Do you ever have the feeling that there’s nothing better than coming home? We like opening the front door and knowing that, within minutes, our shoes will be off with warm socks on, and we’ll be leaning into the soft cushions of the sofa, ready for a relaxing break. The old saying, “There’s no place like home,” becomes more relevant as we age because we see the value of our home in terms of comfort, not merely in dollars. So, how does your home contribute to your overall health? Or, does it? Let’s look at a few ways to determine whether or not your home is contributing to your health.
Give Your Cleveland Home An Annual Check Up
We need to have annual medical checkups; why not give one to your home each year, as well? Your interior and your exterior may need some updating, repairs, testing for air quality, or other improvements, so a yearly check is the best way to prevent bigger problems. One of the most important health factors for anyone over the age of 65 is that of air quality. According to AirNow, a US government website, pollutants affect our aging population in significant ways.
Annual Check-Up: The Air Quality Of Your Home
How can you get ahead of any problems with the air quality of your home? The first test you’ll want to get is a mold inspection in Cleveland from a reliable mold inspection and air quality provider who will come to your home to conduct tests. Just like your own doctor, the inspector will test for indicators of issues that could affect your health. These might be pollutants that may be affecting your air quality or those that are affecting the health of your home. For example, the inspector will conduct tests to determine your air quality risk factor that may indicate mold, pollen, viruses and bacteria. These findings suggest that you’ll need to work with the inspection company to find solutions, paving the way for healthful air in your home.
Annual Check-Up: House Fire Safety
In addition to checking your home for mold or other pollutants, it is a good idea to check for fire safety within your home. Is your air dryer duct free of lint? Most dryer fires are caused by the build-up of lint in the duct work. This can cause a costly fire. Fortunately, your local Cleveland fire department will typically offer a free check of many fire-hazard areas of your home, including electrical and gas lines in the kitchen and garage, dryer ducts, and other areas that could spell out a fire danger. Call your local fire department to set up a time for an annual inspection to avoid any destructive fires.
Annual Check-Up: Your Home Roof And Rain Gutters
Although most roofs are guaranteed for several years after installation, it is smart to have a reliable roofing company check your roof each year for any damages from water or weather. Roofs often have damage from exposure to the weather elements that go unnoticed, resulting in water damage in attics or missing tiles that are open to vermin. This check-up is an important one, as an annual inspection will possibly save you from the high cost of replacing your roof if yearly repairs are made as needed. While your roofing inspector is checking out your roof, ask to have your rain gutters checked, as well. Rain gutters often become completely packed with leaves and debris, so it’s a good idea to have them cleaned and readied for the next fall season. A packed rain gutter promotes water damage from spillage onto the home itself, which will cost much more than a gutter-cleaning in the long run.
Annual Check-Up: Your Home Septic Tank or Sewage System
A full, damaged, or non-working septic tank is not a surprise anyone wants to face. The smart preventative to any of these issues is to arrange for a regular routine of maintenance for your septic tank or private sewage system. As we recognize, sewage lines, hoses and pipes can become disconnected or worn through use. Each year, have a check-up done so you won’t have to face the emergency of a backed-up sewage problem.
Annual Check-Up: Favorite Furnishings – Including Beds, Tables And Chairs
As much as we all like heading to our favorite recliner whenever possible, check your favorite furnishings each year to determine if it is still in good condition to support your body. For example, maybe your recliner is getting older and is still comfortable, but the lower back support you need is missing. Maybe you have chairs that are a bit crickety and need repairs or perhaps your bed is several years old and is no longer supporting a good night’s rest as it should. Although the repairs or replacement of these items may seen expensive, your body needs the healthful support from your furnishings, just as it needs good air quality, fireproof dryer ducts and a septic tank in good operating condition. In short, take good care of yourself!
