Pests
Thomas Dobrinska, board certified entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control, told Real Simple that “Just like humans, over time, houses wear down, and erosion, natural degradation, and years of bad weather all take a toll on a home.” And that allows unwelcome guests to make a home out of your home. Dobrinska said: “Moisture damage to the home can create water-damaged wood, which is attractive to wood-destroying insects such as carpenter ants, and a leaky basement or a wet crawlspace is attractive to numerous moisture-loving insects such as silverfish, cockroaches, and springtails—and the spiders that feed off of them.” Luckily, this can be fixed and it would be good to have a professional check it out for you.
Radon
This radioactive gas is released when uranium in rocks, soil and water breaks down. And when this gas gets trapped inside of your house, you could have a serious health hazard on your hands. Radon is the leading cause of long cancer for non-smokers. So, it would be good to have your house checked and fixed accordingly. You might literally save lives with it.
Lead
The last thing you should check for, is lead. In 1978, the government took measures to ban the use of paint that is lead-based. But if your house was built before 1978, the paint in your house might have some traces of lead in it. And when that paint cracks, it could be a health hazard. Powell says that painting over it is no use. The lead-based paint doesn’t break down. “This material is particularly problematic for those with small children who may chew on painted surfaces, or high traffic/wear surfaces where paint can flake off over time,” he told Real Simple. Lead is dangerous to children and pregnant women. So it would be worth the trouble to get your home checked out and rule out any dangers that your 1978 home might pose.
Read more: Do you really need a humidifier in your home?
Source: Real Simple | Image: Unsplash, Scott Webb