Home Maintenance

What to Expect from a Smoker's Home

Smoking has become less and less popular over the decades, with the CDC reporting that the proportion of U.S. adults who smoke dropped from 20.9% in 2005 to 15.5% in 2016. Still, that number means that around 38 million potential home sellers are active smokers. Those who do smoke might be interested in learning just how much it reduces the value of their home, while everyone else is likely interested in knowing how to eliminate the smell of cigarettes from their new abode. Realtor.com recently wrote about this topic, offering some useful advice on how to deal with a smoker's home.

More Accidents Happen At Home Than Anywhere Else - How to Avoid Them

Keeping your home safe just takes a little thought and the development of some good maintenance habits.  Routine maintenance tasks are very important to ensure the integrity of your home's safety features.  

With more accidents happening at home than anywhere else, home safety is very important, and something worth your regular attention.

Here are 5 tips to keep your home safe for your family and guests:

Indoor Air Pollution: Do Something About It

According to the EPA, indoor air can be more polluted than the outdoor air, even in the most industrialized cities. In fact, they have found that the air in our homes can have pollutant levels two to five times higher than the outside air, and sometimes even much higher, depending on what furnishings, building materials and cleansers we are using.

Potentially hazardous chemicals, in the form of building materials, furnishings and cleaning products, infiltrate nearly everyone’s home. They’re found in upholstery, manufactured wood products such as plywood and press board, traditional paint, permanent-press fabrics, carpet, vinyl, air fresheners, sealers and adhesives. And they can hang around in the air and carpets for years.

The ill effects of indoor air pollution can range from short-term issues such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, to headaches, dizziness and fatigue, and long-term exposure can lead to serious and chronic illnesses, such as respiratory disease, heart disease, or cancer.  It's important to do what you can to improve the quality of the air in your home, even if no family members are having adverse health symptoms. 

Here are some of the main sources of indoor pollution and some things you can do to minimize the effect of them on your family's health.