Heavy rains, coupled with humid temperatures, play havoc with basements and crawl spaces across the Southern Appalachians. As temperatures and water levels rise, so do problems with humidity and damp that lead to mold and mildew problems in our homes. Here are 3 low-cost things you can do right now to mitigate runoff issues that […]
2020 Southern Appalachian Home Health and Happiness Survey Results
Mold and Mildew still #1 concern in 2020 When A Healthier Home created The Home Health and Happiness Survey 2019 drawing on a Harvard University study as a guide, we found 66% of AHH respondents had major or moderate concerns about some aspect of their home that could negatively impact their health. Our latest survey […]
Runoff Got You Over a Rain Barrel? Consider Your Home’s Water Ecology
Everyone needs a rain barrel. Don’t they? Some folks would have us think so. But during periods of frequent, heavy rain and thunderstorms, people don’t think about watering their gardens. The big blue containers fill to the top and overflow right next to the home’s foundation. Not good. Water ecology is one of the most […]
A Cautionary Tale of Jim, the DIY Homeowner Who Vented a Crawl Space
When it comes to maintaining a healthy home, homeowners can do about 50 percent, or half, of those needed project themselves. That’s good news for the handy types among us. Tools and materials are a do-it-yourselfer’s idea of fun. Add a bit of common sense, make a plan, top with a sense of adventure, and […]
Fungi Fun
In 4th grade little Ricky Bayless sat at his desk, feet not quite touching the floor. I opened my Science book and studied the black and white pages about the Kingdoms of life forms. I learned that a living thing was either a plant or an animal; Very black and white indeed. I raised my […]
Are your fall allergies actually due to fall mold?
Most people are surprised to learn that their fall allergy symptoms are in fact a reaction to fall mold. My clients tend to associate mold with the warm damp months of summer, but in reality fall is an active season for mold spores. You might ask, “How can this be? I thought mold needed moisture […]
How a Deep Spring Cleaning Could Improve Your Health
It’s springtime! We throw open all the windows and doors, the sun is warm, the air is fresh and it feels wonderful, especially after being confined indoors during some of the coldest winter days on record. We can now appreciate the freshness of the new year and we want to freshen up the inside of […]
Spring Allergies May Suggest It’s Time to Take Care of Mold
The warm, damp weather of spring lies only days ahead. For many western North Carolinians, the lingering flu-like symptoms of seasonal allergies won’t be far behind. But did you know spring allergies may have little to do with flowering trees and plants? Instead, the allergen responsible may be mold. As we live in a deciduous […]