All kidding aside, snow and rain are not a healthy mix for your home. Just how heavy is snow? Take a look at this. It assumes a 2000sf roof and 3 inches of snow, not unusual in our area. Now add rain. The existing snow acts like a sponge soaking up the water, and you […]
Radon Construction Helps Reduce Health Risks in Appalachia
Did you know that you can increase home healthiness and reduce risk from radon? Radon construction, materials, and methods now make it possible. Radon is an ever-present risk for those who live in the southern Appalachians, including western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, the South Carolina Upcountry, and north Georgia. This is a high-risk Radon region. […]
See the Pilot Light? Proper Ventilation of Exhaust Gases Is Crucial to Indoor Air Quality
When homeowners think about proper ventilation of exhaust gases, their gas stove is often top of mind. That’s because over the past 10 years research has strongly suggested that the negative health aspects of unvented exhaust gases – or emissions from aging appliances – is a detriment to indoor air quality. The smell and taste […]
Got Ants? Make Them A Partner In Your Home Healthiness Investigation.
Ants can be a problem in your home. But they can also point the way to hidden healthiness challenges. When you were a kid, did you ever wonder why those ants were marching one by one? As a home healthiness examiner, I have learned a surprising truth! Those pesky ants are actually our friends, yours […]
Moles and Voles: Part two … another perspective and a little clarification
You may recall, we recently discussed how these little creatures can be pretty destructive in the blog post, “Tunnel Road: Get Moles and Voles to hit the highway before first frost.” This is true for many reasons as I discussed in the previous post … however, here are some additional thoughts about these creatures. The […]
Tunnel Road: Get Moles and Voles to Hit the Highway Before First Frost
If you’ve ever seen a mole or vole, you know they are, for want of a better word, cute. But the damage they can inflict with their burrowing is anything but. Let’s talk about moles and voles, and how those ardent burrowers with the sweet faces can be the kiss of death for your home’s […]
Lyme Disease Recovery Requires A Healthy Home Environment
Lyme disease is transmitted by common ticks, but it can be uncommonly difficult to diagnose and cure. That’s why any protocol addressing Lyme recovery underscores the need for maintaining a healthy home environment. Summer is tick season in the southern Appalachians. Ask any outdoorsy neighbor, and they’ll tell you to keep an eye out for […]
Summer Ventilation Improves Home Healthiness and Your Healthiness, Too
Air quality is a leading concern for many people investing in the healthiness of their homes. In our annual survey, indoor air quality remains the top priority among respondents year after year. The 2021 Southern Appalachian Home Health and Happiness Survey Summer months in the southern Appalachians are something special. Many of us relocated here […]
Hurricane Preparedness Tips
… Are you prepared? … As Tropical Storm Elsa churns in the Caribbean, there’s a good chance we could be feeling the effects as early as next week. Flash flooding in the mountains is no joke, and neither is a torrential downpour. Part of your preparedness will likely concern your house. While most people know […]
What Functional Wellness Professionals Need to Know About Mold and Mold Tests
Now that we’re in the cycle of saturating rains and warm temperatures that spur our gardens to grow and keep our flowers blooming, with the dampness, warm temperatures and humidity comes the promise of something less attractive: Seasonal changes create a climate that is conducive to mold overgrowth. Mold overgrowth in a patient’s home or […]