How to do a health check on your home

Tips on how to inspect your house or apartment and keep on top of any maintenance issues. 

1. Keep your home in top shape - Inspect your house or apartment regularly and keep on top of any maintenance issues. When jobs around the home are neglected, problems are likely to grow. Clean filters regularly, make sure heaters are serviced, check exhaust fans and replace appliances that are damaged or aren’t working effectively.

2. Let fresh air in - It’s important to keep a home well ventilated by opening windows or doors from time to time, says Professor Geoff Hanmer, of the faculty of the built environment at the University of Technology Sydney. Many older houses have vents high up on walls to keep homes aired but some newer homes are more sealed-up and draught-proof. “Then it becomes even more important to open up the home,” he says. “But if it’s too cold, then you need to filter the air to make sure it’s safe.

3. Avoid mould - You also have to allow your home to breathe in order to avoid problems like mould. “Your house is something of a living organism with natural fibres like timber that absorb moisture,” says Gerard Murtagh of mould removalists Mould Men. “So you want to make sure it doesn’t retain too much by allowing plenty of air and sunshine through.

4. Get rid of damp - Make sure there aren’t any leaks into your home from the roof, drainage or plumbing and clean up quickly after any flooding. If your home is still damp and at risk of mould as a result, consider investing in a dehumidifier, recommends Brent Clark, chief executive of Wattblock, a company that helps strata clients improve energy efficiency.

5. Clean, clean, clean - It’s important to clean the home regularly to keep all its occupants healthy, Murtagh says. Bacteria like mould can feed off dirt, dust, sloughed-off skin cells, hair, bugs, dust mites, clothing particles and pollen. Vacuum, dust, wipe down and mop at least weekly, empty bins as quickly as necessary, then have a thorough spring clean once a year – or more often – moving couches or bed heads away from walls and cleaning underneath where dirt can easily become trapped.

6. Be ready for crises - Install smoke detectors and check them regularly to make sure the batteries are still functioning, and always have a fire extinguisher close at hand in the kitchen or in the garage. Leaks from gas cooktops, ovens or heaters can also be dangerous, with symptoms of gas poisoning including headaches, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Always make sure there’s some fresh air getting into a room when you have gas appliances on.

7. Keep your home pest-free - Creepy-crawlies can spread disease and sickness and, while it’s sometimes very hard to keep them all at bay, especially if the house or apartment block is older and built on sand, it’s good to try to keep their numbers in check.

8. Get rid of toxic chemicals - Strong chemicals in the home, like mould killers, can affect people with asthma or auto-immune diseases, Clark says. “Choose more natural and biodegradable products for bathrooms and kitchens”.

Source: Domain - Sue Williams