Searching For. Healthy Home

Transcription

1 Searching For A Healthy Home

2 veryone wants to live in a safe E and healthy home. Whether we own or rent, we want our home to be a place that protects us from the elements and a place where we can safely relax. A home can be an apartment, mobile home, manufactured home or single dwelling. On average, people spend about 90% of their time indoors, including places like their homes, offices, schools, and cars. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the indoor air we breathe is much dirtier than outdoor air. This dirty indoor air is often the cause of allergies, asthma, headaches, breathing problems and over the long term can even lead to cancer. This pamphlet is designed to help you as you search for and maintain a healthy home. While it is aimed at renters, it will help anyone. Learn how to reduce your exposure to things in the indoor environment that may harm your health.

3 entilation is the V movement of air in and out of your home. Ventilation is important to control moisture and keeps a home dry, especially during the winter and rainy seasons. Outdoor air is usually cleaner than indoor air. There are many simple ways to properly ventilate. When choosing a home, look for the following. Are there windows that open in every room? If not, ask if there is a whole house ventilation system. Such a system is more likely to be found in newer homes. Does the bathroom have an exhaust fan that works? Exhaust fans remove moist and stale air and are vital for moisture control. Does the kitchen have an exhaust fan that works? Kitchen fans should vent outside and not into the cabinet above the stovetop. The exhaust fan should eliminate cooking odors. If there is a crawl space under the home, is it vented? Crawl spaces need venting to prevent moist and stale air from entering your living space. Is there a vapor barrier (layer of plastic) in the crawl space? A vapor barrier over the ground reduces moisture levels in the crawl space. Shine a flashlight into the crawl space and check for a vapor barrier and for signs of water. Do the windows show signs of condensation (water inside windows)? Is there mold growing in the windowsills? Condensation and mold could indicate poor ventilation in the home.

4 oo much water or moisture T can cause extensive damage to a home. Moisture control and ventilation go handin-hand. High moisture levels cause mold to grow, and increase the number of dust mites. Both can cause allergies and breathing problems. Relative humidity, which is the amount of water vapor in the air, should be kept between 40-50%. A hygrometer, or humidity gauge, is a tool that measures relative humidity. You can usually find a hygrometer at stores that sell electronic or weather related items, or you can look online. When choosing a home, consider the following: Is it built on a concrete slab? In Western Washington, ground level apartments built on concrete slabs often have moisture problems. Is there a basement or is the apartment built partially below ground? Damp basements are a great place for mold to grow. It is important to make sure there is proper water drainage away from the home. This is important to keep the home dry. A dehumidifier can greatly help to control moisture in basements. Apartments that are partially below ground often have moisture problems and are not a good choice for someone with breathing problems. Are the gutters and downspouts disconnected or clogged with debris? Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause moisture problems inside the home. Make sure the downspouts move water away from the home and not into the crawl space or near the foundation. Does the land slope toward the home? If the land slopes toward the home or there is soil mounded around it, you can have moisture problems inside the home. If this is the case, a drain that channels water away may be necessary. Are there sprinkler heads close to the outside walls? If so, be sure the sprinklers do not spray water onto the exterior of the home. This can cause moisture problems inside.

5 A healthy home is a clean home. Our mild, damp climate makes it easy for mold, dust mites and bacteria to grow if there is dust present. The surface of a carpet that has been recently vacuumed and shampooed may look clean, but there may still be much deep dust in the carpet that will come to the surface. An old carpet in an old home may contain many harmful substances. House dust may contain lead, cadmium, pesticides, carcinogens, dust mites, bacteria and mold that can cause serious health problems. The health risks are higher for infants who crawl on carpets and who put their hands and other things in their mouths. House dust is the main source of lead exposure for small children in older homes. Houses which have been recently remodeled can have high levels of lead, cadmium and paint chemicals in the dust. Homes that have more hard flooring or newer carpets are easier to keep clean. Bare floors are easiest to clean, level loop and short pile carpets come next, and deep plush or shag carpets are the most difficult to keep clean. Is the carpet over five years old? Is it deep plush or shag? Is there a carpet in the kitchen, dining room or bath? Are there unpaved parking, driveways or entrance pathways that increase track-in? Was the house recently remodeled? Is the house near heavy traffic? It may take around 30 minutes per square yard to get the deep dust out of an old, deep plush carpet. You can tell if a carpet is clean or estimate how much deep dust is in a carpet if you have a vacuum with a dirt finder. If you hold the vacuum in one place, the light on the dirt finder should turn green in less than four seconds if the carpet is clean. You may be able to borrow, rent or buy such a vacuum to use when you are hunting for a healthy home. A commercial quality door mat and a vacuum with a dirt finder will make it easier to keep a carpet clean after you move in. Send a stamped envelope to the League of Women Voters of Seattle, th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, [(206) ] for the leaflet, Get the Deep Dust Out of Carpets.

