Buying a home is a very exciting process. There are so many things to consider that often vital things to consider are overlooked.
One of these things is the environmental dangers in a home. These dangers will not only affect the health of your own family, but others as well.
It will also affect your ability to sell the home in the future and what price that the home will be worth. The law requires that a homeowner tell potential buyers about future environmental hazards if they are aware of them.
However, homeowner’s are often unaware of potential disasters and hazards. Therefore, it is critical that people looking to buy a home do some research about the environmental dangers lurking in old homes before they sign the contract so they are armed with knowledge and questions.
One potential hazard in a home is the presence of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a gas that is used in building materials.
When released from these materials and breathed, formaldehyde can cause respiratory diseases with side effects of wheezing and irritation of the eyes and skin. It has been discovered that this gas causes cancer in animals and it might be a possible cause of cancer in humans as well.
Formaldehyde causes sick building syndrome (SBS), a disease resulting from bad air indoors. The side effects of sick building syndrome include fatigue, headache, odor sensitivity, and nausea.
Specific types of insulation, electrical parts, laminated furniture veneers, and bonds between wood chips and sheets found in plywood and chip board all contain formaldehyde. In 1970, insulation containing formaldehyde was discontinued from being used, but it can still be found in old homes.
A second possible hazard is radon. Radon is also a gas, but it is radioactive and found in the ground.
It is found the most often in country pieces of land. Radon rises from the ground and can enter homes, penetrating the ground level of homes.
Many homes are built to conserve energy. This means that they are air tight and do not allow radon in the home as quickly as home with small openings and cracks.
However, over time radon can accumulate. A well-ventilated home is more prepared to prevent build up of radon in a home.
Radon is dangerous because of its radioactive properties which cause lung cancer when it is breathed. Similar to carbon monoxide detectors, there are radon-detection kits that can be purchased at a local store to help protect your family.
Carbon monoxide is another poisonous gas that can be found in the home. Flames that burn without a proper amount of oxygen produce carbon monoxide.
Home furnaces or fireplaces that run on gas, oil, or wood can all produce carbon monoxide if they are not built properly. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so it is undetectable with the natural senses.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, and fatigue. Following these things, the person will fall unconscious and die.
It is important to purchase a carbon monoxide detector to warn your family because these symptoms are so common with other causes. Again, highly ventilated homes are very effective in preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.
In wet environments, mold is a growing problem. Mold is often overlooked because it is so commonly found.
Technically, mold is a fungus that grows in wet climates on organic surfaces. These surfaces may include wood, paper, leather, and certain construction glues.
Improper construction can cause moisture to accumulate resulting in a perfect environment for mold. Certain molds cause bad allergic or asthma reactions.
Many people have sued the person they bought the house from because they did not tell them about the mold issues of the home and someone reacted badly to it. Lawsuits like this are a big waste of time and money because they are completely preventable.
Environmental dangers are often overlooked when they should not be. It is important to be aware of potential hazards so that deaths and lawsuits are avoided.
Tom Selwick is a resident of Utah and has written hundreds of articles relating to tourism and real estate. He recommends (http://www.parksedgeparkcity.com) for your next townhome in Park City.
Distributed by http://www.ContentCrooner.com
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