On average, you spend ⅓ of your life sleeping. That means more than ⅓ of your life is spent in your home. For the health of you and your family, you should consider your home a sanctuary. There are small things you can regularly do that will help to keep you healthy - especially as cold season approaches. Get rid of the allergens, dust, and mold in your house today to keep you and your family healthy throughout flu season. Additionally - keeping your home clean and clutter-free will help you mentally attack the upcoming busy holiday season. Everyone talks about spring cleaning, but all year round cleaning is equally important. Here are the 5 places you should start cleaning today for a happy, healthy family: 1. Duct Cleaning Cleaning out your ducts won’t necessarily improve the dust situation in your house, unless you’ve just done a renovation or you’ve built a new house. But it will improve energy efficiency, improve air quality in certain circumstances, and will improve ai...

Hazardous chemicals can be found in a variety of environments, even within the safety of a home. Over the years, these “hidden” substances can affect the occupants’ health in several ways. Below is a list of some of the most notable of these dangers, including tips on how to prevent them: 1. Lead causes serious health issues and can often be found in lead-based paints (in older homes), soil, dust and tap water (if the home has lead pipes). The members of a family should be tested for lead levels, and, in the case of older homes, hiring a certified contractor to remove lead paint is recommended. 2. Mould exposure is especially harmful to those with respiratory diseases. Mould grows in damp areas with poor ventilation. A professional company, such as Inspect it All can be hired to check the levels and type of mould in your home and recommend next steps to remove it. 3. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas released from burning organic fuel in wood stoves, fireplaces, gas heaters...

Water damage is one of the most common and costly repairs for homeowners to deal with, leading to increased maintenance costs, decreased property value, and a decline in indoor air quality. It can strike indoors as well as outdoors, and the longer you leave it the more expensive it will be to fix. Water damage needs to be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of mildew or mold, which are not only unsightly but have been known to cause considerable health hazards. This article provides information on identifying and eliminating excess moisture that could potentially lead to water damage in the home. THE BATHROOM The first place to inspect is the bathroom. Bathrooms have a number of areas where water commonly causes problems, but you have to look carefully. The most common areas are tiled shower stalls and tub enclosures. Moisture behind tiles, unless severe, is not usually visible. Ceramic tiles are quite waterproof, so the problem area is the grout betwee...

Even though it is well known that mould is harmful to humans, not many people realize that toxic mould can also pose health risks to pets, such as cats and dogs. While only a handful of mould species are toxic to people and pets, the most common type - toxic black mould - can bring serious illnesses and even death to people and pets. Mould spores enter pets’ bodies by inhalation in areas where mould is present. In most cases, mould develops in damp, warm and dark places, usually after a flood occurred. It may be visible (on the exterior of walls), but it can also hide behind walls and underneath floors, where it’s difficult to detect or remove. If a home has experienced flooding, it is best to call in a mould remediation company to inspect and eliminate any traces of mould if there are any. When exposed to mould, pets can exhibit symptoms such as: Respiratory difficulties and illnesses: wheezing, coughing and struggling to breathe Pulmonary hemorrhage Bleeding from the nose ...