6 old can be found just about everywhere. It is a natural part of our outdoor M environment, but can be a problem when it is found indoors. Too much moisture in a home usually results in mold growth. Moisture comes from many sources including: our breath, steam from cooking and bathing, a leak in the plumbing or roof, or from a flood. Testing mold to find out what kind it is isn t usually necessary. There are over 20,000 types of mold and all molds found indoors can cause health problems. If you can see or smell mold, clean it up. To prevent mold growth, it s important to control moisture, temperature and ventilation. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department receives hundreds of calls each year about mold. Most of these calls come from people who are living in ground floor apartments that: a) are built on a concrete slab, b) have aluminum windows, c) are poorly insulated, and d) have baseboard heat. One or two of these features in a home is generally not cause for concern. But, if you find all four in a single home, it may be wise to look elsewhere. Typically, the walls of rental homes are newly painted and the rugs shampooed before being shown to prospective renters. A fresh coat of paint and perfumes in carpet shampoo can hide signs of mold. When looking for a place to rent or buy, consider the following: Does the home smell musty? If so, mold is probably growing there. Pay attention to odors, especially when you first enter. Are there signs of water damage from leaks? Do you see signs of warping or mineral deposits on the ceilings, walls or floors? Is the cabinet under the kitchen sink wet? Is there water in the bathroom vanity under the sink? If there is vinyl floor covering, is it peeling back or bubbling up? Look carefully around the toilet, bathroom vanity, kitchen sink, hot water heater, washing machine and dishwasher. These areas are prone to leaks. If there is carpeting, does it feel damp or wet under your feet? To be sure, check areas with your hands or walk around without shoes on. Are there signs of mold around the windowsills, window panes or in the closets? If you see signs of mold other than a small amount around the bathtub or in the windowsill, this may be a red flag for concern. Ask if they are aware of mold growing there in the past. If so, ask if they know where the moisture came from, if the problem has been fixed, and how. Call the Health Department at (253) , choose option 6 and then option 1 for more information or to request a mailed mold information packet; or, visit

7 aintaining the correct temperature, between 68 and 72 F, is M essential to moisture control. Using ceiling or floor fans can help move heated air around the home. This will save energy and help control moisture. Here are some good questions to ask yourself. Is there baseboard heat? Electric baseboard heat is clean but cannot evenly distribute the heat. Use an overhead or floor fan to circulate the heated air throughout the Home. Is there a forced-air furnace? Forced air furnaces circulate the air very well but can scatter dust throughout your home. These furnaces should have a way to filter the air. Changing or maintaining the filters every three (3) months will help to keep dust levels low. If this will be your responsibility, ask the landlord to show you how. You should also ask when the furnace was last serviced. Electric and gas furnaces should be serviced yearly by a professional. Are there wall mounted blower or fan heaters? Fan heaters are a relatively clean source of heat and provide good air circulation. You can have problems if there are not enough heaters to adequately heat the home. Also, this form of heat can be expensive. Is there a woodstove, pellet stove or gas stove? These sources of heat are forms of combustion. Wood stoves cause the dirtiest indoor air, pellet stoves are better, and gas stoves are better still. All heat sources that burn a fuel (wood, oil, gas) emit a certain amount of fumes and/or smoke in the house. These heating sources should be well maintained, operating properly and vented directly to the outside. Carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas, is produced from any form of combustion including wood, pellet and gas stoves, and can be fatal. If one of these heating sources is present, purchase a carbon monoxide monitor. (Wood stove smoke that goes up the chimney can also re-enter the house, and is similar to cigarette smoke in its health effects.) Are there aluminum framed windows or aluminum sliding glass doors? Aluminum framed windows look like steel or metal and are usually not insulated. The result is chronic dripping on the windows and windowsills, which leads to moisture problems and mold growth. Are the windows non-insulated? Well insulated windows retain heat and are less likely to cause condensation. Vinyl or wood wrapped windows are typically well insulated. Are the walls poorly insulated? Like windows, poorly insulated walls lose heat and cause condensation. Condensation or moisture on walls is not always visible but can cause mold growth, especially behind furniture and in crowded closets. If exterior walls of the home are cold when you touch them, this may be a sign of little or no insulation. Check behind dressers, beds, and in closets for signs of mold. For more information regarding wood and alternative fuel burning heaters, please contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency by calling (800) or visit their web site at

