Neglecting your house equals neglecting your well-being. Many people are turning a blind eye to their house sanitation and maintenance. They can ignore the growing wild grass in their garden or the piling dust on their floor.
Poor housing will cost you more than its future maintenance expenditures. It will also endanger your life with your loved ones who share the same house with you. According to research, inadequate housing is associated with several health issues, such as respiratory infections, asthma, lead poisoning, injuries, and mental health. It is necessary to do proper house maintenance to prevent your family from suffering those health issues.
Sewage Overflows
The damage or blocked plumbing can cause sewage overflows in your house. The sewage water contains harmful microorganisms that will threaten your health, such as gastroenteritis.
If you have a habit of pouring the fat, oil, and grease (FOG) into the drain, you better stop doing that before it is too late. The cause of blocked plumbing, which results in sewage overflows, is the accumulated FOG in your plumbing. Thus, although it is easier for you to pour the FOG into the drain, refrain from doing that and give it to the used oil recycling drop-off stations instead. If you can’t find any near your residence, use a FOG container and throw it in the garbage.
When you face sewage overflows, protect your family first. Provide rubber gloves and boots. If you need any help to deal with the problems, reach out to your local water business or Environmental Health Officer for advice.
Damp and Moldy Housings
There are many health complications caused by a damp and moldy house. The health complication starts from minor issues, such as headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, and sore throats. Or, it can develop into a chronic disease, such as asthma.
Just like sewage overflows, the damaged plumbing or water intrusion is causing the house’s dampness. When the house owners are ignorant or unaware of the water leak, it might develop molds in their home.
The molds produce irritating substances that may act as allergens, and it inflicts an allergic reaction on someone after exposure for some time. The mold spores will travel through the air. Hence, when a house has inadequate ventilation, it will threaten the people who live within the building. Therefore, you need to open your windows to allow fresh air to circulate in your room. Do mold testing in your house to ensure the air quality of your home.
Make sure to hold a house inspection and examine every detail in your home. When you notice any water leak or soon-to-be damaged plumbing, repair them as soon as possible. A damp house can lead to the emergence of insects and rats. In particular, when the owner has poor housing sanitation.
Insects and Rats
If you ignore the piling garbage in your house, you provide a home for the insects and rats to stay in your residence. In return, they will bring many diseases, such as hantavirus, listeria, rat-bite fever, and salmonellosis. Their droplets can inflict an allergic reaction on someone. Hence, the presence of rats linked to asthma.
A light crack in your house will give them the freedom to travel to multiple places, especially cockroaches. They obtain water through the water leak in your home. Your negligence in placing food inside the inadequate storage and poor waste management will give those rats and insects access to the food for their survival. Often, the rats will leave the leftovers as they run away and hide.
Your kids may eat the leftover containing the rats’ droplets without them noticing. To avoid that from happening, improve your food storage. When you have leftovers, use the right container for the rest of your food and put your food away from the rats’ or insects’ reach. You can put them inside the fridge or somewhere safe with no crack for a possible entry.
Conduct a thorough cleaning at least twice a month to eliminate the existence of rats and insects. Winter is when the rats are seeking refuge in a warm place. It will make your house becomes more appealing to them. Thus, increasing the number of possible pests in your home.
If you notice that your habits will bring harm to your house, it is time for you to start a new and healthier routine. If you choose to be simple and ignoring the possible damage in the future, it might endanger people’s well-being in your house.
Take immediate action when you notice something needs to any repair. Prevent the problems from getting worse.
