IF YOUR HOUSE IS MAKING YOU SICK, THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER
If Your House Is Making You Sick, There Are Ways To Make It Better
When you own a home, you expect that home to provide your family with safety and security. What you likely don’t expect is that it will harm your health. Unfortunately, this happens, but there are changes you can make to ensure that your surroundings are safe and healthy for your entire family. Want to know more? Keep reading.
Cold Symptoms Caused by HVAC
Depending on the age of your HVAC unit, it might be the reason that you experience breathing problems, headaches and dizziness, and a perpetual cold. Your home’s heating and ventilation system is supposed to regulate the temperature and alleviate humidity. But it can spread dust, bacteria, and airborne fungi throughout your home. If you continually experience nasal irritation, dry eyes, and itchy skin, it may be time for an AC upgrade. Nerdwallet notes that you can expect to spend anywhere from $3,000-$7,000 for a new unit. Keep in mind, however, that you may need to replace the ventilation and ductwork, which may cost extra.
Allergens From The Floor
Your HVAC unit isn’t the only thing that can trigger allergy and cold-like symptoms. The Mayo Clinic notes that people suffering from mold, pet, or pollen allergies should remove carpeting and replace it with hardwood flooring when possible. If you have a large home with wall-to-wall carpeting, you can spend upwards of $11,000 to install new hardwood. Other costs to keep in mind are furniture removal, and whether you need the old planks taken to the dump or require repairs to the subfloor. If you’re on a budget, stick with bamboo or pine, as these are much cheaper options than engineered or exotic woods. HomeAdvisor illustrates the price differences, noting that pine floors can cost as little as $3 for materials while mahogany and cypress can set you back up to $14 per square foot plus the cost of installation.
Itchy Skin? It Could Be Your Water
The water that flows through your faucet may be the reason that you have dry skin or eczema. In many parts of the country, hard water – which simply means that it contains high levels of calcium and magnesium – flows through the pipes every single day. While it is not an emergency health concern, eczema is uncomfortable and can leave you self-conscious about your appearance. The only real remedy for this problem is to install a water softener in your home, and costs range from $2,000 to $2,500 for a unit and installation.
Depression And Your Outdoor Space
Sometimes, the way our home affects our life and health isn’t evident in physical symptoms. If you routinely feel down in the dumps, the problem may be that you are not active enough. This is often caused by a lack of usable outdoor space. If you don’t have a deck, patio, or pool, for example, you may be less likely to spend your afternoons outdoors. The cost of these outdoor upgrades vary, but you can spend as little as a few hundred dollars on a truckload of paving stones up to $30,000 or more on a professionally-installed in-ground pool. If you think you need more time outdoors, adding a place where you can be outside and enjoy your property provides a huge benefit to your physical and mental health.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new house to give yourself a safe and healthy space. One thing you should do, however, is research the service providers you choose for each job. Look for online reviews and trade affiliations before you sign a contract for repairs and upgrades. After all, you’re trying to make your life better, and choosing the wrong contractor is a stomach churner that no renovation can cure!
Image via Pexels
