WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HIGH QUALITY RESIDENTIAL DEHUMIDIFIER:

If you are worried about the Relative Humidity Level(s) in your house, it may be wise to invest in a good quality residential dehumidifier.  Here's a list of important aspects of a good residential dehumidifier.  High levels of humidity can cause or exacerbate mold growth in your home.  If you think mold is already a concern in your house, it is suggested that you have a certified Environmental Assessment company like The Healthy Abode come and inspect and sample your house for mold growth.  Mold growth can cause both serious health and structural problems for your home, yourself and your family.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HIGH QUALITY RESIDENTIAL DEHUMIDIFIER:

Average Cost $200-$300

-Auto shut off when the water storage tray is full, or better still, a continuous drainage system that requires no maintenance at all. These usually require a floor level drain in the room that they will be used, but if that option is available to you it will save a lot of time and effort in the long run.

-Built in humidistat (humidity meter / hygrometer) that can automatically control the humidity of the room. This is a vital feature to prevent the air from becoming too dry.

-For larger units, wheels make them much easier to maneuver.

-A frost sensor that will switch off the unit if it gets too cold.

-An on/off switch. This may sound silly, but without one you will need to be able to reach the main socket, and that is not always convenient.

-Extras such as an air filter can be useful to some people, particularly allergy sufferers.

-Variable fan speeds. (most dehumidifiers have them).

-Low noise levels. Everybody likes a bit of piece and quiet.

Please contact us if you have any questions about dehumidifiers and/or mold growth related matters.  We're happy to help!

Common Areas Asbestos is located in a Residential House or Dwelling

If you are going to renovate or notice that certain materials are being disturbed or falling apart it is important to know whether or not these materials may contain asbestos.  Here is a list of the most common areas that asbestos may be present in a residential house or dwelling.  Please remember there does exist other areas that asbestos may be present, however, these are the most common.  If you are concerned that you may have asbestos containing materials in your home the best bet is to have them tested by a certified Environmental Assessment Company like The Healthy Abode. 

The most common areas where asbestos may be found in a residential home are the following:

ATTIC:

-attic insulation, especially if it is vermiculite

FLOORING:

-any vinyl tiles

-asphalt based floor tiles

-any floor tiles, backing materials used to install tiles (i.e. black mastic adhesive) can contain asbestos

-flooring felt

-asbestos carpet underlayment

CEILINGS:

-acoustical ceiling tiles

-acoustic ceilings/popcorn ceilings

-plaster ceilings

-any sprayed-on or troweled-on surfacing materials

-asbestos ceiling fireproofing panels

INSULATION/PIPING:

-piping insulation

-insulation around boilers

-insulation around ducts

-insulation around hot water tanks

-attic, ceiling and wall insulation (1930-1950)

-pipeline wrap

-paper made of asbestos

BUILDING MATERIALS:

-plaster and lath

-any patching compounds for wall and ceiling joints (1977) – includes asbestos spackling compounds

-asbestos-cement corrugated sheet

-asbestos-cement flat sheet

-asbestos cement pipe (usually air ducts or chimneys)

-asbestos cement shingle

-asbestos exterior siding

-asbestos millboard (similar to cement asbestos roof shingles and siding)

FIREPLACES

-artificial ashes and embers in gas fireplaces (pre 1977)

ROOFING

-roof coatings/shingles

-roofing felt

-asbestos base flashing – i.e. roofing mastics and sealants

ADDITIONAL:

-asbestos cloth – i.e. asbestos air duct vibration dampers

-asbestos containing appliances

-asbestos water heater jacket insulation

Are you thinking about renovating? Consider this...

Summer is right around the corner and that means the official beginning of renovation season for South-Western Ontario!

 If you are currently thinking about renovating, in the process of renovating or have recently completed renovations to your home, it is important to consider whether or not your house contains lead or asbestos.

Did you know that your house may contain lead or asbestos?  These materials were both used in some building materials (up until mid 1980s) that can poison your body.  Lead, which is often found in the paint on your walls and trim, can cause very serious health issues, including learning disabilities in children as well as nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems in adults.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used as a material in construction and many other industries.  If disturbed, i.e. during a renovation, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are breathed in they get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time.  Overtime, asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer and other serious illness.

It is due to these important health risks that you need to make sure you are not going to be disturbing leaded-paint or asbestos during the course of your summer renovation. If either of these materials exist in your home and are disturbed, they can cause serious health problems for both you and your family.  Even if you are in the process of renovating or have recently completed renovations, you can still check to make sure either lead or asbestos or both are not negatively affecting the indoor air quality of your home.

