 |
Safe
Housing Tips |
What
to Look for in an Existing House
for a Healthier Home
|
Site
- The following should
be avoided:
- Air and noise pollution
from traffic and industry
- Pesticide use in neighborhood
(golf courses, mosquito abatement, roadsides, neighbors)
- Winter air pollution
from neighboring fireplaces
- Proximity to high power
lines, radio, TV and microwave towers, overhead street electrical high voltage
boxes
Foundation
- Check for good drainage
away from the building around its perimeter
- Check for signs of rot
or insect infestation
- Be aware of possible
mold problems with "berming" (dirt piled against the side of house)
Basement
or Crawl Space
- Look for water marks
that would indicate flooding or backed up drains
- Does the place smell
damp or moldy? (Many people are under the false impression tha Santa Fe is
a mold-free environment)
Roofing
- The best roofs are sloped
metal
- Single ply membranes
such as brai or Proply are better than tar and gravel.
- The worst roof is a
tar and gravel roof that is in need of replacement or has just been replaced.
- Flat tar roofs over
eight years old tend to have hairline cracks that leak and cause
mold in insulation and subroofing (even ifthe leaks are not visible)
Kitchen
- An electric range/oven
is the best solution for a chemically sensitive person
- Newer gas ranges with
electronic ignition are better than older pilot light systems
- Unvented ranges or vent
hoods that do not duct to the outside are unacceptable
- At least one operable
window is desirable
- Cabinets of solid wood
or metal are best
- Cabinets made of pressboard
are the worst (but may be O.K. if greater than 15 years old and/or sealed
with a low toxic sealant or covered with a vapor barrier like aluminum foil)
- Cushion vinyl or carpet
over pressboard are the worst floors
- Concrete or wood floors
with non-toxic sealer or presealed tile are the best floors
- Check for moisture damage
or leaking at sink area, and make sure there is no moldy smell under sink
Bathroom
- Should have a mechanical
vent fan rated at minimum of 100 cubic feet per minute (cfm)
- An operable window is
desirable
- Cabinetry- same criteria
as kitchen Check for signs of water damage, mold, or mildew
- Check for missing or
cracked grout and for loose tile in shower/bathtub which could foster mold
growth in wall behind tile
Garage
- A detached garage is
best
- If attached, an airlock
between the garage and living space or well-sealed door is essential.
Heating,
Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) System
- Passive and active solar
heating is relatively non-toxic
- Hot water radiant floor
heatingor hot water baseboard heating are best
- Unmodified forced air
systems are poor
- Open gas combustion
systems are unacceptable
- Electric baseboard systems
are good but may have high electromagnetic fields (EMFs) within several feet
ofthe heaters.
- Good insulation, perimeter
portals and other shaded devices, and good cross ventilation generally forgo
the need for air conditioning in Santa Fe
- Gas fired mechanical
systems should open to the exterior of the building
- If wood is used for
heat, use airtight wood burning stove or a pellet stove, which is more fuel
efficient and less polluting. Wood burning fireplaces and wood stoves emit
particulate matter as well as toxic fumes
Flooring
- Wall-to-wall carpeting
should be avoided especially if it is newer than 3 years old, recently cleaned
with toxic cleaners or is very old. Old carpet may be moldy or contaminated
with tracked in pesticides or other contaminants that cannot be removed with
shampooing
- Presealed tile, brick
or concrete floors are good
- Saltillo tiles, wood
flooring and natural stone products must be sealed with non-toxic sealers
to be acceptable
- Vinyl is less acceptable
- Pressboard or chipboard
subflooring contains large amounts of formaldehyde and is prone to water damage
- Old linoleum or new
low toxic linoleum floors are acceptable if installed with low toxic
adhesive
Electrical
- Wiring in metal
conduit is most preferred
- Underground service
to the building is preferred
- Old knob and tube wiring
is problematic
- Check dimmers and 3-way
switches for possible high EMFs (electromagnetic fields)
- Sleeping location should
not be back-to-back with appliances (within 3 feet) such as refrigerator or
TV
Common
Hazards
- The house should be
tested for lead, asbestos and UFFI insulation, radon and water quality
- The gas system should
be tested for leaks and the electrical system should be tested for miswiring.
Pesticides
- No pesticides should
have been used for at lest 2 years (depends on where and how much - includes
sprays, bombs, mothballs, termite treatments) It is preferable to avoid housing
if chlordane has ever been applied because it is an extremely toxic and persistent
pesticide.
General
- The house should not
have been painted indoors or sealants or finishes used (including petroleum
shine on bricks) within 6 months unless environmentally safer paint has been
used.
- The house should have
good cross-ventilation and receive sunshine
- The house should not
be immediately downwind from heavily traveled dirt roads
- Although few homes currently
have been built using non-toxic methods and materials, the majority of the
construction materials will have outgased enough by the 4th year to make it
acceptable to most people. Children, the elderly and people with health problems
are advised to live in houses older than 4 years old.
For
More Information...
If you have questions,
please call the Healthy
Housing Coalition hotline
(505-989-2565). Also please call if you have found an available house that scores
well in the above categories because the Healthy Housing Coalition keeps lists
of people looking for such homes to buy or rent.
Click
here For a Basic Rental Needs Checklist