Fast Fact
Did you know that 95% of homeowners and single-family renters believe that a home affects the health of its residents YET, according to the U.S. Census, 45% of homes across the US have at least one health hazard, making the home one of the most dangerous places for U.S. families? Some of these hazards can cause illness, injury or even death. (Source: nchh.org)
Check Your Home, Protect Your Family during National Healthy Homes Month
April is National Healthy Homes Month. It’s a perfect time to inspect your home for any potential issues that could impact your home’s health and that of your family, as well as to address them. For example, the air inside your home can sometimes be more polluted than the air outside and this can directly impact your family’s respiratory health each and every day. Some hazards – such as deteriorated paint, dust, mold, pests – may be easy to spot. Others – such as carbon monoxide, electrical hazards, lead paint and pipes, other carcinogens and poisons – may be hidden or require testing or professional inspection.
A variety of resources – including tools and services – are available to find and fix hazards and keep your home safe and healthy. Taking care of them will also improve the health of you and your family and even provide a return on investment. Good home maintenance can help reduce allergens, prevent illness and accidental injuries. It can also reduce medical expenses and improve the value of your home.
To make the best use of such tools and services, let’s first review the definition and 11 principles of a healthy home.
Definition of a Healthy Home
The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) is our country’s leading nonprofit committed to securing healthy homes for everyone. It defines a healthy home as:
“... one that is dry, clean, safe, ventilated, free of pests and contaminants, well maintained, and thermally comfortable. In addition, homes should be affordable and accessible to all people, regardless of age or ability. Finally, a home and its occupants should be ready for the unknown – a wildfire, an earthquake, a flood, or other natural disaster.”
11 Principles & Practical Tips for a Healthy Home
The NCHH supports the following 11 principles of a healthy home – which become practical tips for homeowners and residents to follow when saying the words "Keep it..." before each key term on the left:
The NCHH provides a Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist, available on their website in English and in Spanish. This tool can help homeowners and renters catch potential issues before they become serious problems. It consists of basic guidelines for maintenance tasks covering virtually all areas of a home and property, the seasons when they should be tackled, and whether hiring a professional is advised. Here are two sections of the English version to serve as an example:
Many additional resources are available for homeowners and residents on the NCHH website. We suggest you start here.
Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered
If you’re unsure about how to test for or address any potential home hazards, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Your health – and your home’s health and value – are important to us, and we’re happy to answer your questions and guide you through the process. If additional assistance is needed, we can connect you with trusted professionals to help make your home a healthy one. 
Contact us anytime at
843-900-0155
We're here to help!
