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IS YOUR HOME HEALTHY?

More than 30 million homes have significant health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Not surprisingly, many homeowners and renters aren’t aware of the link between their housing and their health. Radon exposure, for example, has no immediate symptoms. Carbon monoxide poisoning can initially resemble the flu. Exposure to some toxins may be confused with seasonal allergies.

Unhealthy houses are an unplanned consequence of the way homes have been built for the past 100 years. Houses are simply much more complicated environments than we’ve realized, and seemingly small issues can have significant impact on occupant health. Just because it’s new doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy. Although the age of the home can be a factor, the causes of an unhealthy house are many and varied, and they can come from sources inside or from outside.

According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, a healthy home is housing designed, constructed, maintained, and rehabilitated in a manner that is conducive to good occupant health.

So, what makes a home healthy? The answer is involved and evolving, but there are some critical elements we know contribute to your home’s health.

THE TRUTH ABOUT INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Many are unaware of the potential negative health effects of poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), IAQ refers to the air quality within and around buildings, as it relates to the health and comfort of its residents. Currently, indoor air pollution is ranked by the EPA as one of the top five environmental risks to public health.

Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants. If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. If your home isn’t properly ventilated, it probably isn’t as healthy as it could be.

YOUR HOME NEEDS PROPER VENTILATION

Outdoor air enters and leaves a house in one of three ways: infiltration, natural ventilation, and mechanical ventilation.

INFILTRATION: In this process, outdoor air flows into the house through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings, and around windows and doors. This process is often unplanned and unwanted.

NATURAL VENTILATION: Residents often ventilate their homes through opened windows and doors.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION: There are varied mechanical ventilation devices, from outdoor-vented fans that occasionally remove air from a single room, such as the bathroom or kitchen, to air handling systems that use fans and duct work to continuously remove indoor air and distribute filtered and conditioned outdoor air to strategic points throughout the house.

The rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air is described as the air exchange rate. When there is little infiltration, natural ventilation, or mechanical ventilation, the air exchange rate is poor and can negatively affect the health of your home.

From underpowered fans to inadequate attic venting, there are several critical issues that impact home ventilation. Having a healthy home often starts with having a properly ventilated home.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY… A HEALTHY OUTCOME.

Healthier homes are often thought of as more expensive homes, but that often isn’t the case. Yes, owning a healthier home can include costs to upgrade or expand existing systems to optimize home health. That said, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that proper insulating and air sealing measures can save homeowners up to 20 percent of their heating and cooling costs or up to 10 percent of their total energy costs.

When it comes to increasing the health of a home, energy efficiency is often increased when the proper amount and insulation types are used. The same can be found when home air leaks are addressed using proper techniques. Air leaks in the home are more than taxing on heating and cooling systems, they can cause moisture and indoor air quality issues as well. Properly sealing gaps and openings in the building envelope is an effective way to reduce heating and cooling costs, save energy, reduce air drafts, alleviate moisture problems, and improve indoor air quality and comfort. It is important that air sealing be completed before insulation issues are addressed. Air leaks can reduce the effectiveness of insulation, and the presence of insulation can make some air leaks difficult to access.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

A few questions can’t take the place of an in-home audit, but they can help you determine if you want to take that step. We’ve included a few questions here that might help you assess if it’s time to have a professional inspection to ensure your home is both healthy and energy efficient.

Healthy Home Assessment Quiz

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Does anyone in your home have asthma, allergies, or chronic respiratory challenges?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should consider a professional assessment. If you answered “yes” to more than three of these questions, we recommend having a professional audit of your home to assess its health. Evidence of an unhealthy home is not always visible to the naked eye and symptoms like frequent headaches or allergies may have a connection to the health of your home that isn’t always obvious. A comprehensive assessment of your home examines energy efficiency, indoor air quality and much more. Once formal test results are available, our building science professionals can provide recommendations on how to improve the health of your home.
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THANKS FOR TAKING OUR HEALTHY HOME ASSESSMENT QUIZ

Since you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then we recommend a professional assessment of your home. Fill out the form below with your contact information, and a member of our team will follow up to schedule your consultation.
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