches and nausea for no apparent reason?
  Is your garage attached to your house? Are vehicles often left idling in the garage?
  Do you use a gas or kerosene space heater?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is another invisible danger. The result of fuel combustion, carbon monoxide can build up in your house if heaters and appliances are not vented properly. Idling vehicles can also produce high levels of CO in a short period of time. Continuous inhalation of carbon monoxide can result in death.

• Asbestos
  Does your house have an old boiler heating system?
  Are your heat pipes insulated with a paper cover material?

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer. Asbestos was often used in boiler tank and heat lines insulation. It is also found in ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and roof shingles. Interior asbestos products are particularly hazardous if they are flaking or damaged in any way.

• Water Quality
  Does your tap water look clear and taste good?
  Do you notice blue staining on plumbing fixtures or odors?

You can´t tell the quality of water by looking at it or by tasting it. The only valid check of water quality is through laboratory testing. A standard potability test will usually only test for bacteria and pH levels. Laboratories can also test for lead, radon, PCB´s, and other toxic substances.

• Underground Fuel Tanks
  Do you notice increased fuel oil consumption?
  Do you smell fuel odors in the area of your buried fuel tank?

Most old fuel tanks were made of metal and are subject to rusting and deterioration over time. To avoid future soil contamination problems, it is recommended that all old tanks be tested for leakage and removed if necessary.