A Guide to A Healthy Home
August is National Wellness Month, and it is a great time to incorporate some self-care habits, manage stress, and promote healthy routines. The Seven Health Homes Principles by the National Center of Healthy Housing states that a healthy home is a dry, clean, ventilated, pest-free, safe, contaminate-free, and maintained environment. Many large repairs can be preventable when implementing a few small habits to cultivate health and wellness in the home. We recommend starting with these three tips and adding more gradually.
Check your home’s foundation on a seasonable basis can save you thousands of dollars in structural repairs and increase the home's value! Start by doing a perimeter check around the exterior and interior of the house and remove any debris from the surrounding area. Afterward, take a photo of any suspicious cracks, holes, or bulging; they are usually the early signs of needing repairs.
Doing a twice-a-year inspection of your roof can improve its lifespan, and prevent potential water leaks and relieve stress from your heating and cooling systems. Secure yourself on in a safe area on your roof where you able to climb down easily. If you are afraid of heights or if your roof is not safe enough to access please contact home inspector instead. Clear away any debris from the roof and gutters. Keep an eye out for any gritty black residue and take a photo of it. A large amount of black residue is an early sign of needing roof repair; however, if there's a small amount of black residue then repairs can be preventable if taken care of right away!
Yearly window caulking can create a waterproof seal and lower your energy bill, especially in the cooler seasons! While doing the initial check, take a photo of the location of the cracks. Remove any debris or old caulk from the surrounding area and prepare the surface for re-caulking. Get a caulk suitable for the window but be cautious some exterior caulks are unsuitable for an interior environment. Apply the caulk from one corner to the next to fill any gaps. Lastly, smooth over sealant and remove excess caulk.
Take these three action steps to improve the health of your house which contributes to the safety and health of your entire family. To learn more about housing guidelines and goals, check out our Healthy Housing Goals.
