A healthy home isn’t difficult to achieve. There are plenty of simple upgrades for a healthier home that are affordable and easy to implement. It’s worth it to make small changes around the house that will benefit your family’s health.
Doormats are Simple Upgrades for a Healthier Home
An easy way to prevent unhealthy contaminants from being tracked inside is by placing doormats at each entryway. Place an indoor mat and an outdoor mat on either side of each exterior door. Dirt, lawn chemicals, and other debris may get tracked inside without mats to catch them, making your home less sanitary.
Seal Up Holes to Keep Out Pests
Pests like ants, roaches, and mice get inside your home through openings, holes, and cracks. Pests pose health risks because they can carry diseases, get into your food storage, and leave droppings around your house. Carefully inspect your home for openings where tiny animals could get through. Vulnerable areas are generally around doors or windows, in the foundation, and around plumbing or gas lines. Most of these openings can easily be sealed up with caulk.
Add a Water Filter
Tapwater, whether it comes from the city or a well, usually contains some contaminants. Use a filter for drinking water to make your household healthier. Request a water quality report or have your water tested to determine what type of filter will be most effective.
Air Purifiers are Upgrades for a Healthier Home
A HEPA air purifier is a healthy home upgrade that will alleviate allergies and remove some bacteria and viruses from the air. Air purifiers have filters that need to be changed regularly in order for them to be effective. It’s a good idea to run air purifiers in sleeping areas and common living spaces. They are rated by the square footage that they’ll treat, so measure each room first so you can choose the right model.
Vent Exhaust Fans to the Outdoors
If your kitchen exhaust fan or bathroom vent fan are not depositing air to the outdoors, it’s worth getting that fixed. Some kitchen fans just circulate the smoke and particles throughout the room or vent into the attic. Bathroom fans venting into the attic will cause mold to grow there. Exhaust fans are only effective when vented out through the roof.
Replace Failing Caulk in the Bathroom
If the caulk around a bathtub, shower, or sink is cracked and deteriorating, the area is no longer waterproof. Fix this problem by removing the old caulking and replacing it with fresh caulk. Otherwise, water will leak into the drywall and floors, causing mold to grow and damage to the structure of your home. Mold in the home is a serious threat to your health and your property.
Best Choice Inspections provides home inspections in Knoxville, TN, and the surrounding areas. Contact us to request our services.