8 he older a home is, the more likely it is to contain lead and asbestos. Homes T built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and those built before 1960 are much more likely to contain lead-based paint. Homes in some parts of Pierce County may have arsenic and lead in the soil from the old Asarco smelter. Prior to renting or buying any home, ask property owners if they are aware of any lead, arsenic or asbestos. By law, they are required to disclose this information. During your search, look for the following. Are there signs of peeling paint inside the house? If there are painted, wood-framed windows or door jams, do you see signs of paint dust? Are there signs of peeling paint or is the paint worn on the outside walls? Do the water pipes contain lead or a lead-based solder? One of the most common ways to become exposed to lead is dust from lead-based paint. Over time, chalking or peeling of paint from windows, doorways or the exterior of a home will occur, causing dust to be distributed throughout the home. Young children are the most likely to swallow this dust because they crawl on the floor and put their hands in their mouths. Other sources of lead in the home may include lead pipes or lead-based solder used in plumbing. Both sources can cause lead to leach into drinking water. For more information regarding lead, contact the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Consumer Health Assistance at: (800) or the US Environmental Protection Agency at (800) 424-LEAD. Is there.. Is the property in an area contaminated by Asarco? Call (253) to find out, or check Spray-on popcorn ceiling? Vinyl flooring? Cement shake siding? Older looking, whitish-gray colored furnace duct wrap? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is commonly found in heating system insulation, decorative spray-on ceiling treatment, vinyl flooring, cement shake siding and roofing shingles in homes built or remodeled as late as the 1980s. Disturbing asbestos-containing material may be harmful to your health. Exposure to asbestos dust is more likely to occur when it is handled, such as that found in heating system insulation. Other forms of asbestos, like cement shake siding or roof shingles, do not release much asbestos dust and are not considered a significant risk. For more information regarding asbestos, contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency by calling (800) or visit their web site at Information about wood and alternative fuel burning heaters is also available from them.

9 Is the home on a private well or a public water system? Regular testing of well water helps to ensure a safe water supply. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department recommends testing for bacteria once a year and nitrate every three years. A certified laboratory must conduct the water testing. If the home is on a public water system, it is important to check with the water system to make sure they are testing on a regular basis. To find out which water company serves a property and/or what their testing requirements are, contact the Health Department at (253) or visit for more information on testing and wells. Is the home on septic or sewer? Septic systems require regular maintenance to ensure they work properly. If the home has a septic system, ask: How old is the system? When was the septic tank last pumped or inspected? The Health Department recommends inspection of septic systems by a certified inspector every 3 to 5 years and pumping as needed. Not doing so can result in the failure of the system which can lead to a sewer backup or sewage ponding in the yard. For both septic systems and sewers, you should ask if there have been any problems with clogged drains or sewage backup in the past year or so. If the home is on a septic system: Don t flush solid waste such as cigarettes, diapers, tampons, coffee grounds, grease or condoms. Don t let water run unnecessarily. Even a drippy faucet can overload the system. Don t flush strong chemicals such as drain cleaners, floor cleaners, or paint thinners down the drain. Talk to your landlord right away if you have problems with the system. Call the Health Department at (253) or visit for information on taking care of septic systems. Landlord/Tenant Rights and Responsibilities For more information regarding Washington State s Landlord/Tenant law, go to: or contact the Washington State s Attorney General s Office at Consumer Protection Division, in Tacoma at (253) For assistance regarding landlord-tenant information, City of Tacoma residents can call (253) Pierce County residents can call 1 (888)