Hazards
Household and Environmental Hazards
View a list of terms that covers most of the common household dangers likely to be encountered by InterNACHI inspectors.
Read MoreEMFs in the Home
Can the electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) to which people are routinely exposed cause health effects? What are sources of EMFs, and when are they dangerous? An “electromagnetic field” is a broad term which includes electric fields generated by charged particles in motion, and radiated fields, such as TVs, radios, hair dryers and microwave ovens.
Read MoreEco-Friendly Relocation
Relocation is often stressful and time-consuming but rarely do we wonder about the impact the process has on the environment. This is amplified when moving to a smaller house or condominium, and additional decisions have to be made regarding items that must be discarded in order to save space. If we don’t make these decisions deliberately, our choices can generate a lot of trash, and waste energy and natural resources.
Read MoreChild-Proofing Your Home: 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children
About 2.5 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child-safety devices on the market today.
Read MoreBiological Pollutants in the Home
Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continue to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest — your home. Many ordinary activities, such as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning and redecorating, can cause the release and spread of indoor pollutants at home. Studies have shown that the air in our homes can be even more polluted than outdoor air.
Read MoreAttached Garage Fire Hazards
The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we’d like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we’d like you to make sure that a fire cannot easily spread to the rest of your house.
Read MoreAir Quality in the Home
Research has shown that the quality of indoor air can be worse than that of outdoor air. Many homes are built or remodeled more tightly, without regard to the factors that assure fresh and healthy indoor air. Our homes today contain many furnishings, appliances and products that can affect indoor air quality.
Read MoreAsbestos: Facts and Tips for Home Inspectors and Homeowners
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer in the forms of mesothelioma.
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