What Dangers Hide in Older Homes?

The Wesley Allen Bedroom Laurel Complete Bed will look great in a vintage home. But before you bring in this lovely piece of furniture or any furnishing for that matter, make sure that your home is free from toxic and hazardous substances.

‘Recently purchased an old home? No surprise there because a lot of people are drawn to such because of these structures’ charm. While these houses are such a beauty to behold, there are also dangers there that you might not have initially considered.

That Long-banned Lead Paint

If you bought a home that was built before 1978, then it is probable that it’s been painted with lead paint. This was the year when the federal government finally banned the use of lead-based paints because they were found to be life threatening.

Paint, even when lead-based, when in good condition less likely to be dangerous but come the moment when it is sanded, scraped or even chipped, then it becomes hazardous.

Lead dust is dangerous because it can be inhaled and it can even mix with the soil outdoors where you typically garden or where your kids play. Have your home tested for lead-based paint if you’re not sure that you’re putting your family at risk. A simple inspection will be able to show whether there’s lead-based paint or none.

Lead Plumbing

Lead isn’t just found in paint. This can also be found in pipes. This is highly dangerous because the substance could easily mix with your family’s drinking water. Your health could be endangered due to poisoning.

The surefire way to know if you have lead pipes is to have them tested. You can have experts take a look or you can use a kit from any home improvement shop. This inspection becomes doubly crucial if you see that your plumbing is non-plastic and if it was installed prior to 1986.

Ways that you can reduce the health risks once it’s been established that your pipes are made of lead include –

Flush the pipes. Never use water that comes from the faucet until you can feel that its temperature is cold. Use only cold water when cooking and drinking.
Better yet, you should begin planning to replace the pipes.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a kind of mineral fiber that’s been used a lot during the 20^th century. More homes were filled with this fiber in World War II. It was used extensively in construction and roofing as it was an effective insulator and fireproof material.

Asbestos was also used in wall compounds, caulking, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, ducts, pipes, boilers, and furnaces. Even the ceilings were sprayed on with asbestos treatments which looked as a decorative overlay.

Asbestos was also an effective sound blocker.

So if asbestos had these many uses, why was it banned in the late ‘70s? The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission banned any further use of this material due to environmental concerns. Disturbing this material in any manner will release the fibers into the air. When breathed in, the fibers could remain trapped in your lungs leading to inflammation and eventual scarring.

Diseases such as mesothelioma and other forms of cancer have also been linked to asbestos exposure.

An abatement professional will be able to help you confirm if there is still asbestos in your home. Never take samples of materials on your own as this can disrupt the fibers. Your local state agency will also be able to help you with the inspection and removal of this material.

Old, Outdated Wiring

The CPSC stated that approximately 46,000 fires, each year, start because of faulty electrical systems. The sad news is that most of these could have been prevented had there been a thorough routine inspection.

Take note that homes built 40-100 years ago had not been inspected since they were constructed. If you experience dimming or flickering lights, power outages, sizzling sounds, hot outlets, burnt smells, shrinking TV picture, and even smoke, then what you’re seeing or hearing are warning signs already.

If you can’t even remember having your electrical system inspected, then it’s time to hire a certified electrician ASAP.

Tags: home inspection, home maintenance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, older homes

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 6th, 2019 at 8:03 am and is filed under Home Buying, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.