The idea of whole home health improvement is becoming more of a priority to not only homeowners, but our government as well. One example is New York City’s Safe Housing Act, which was expanded by the city’s council last week to add focus on health related issues such as mold, asthma, insects and rodents. According to an AllMediaNY.com report, the concern among city officials is the amount of hospitalizations as a result of asthma, especially in lower income neighborhoods.

The program targets 200 of the worst apartment buildings each year and forces landlords to make the necessary repairs per the city’s requirements. For landlords unwilling to comply, the city will make the repairs and send the bill to the landlord.

Unfortunately, the program has lost significant money so far since the city fails to “recoup” much of the money back from landlords. The success rate among landlords is also rather low, with only a 1/3rd of them throughout the city having “graduated” from the program.

Despite being a money loser, the city sees the program as a valuable long-term investment towards the whole home health improvement. While encouraging, we would like to see New York City, perhaps, make some necessary improvements to their overall strategy so that the program is not such a money loser. This deterrent may overshadow any positive results by discouraging other municipalities from enacting similar programs.

With January designated as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Radon Action Month, local communities throughout the United States are hosting various events or programs to promote radon awareness and home testing.

The EPA website has a lot of valuable information about the long-term effects of exposure to radon gas. You will also find ways to participate in any local events near you, and options for purchasing a radon test kit for your home. Several communities are also offering radon test kits for a lower cost. To find out the types of activity near you, or for the availability of select reduced price test kits, visit the EPA’s Radon Action Month website for all the necessary information.

With the holidays behind us and the dead of winter upon us, many homeowners tend to stay busy by turning their attention to various indoor projects around the home. A project worth thinking about for the new year is whole home health improvement.

We’ve often discussed how the damp conditions typically present in basements and crawl spaces provide an ideal place for the growth of mold.  Exposure to mold spores is known to trigger a variety of allergic reactions. For asthma sufferers, such exposure may sometimes be enough to trigger an attack.

The Mother Nature Network website identifies some of the more common symptoms of mold allergies. These symptoms include itchy and/or watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, a stuffy/runny nose, wheezing and rash or hives.

When the combination of the above symptoms persists year round, this may be an indication that they are being caused by exposure to mold, as opposed to just seasonal allergies.  The most effective way to prevent mold allergies is by addressing the mold itself. While small things like a leaking crack in the basement wall and/or floor may be taken for granted, such infiltration of water is actually part of the problem. The leaking water turns into moisture, which mold feeds off of. If you’ve experienced a basement flood in the past, the leftover ramifications often result in the growth of mold, especially in carpeted areas and behind dry wall.

These problems may be avoided by properly addressing them from the very beginning; or by taking the necessary precautions to minimize problems down the road. As soon as a crack becomes visible in the foundation, the low pressure injection of a liquid polymer (epoxy or polyurethane) can properly fill that crack within one day. If water is coming through cracks in the floor, that is a sign of a problem with the drain tile system, assuming there is one. The chance of a basement flood may be minimized by backing up the primary sump pump with a fully-powered battery backup system. Emecole has contractors around the United States and Canada available to help with such problems.

In addition, the Mother Nature Network  offers a few additional smaller-scale ideas. Storage items from the basement or crawl space should be thoroughly wiped down before being brought upstairs (a good example would be holiday decorations). A natural way to kill mold is to wipe down any items with plain white vinegar.

The Colorodan (a newspaper from Northern Colorado) has a similar article on their website about controlling humidity levels within the home. During the winter months, a humidifier will help keep the home from becoming too dry. The recommended level according to their source, allergist Dr. Joseph Leija, should be no higher than 48 to 50 percent.

While musty smells are often taken for granted in basements and crawl spaces, they typically are an indicator that moisture is present. With the combination of removing existing mold and by taking the necessary steps to minimize future growth, homeowners can enjoy healthier lives, in 2011 and beyond.

Additional Links:
Find an Emecole Contractor in Your Area
Why Indoor Air Quality Can Be a Deal Maker or Breaker for Green Home Buyers

Emecole President Lou Cole’s latest article on battery backup sump pump systems is now posted on EzineArticles.com. In this article, Lou discusses the difference between AC power and DC power and the necessary considerations by homeowners when choosing a system. While ensuring that the basement remains dry is important to whole home health, understanding how the performance of your battery backup system is important to further maximize the life of the sump pumps.

View Article: AC Versus DC Powered Battery Backup Systems