What You Need To Know About Hazardous Materials In Your Home

Your home may look beautiful, but hazardous material could be hiding somewhere and making you and your family sick. The three key hazards that can be a risk to your health include asbestos, lead and mold. The damage that hazardous materials can cause can be minor issues such as a cough or a major killer disease such as cancer. This is why they need to be dealt with immediately if identified. But, how do you identify them, get rid of them and keep your home safe?

Know Where They Are

Firstly, as a property owner, it’s good to have a basic idea of where you can find these hazardous materials in your home. Mold is the one you are most likely to identify. However, you may not be able to measure the extent of the damage just by looking at a few signs. Mold comes as a result of moisture or water damage. Then it grows to produce spores that can affect your respiratory health. Some common places where you can find mold include the basement, ceiling, cabinets and floors among others.

Lead can be found in older homes that were built before lead based paints were banned for sale. Since it is not easy to tell if your walls are painted with lead-based paint just by looking, you will need expert help for tests. Lead paint is detected using paint testing kits and X rays. Asbestos is a mineral that has been used over the years in building materials. It is most likely to be found in insulation, piping and tiling. Exposure to asbestos fibers is linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Just like lead, you will need expert help to determine if there is any asbestos in your building.

Use Experts for Removal

Unless you are really confident that you know the key major steps and precautions to follow, when removing hazardous materials from your home, it is best to leave the job to the experts. If you do things the wrong way, you may end up inhaling the harmful materials and getting sick. You could also cause them to spread, causing greater damage to your house. Precautions have to be taken so that the hazardous material doesn’t spread further. Also, you have to be careful not to expose those living in the household to any risks.

Be Careful with Future Purchases

Whether you are buying a home or new flooring materials, do your research well to ensure you don’t end up with hazards. Have a new home evaluated by experts before you accept a deal. When doing a renovation, take time to check the pros and cons of the products you are purchasing. Also, be on the lookout for products that have been banned by the government and those that are not recommended by health experts.

Finally, do your best to ensure things like mold don’t grow back after removal. Have leaks and ventilation issues fixed immediately, and check humidity levels in your home.