Squirrels driving you nuts? If these enchanting little rodents have moved in overhead to shelter from winter weather, respond quickly. Your home’s healthiness and safety may be at stake. Squirrel problems are nothing to take lightly. Those cute little critters can chew through shingles, roof tiles, and wooden support beams. Also, they cause serious damage […]
Common Scents: Artificial Seasonal Aromas May Worsen Indoor Air Quality
Nothing says holiday like the scents of the season, don’t you think? But too often, today’s seasonal aromas are not those found in nature. Instead, they’re made up of chemically derived ingredients that can be harmful to indoor air quality and our health. We all love the comforting, warming aromas of pumpkin spice, apple pie. […]
Four Easy Ways to Get Lice Out of Your Family’s House – Fast!
As school rings in across western North Carolina, teachers, students and families look forward to a host of new, shared experiences. With the coming of fall, furry caps and wooly coats comes the inevitable gift of togetherness: head lice. Oh, my! My skin starts to crawl just thinking about head lice. Doubtless, an itch or […]
Mountains and Mold: Are You Experiencing the Symptoms of Toxicity?
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 […]
RADON is Something You Also May Not Realize You Have
You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but the gas is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America. Radon created by the naturally occurring uranium that you would find in soil or water, normally associated with mountains, particularly areas with hot or “radium” springs. Radon could be making you sick – […]
Making the Green Home a Healthier Home
I am often called by local homeowners to conduct a healthiness review of their Energy Star, Green Built, Healthy Built, or LEED Certified home. Despite living in an eco-home, many homeowners are still experiencing unhealthy symptoms: Odors, congestion, coughing, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, fogginess of thought. Some occupants have confirmed healthiness challenges like allergies, […]