Recent years in the southern Appalachians have been warmer, wetter, and more humid. Dew point temperatures have been higher for longer periods. All very uncomfortable! As we’ve run our air conditioners more often we’ve chilled our downstairs, basements, and crawl spaces. Couple that with the draw of outdoor humidity through our air-leaky duct systems and […]
Indoor Grilling Has Its Ins and Outs: Top 6 Things You Need to Know
If the quality of the air you breathe inside your home is important to you, then you’ll want to know what to consider if you’re thinking of bringing grilling to the great indoors. More folks are spending quality time at home than ever before, due to changes in our lifestyles over these last couple of […]
Unhealthy Chemicals Find Their Way Into Our Homes
Here’s how to clean up. Are you aware of the extent to which chemicals are used in cleaning and personal products? Maintaining a healthy indoor air quality is a priority, to keep your home environment safe. Let’s take a quick look at the chemicals found in many homes. Chemicals may already be on your radar. […]
Get the Lead Out!
We hear a lot about the importance of good nutrition, clean production practices and organics when it comes to our food, but one contaminate that is often overlooked is LEAD. Lead is inert and needs us to send it airborne or waterborne to get into our bodies. And it does. Think about it. Over 80% […]
Healthy Home “How To’s” to Refresh Your Home for Spring
Home is the place where we heal ourselves. Think about that for a moment. Whether we need a quiet oasis after a hectic work day, a hub of activity for nurturing children or grandchildren, or something else, home is where the magic happens. Right now, outside our windows, another kind of magic is happening. The […]
Clutter and How It Affects Health
Clutter can cause a variety of health and emotional problems. It can affect our stress levels and make us anxious or depressed. It can affect our relationships with our families and friends, affect our sleep, and even trigger physical and mental changes that cause problems with digestion or lower our immune response. Just seeing clutter […]
Are you aware of the gravity of the situation?
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 […]