Resource Center

Home DIY projects are more popular than ever thanks to home improvement TV shows and social sites like Pinterest and Facebook. However, for safety’s sake, it’s important to know what you can and shouldn’t do on your own. Electrical, plumbing, gas line or roofing projects, and those that involve dangerous substances like asbestos, lead paint…

You can use potpourri, aerosol sprays, candles, and any other imaginable ploy to remove that basement odor, but these topical treatments will not remedy the culprit. The problem is mold. And while it is possible to cover up its smell, its health effects will linger around until the mold is removed. Home Health and Basement…

Childproofing your home is an ongoing and potentially costly process (see how much childproofing costs). This routine is made more complex for the parents of a child with a visual impairment. As your child grows and begins to explore their world, there are dozens of opportunities for accidents around the house. The average home is…

Levels for about a dozen common organic compounds were found to be two to five times higher inside the home than outside, according to the EPA’s Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM). Meanwhile, higher trending energy costs and the continuing need for energy independence has put a premium on residential energy efficiency. Ductwork – the circulatory…

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property losses. Home electrical wiring causes twice as many fires as electrical appliances.” One of the most misunderstood areas of the home and home safety, almost every homeowner has some misconceptions about…

Radon is a radioactive gas that can be found in any home, new or old. This toxic gas comes from decomposed uranium in the soil, and since it always moves from the ground into the air above, it often leaks into houses through cracks in the foundation. However, you cannot see, smell, or taste this…

Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for hundreds of deaths each year and thousands of hospital emergency room visits. It happens when an overabundance of carbon monoxide is produced by fuel burning appliances, fixtures, or vehicles in your home, after which dangerous levels of this odorless and invisible gas builds up. Hot water heaters, fire places,…

The health conscious and environmentally aware homeowner has a lot of things to think about. Not only are today’s homeowners more aware of the materials they use in remodeling an existing home or constructing a new one, they are also becoming more concerned with the health benefits associated with certain home components and building materials….

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber processed into thousands of building materials before 1980, including “cottage cheese” type and acoustic tile ceilings, furnace and duct insulation, drywall taping and joint compound, textured paints and plasters, and linoleum and vinyl flooring. It was banned from use in most building materials in the 1970s after the…

Indoor air pollution is a problem we are only beginning to understand. As our homes become more tightly sealed for the purpose of conserving energy resources, the problems become ever more apparent. People generally become interested in the issue when they notice certain health symptoms correlating with time spent in a particular indoor location. Similarly,…