 

At The Healthy Abode we are certified by the EPA to test for lead and follow all Health Canada guidelines in testing for asbestos.  It is important to know what’s in your house, in order to know the best way to handle the materials.  Remember, even if your house does contain lead and/or asbesots, in many cases there are simple ways of dealing with these materials, the important first step is Knowing.

We are an InterNACHI Member!

We are EPA and IAC2 certified and a proud member of InterNACHI!

Property Managers... Be advised

The Healthy Abode is your Residential and Business Bed Bug specialist.

Did you know that Toronto Public Health states that:

"Multi-unit dwellings, including hotels, apartments, hostels, shelters, student residences and rooming houses, are high-risk locations for bed bug infestations.  The best method to deal with bed bugs is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which combines a variety or techniques and products that pose the lease risk to human health and the environment. 

Collaboration between tenants and landlords is necessary to eliminate bed bug infestations.  The following is recommended by the City of Toronto regarding Landlord/Property Management Compliance -

EARLY DETECTION OF BED BUG INFESTATION: respond to tenant's complaint about bed bugs, and conduct proper inspection."

http://www.toronto.ca/health/pdf/bedbugs_landlordfactsheet.pdf

The Healthy Abode offers Professional Bed Bug inspections & testing.  We take a swab sample of the potentially infested area and send it to an Ontario Certified Lab.  We'll get your results within 72 hours.  The best way to prevent Bed Bug infestation is to catch it early.  We offer a discreet service, quick turnaround time and we save you money.  Not only does detecting Bed Bug infestations early save you money in terms of cleaning a unit, replacing items and even putting your tenants in another temporary dwelling, but we also offer great rates on our inspections and testing. 

Contact us today for more information, or if you have any other environmental or air quality concerns such as mold, asbestos, lead and even allergens.  We'll quote you over the phone, no obligation.  Your business is our business, and we want to make sure you have everything taken care of as quickly and easily as possible. 

Sincerely,
Angelina - The Healthy Abode
www.thehealthyabode.ca

The Facts on Lead: Could it be Harming your Family?

Few people in Canada may be aware of the amount of lead that still exists in many of our homes.  It wasn't until 1976 that the Canadian government completely banned the use of interior lead-based paint.  Although known to be harmful, lead-based paint was used for its' superior colour and durability.  In fact, it is lead-based paint that makes the colours of painted roadways and bridges so brilliant today.

The amount of lead (classified as a heavy metal) in the environment increased during the industrial revolution and again the 1920s with the introduction of leaded gasoline. However, since the 1970s lead exposure in Canada has decreased substantially, mainly because of government regulations that phased out both leaded gasoline and lead-based paint for residential use.  According to Health Canada, lead is considered to be a significant environmental contaminant because it is toxic, persists in the environment and can be taken up by the body and stored in bone and other biological tissues (bio-accumulative) for many years.

It would appear that lead may no longer be a threat, or is it?  The lead paint that has possibly been on the walls of your home since it was built is still present under many layers of paint.  This lead shouldn't pose a threat, until it is disturbed.  Lead-based paint that has been disturbed due to renovation such as removal of walls and window/door fixtures, has become a major cause for concern in recent years.  In fact, in the United States, federally mandated regulations are now law regarding the appropriate clean-up and disposal of lead dust that results from these types of renovation activity.

The health risks of lead are serious.  Children under the age of six are most at risk from small amounts of lead because their bodies are still developing.  During normal and frequent playing of hand-to-mouth activity, children may swallow or inhale leaded dust from their hands, toys, food or other objects.  In children, lead can cause irreversible nervous system and kidney damage; decreased intelligence, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and learning disabilities; and speech, language and behaviour problems.  Among adults, pregnant women are especially at risk from exposure to lead, as it is passed from mother to fetus and may result in miscarriages, premature births, brain damage and low birth weights.  In adults, the health effects of lead include high blood pressure, fertility and sexual disorders in both men and women, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems and muscle or joint pain.  Lead can also harm pets if inhaled or ingested.  Lead poisoning does not always have obvious symptoms, in fact symptoms are often described as flu-like. 

Small amounts of lead-contaminated dust can poison children and adults.  If you home was built before 1976 and you are thinking about renovating, it may be worth your while to check if your home contains lead-based paint. 

Let me know if you want any more info about lead-based paint.  I'm EPA certified and our company does lead testing in the GTA.