Moving into a new home can be an overwhelming process, but taking the proper safety measures can help you and your family rest easy in your new space. Here’s how to help ensure your home is protected from the following safety threats.
Mould: Mould can grow behind walls and under floors, above ceiling tiles or behind shower walls, creating toxins that cause health issues such as chronic sinus problems, respiratory infections and asthma. In fact, studies link mould to the tripling of the asthma rate over the past 20 years. To find out if your home has some, there are several user-friendly DIY test kits available. If mould is identified, professional remediation is highly recommended.
Carbon monoxide: Known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in Canada each year. The only way to detect this poisonous gas is with an alarm, such as the First Alert 10-year CO Alarm, a stylish tabletop device that displays detected CO levels and temperature and requires no installation. Ensure there is an alarm on every level of the home, including the basement, and near every sleeping area.
Radon: Similarly, you can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it’s commonly found in homes – in some cases at levels harmful enough to cause serious illness and even death. After smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for 3,200 deaths in Canada every year, according to Statistics Canada. With easy-to-use, affordable radon test kits available at many local and national retailers, you can test for it yourself. Simply set the kit out for 24 hours and then mail it to the specified address for results.
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