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Sick House Syndrome
Sick
House Syndrome – the result of poor air quality in a home – can
result in allergies, asthma,
chemical sensitivity, migraines, cancer, and emphysema. Many people
in our country may
be subjected to the syndrome, and children, women, and the elderly
have increased
susceptibility..
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Numerous
particles, fibers, and gases may be
found in indoor air, and many of these foreign
particles may be of concern. Some are
called irritants, others allergens, while still
others are labeled sensitizers or toxins. These
particles of concern include lime and silica
dust (which are found in concrete), pet
dander, chips of lead paint, carbon (from
fireplaces or candles), and body parts of
dead microscopic insects. Fibers of concern
include asbestos, animal hair, and carpet
fibers, while gasses of concern include
carbon monoxide, radon and volatile
and semi-volatile organic compounds.
These substances find their way
into the property in
various ways. They may be emitted
from building, furnishing, and cleaning
materials, tracked in on shoes, or
flow through leaks in the house. They
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may
also grow like molds and mites inside the
home itself. So what’s a
homeowner to do? Well, to improve
air quality indoors, it is best to audit
the home (either personally or professionally)
to locate typical sources of problems.
The audit should also assure that heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning equipment
is serviced on a regular basis. A professional
touch may be preferable, as do it- yourself
renovation and clean-up projects often
cause more problems than they solve. If the homeowner wants to
upgrade to improve his
home air quality, he should consider
the following nineteen tips:
1. Install improved filters and HEPA
vacuum cleaners
2. Install high-efficiency furnaces and hot water
heaters; Perform duct cleaning
3. Maintain a seal in all sewage
traps
4. Use bathroom and kitchen exhausts and
heat recovery ventilators
5. Avoid toys, mattress covers,
and other soft materials
containing latex, vinyl,
or neoprene
6. Miteproof mattress and pillow covers; purchase
non-allergenic blankets
continue
on page 2
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From the desk of . . .
Arthur S. Lazerow
A Quick Update!
I. Website Additions. Melissa
Brois, our marketing
director, and I are continually trying
to improve and update our Internet
website. We have two new additions.
The first is additional information
about environmental issues. Updated
pages on mold, lead-based paint,
well water testing and septic testing
are online. These come from handouts
we have developed for newly licensed
Realtors. The second
addition is numerous pictures
of housing deficiencies and other
"goodies", such as pictures of polybutylene
piping, failed asphalt shingles,
deterioration caused by galvanic
action and structural failures. These
pictures come from many years of photographing
actual deficiencies. II.
Cancellations: This
spring and summer sales
season has been record-breaking. However,
we are experiencing a 10-15% cancellation
rate. Too many inspections are
being scheduled prematurely. Most damaging
are cancellations within 24 hours
of the inspection appointment, which
wastes an inspector’s scheduled time
and deprives the inspector of income.
Shocking concept, but our inspectors
work to feed their families. Accordingly,
we have instituted a one hundred
fifty dollar ($150.00) cancellation fee for any inspection cancelled
within 24 hours of the
scheduled appointment.
Please, we ask all Realtors and
clients to respect our time.
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