It's Time for Home Maintenance Tests
As we push for the warmer, greener pastures of spring, we are reminded of a few home maintenance tests that should be on every homeowner’s spring cleaning list. In fact, making sure that your home is safe and sound is a great way to pass the time until spring’s arrival. There are some home safety tests that you can perform yourself and some that you need to purchase; but, if you find potential health hazards in your home, you should call in a professional to take care of them. This spring, stay ahead of home safety with some DIY and store-bought safety tests: DIY Home Safety Tests Kick-start your spring cleaning by taking care of some often unnoticed tasks around your house. Cleaning out your dryer’s lint trap may be a no-brainer, but regularly removing the lint from your dryer’s exhaust and vents may not be a routine task. However, lint can build up there as well and has the potential to cause a house fire. Even the sock monster, who magically makes your socks disappear behind the dryer, can pose a threat. So, it is always important to not only clean out your dryer’s lint trap, but also to check the ducts, vents and any loose clothing that may be nearby. Once you’ve got a handle on possible dryer dangers, it is time to take notice of your electrical wiring. Simply being proactive can prevent potential electrical dangers at home. By familiarizing yourself with your fuse boxes and coordinating breakers, you can help minimize the risk of electrical dangers. The last DIY home safety test may be a little dark and dingy; but, hey, mold is! In fact, the dark substance can be deadly if it builds up over time. Preventative maintenance and a watchful eye may be all you need to protect yourself from the disgusting danger. By properly ventilating your home and regularly checking sink traps for build up, you can be sure that your home remains mold free. If you suspect a mold problem in your home, call in a professional to deal with the dingy issue. Store-bought Home Safety Some of the most important things to look for when ensuring the safety of your home are actually things that can’t be seen. Luckily, they are things that can be detected relatively easily and inexpensively. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can sneakily seep into your home through cracks or holes in your foundation. It can form from most any soil and has the potential to make you and your family very sick. In small amounts, radon may not pose a threat; but, when it builds up, it has invisible, life-threatening potential. Luckily, most radon tests can be purchased at a local hardware store for no more than $20-$30, which is certainly a small price to pay for safety. Another colorless, odorless gas that can pose a deadly threat in your home is carbon monoxide, which can seep through your home due to leaking heating systems or appliances. Like radon, carbon monoxide is also easily and inexpensively detected. Most hardware stores carry carbon monoxide detectors that range from $20-$30. Hiring a professional to check your furnace each year is another way to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your home. If you live in an older home, it is also important to test for lead, which used to be a common ingredient in house paint. Though not a hazard when it remains on your walls, if you plan to remodel and need to scrape any paint away, lead paint dust can cause internal body damage. Lead paint tests range from $10-$100 in hardware stores; but, if you find lead in your home, you should call in a professional to remove it. Older homes are also susceptible to asbestos, which was previously used in building insulation, flooring and roofing materials. If asbestos fibers were used in the construction of your home, they may not pose a threat; but, if you are doing any remodeling and the fibers become airborne, long-term exposure can damage your health. You can purchase an asbestos test kit from a hardware store, but likely will need to send it away to a lab for analysis. If asbestos is found in your home, a professional can remove it for you. Home safety tests are a great way to make sure that you and your family enjoy a happy and healthy spring at home.
