It’s officially summer! (Let’s just take a second and enjoy that sentence).

Winter colds and flus are but a distant memory. You may not be as focused on the day-to-day health of your household as you were a few months ago. But it’s important to remember that your family’s health is affected by not only germs, but by your

inside living conditions too.

Here are just a few household considerations to think through.

Air quality.

You probably think of air pollution as an outdoor problem. However, it’s inside the home that you spend much of your time and that’s the air quality that matters the most.

Consider investing in an indoor air purifier, and a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap spores and allergens in each room. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air, and works by trapping harmful particles like pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust mites and tobacco smoke to create healthier indoor air quality.

Mold.

Mold is tricky.

Sometimes you can see and treat mold like the ones in the bathroom. Scrubbing away black spots from around your shower tiles for example is mold you are able to see. But sometimes you can’t. Mold (or black mold) may be lurking behind the walls, or sub-flooring that has been exposed to moisture.

Mold affects people differently. It can result in health symptoms ranging from mild stuffiness to persistent headaches. Worse than that it can lead to constant coughing, wheezing and breathing problems.

A professional home inspection could prove to be a valuable investment in your family’s health. If it does, in fact, reveal hidden mold you can fix it. If nothing comes up in your home inspection, great!

Inside your walls: Insulation.

What’s hiding in your walls? If it’s asbestos or other hazardous insulation, you need to contact a professional as soon as possible. While it’s a big job to remedy the insulation in your walls, it will pay you back in a healthier environment, and an easier sale when you put your home on the market.

On your walls: Paint.

Freshen up your walls with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, which is water-based, non-toxic and has little or no odor.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

While you may remember to change the batteries in your detectors at least twice a year — many people set their battery-changing schedule according to when the clocks change — it’s worth checking out new technology that has come onto the market since you originally purchased your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. For example, instead of trying to track down where a particular beep is coming from, some detectors possess the technology to notify you via an app as to which room in your home is experiencing a potential problem.

Hands-Free, Germ-Free Technology.

Remember the old “Clap On, Clap Off” commercial, showing people clapping their hands to turn their lights on and off without touching a switch? Well, today’s technology provides everything from apps that can automatically control your lights and alarm system to a motion-activated toilet-flushing sensor that allows you to avoid touching the germ-filled toilet handle, and similar no-touch technology for kitchen and bathroom taps.

As always, if you need help buying or selling your home please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.