RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

What Is Sick House Syndrome, and What Causes It?

Home Consumer
By Dan Steward
June 23, 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
1

sick_house_cigar_smokeSick House Syndrome occurs when a house can’t “breathe” and rid itself of indoor pollutants, resulting in poor indoor air quality – a “sick house.” Inadequate ventilation allows these pollutants to build up, causing potential health risks to the home’s occupants. Young children, the elderly, and some chronically ill persons are most susceptible to the effects of Sick House Syndrome.

Common sources of indoor pollution include tobacco smoke, certain carpeting materials, furnaces and fireplaces, pressed wood cabinets and furniture, and household cleaning products. In addition, a buildup of moisture can cause mold, which can grow uncontrolled inside walls, crawlspaces, and other areas. Mold spores are released into the air and can also travel throughout the home via heating and cooling ductwork.

How Can Indoor Pollution Be Reduced?
Source control is usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. In some cases, eliminating the specific sources of indoor pollution—for example, removing carpets, repairing and maintaining faulty furnaces – is all that is necessary.

For many other offending substances, improving ventilation is a key means of decreasing indoor pollution. These include tobacco smoke, cleaning products, and moisture buildup. Many newer homes in particular are so well insulated and sealed that only a very limited amount of fresh air can get in. In this situation, using attic or window fans and opening windows when weather permits are easy and inexpensive ways to increase ventilation. Over the years, tobacco smoke can actually be absorbed by walls, floors, and ceilings and may need to be professionally removed.

Asbestos and lead do not normally cause problems if they are undisturbed, but these and other hazardous substances should be analyzed by a qualified professional to determine if sealing, abatement, or removal is warranted. The presence of these materials may also need to be included in disclosure forms when selling a home, so special attention is warranted in these situations.

Dan Steward is the President & CEO of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.

ShareTweetShare
Susanne Dwyer

Susanne Dwyer

Related Posts

Great Spaces: An Elevated Look at an Upper East Side Condo
Agents

Great Spaces: An Elevated Look at an Upper East Side Condo

June 3, 2023
Webinar: How Technology Is Changing the Home-Buying Process
Agents

Webinar: How Technology Is Changing the Home-Buying Process

June 3, 2023
Social Media Savvy: How Fostering a Sense of Authenticity Builds Trust and Credibility
Agents

Social Media Savvy: How Fostering a Sense of Authenticity Builds Trust and Credibility

June 2, 2023
Big Job Gains Fuel Optimism, but Could Confound Fed
Agents

Big Job Gains Fuel Optimism, but Could Confound Fed

June 2, 2023
The Power Broker Interview: Bess Freedman Shares Insights on Staying Successful Amid a Shifting Market
Agents

The Power Broker Interview: Bess Freedman Shares Insights on Staying Successful Amid a Shifting Market

June 2, 2023
Mortgage Mix: Modest Decline in Rates and Applications
Agents

Mortgage Mix: Modest Decline in Rates and Applications

June 2, 2023

Comments 1

  1. Patrick says:
    3 years ago

    My contractor say the use of insulation behind vinyl siding will result in “sick house syndrome” and therefore, he does not include the cost of insulation in his bid.  He says he does not use additional insulation because of the insulation’s inability to let the house breathe.  Is there any truth to his claims?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tip of the Day

The Best Lead Strategy for Growth in Any Market Condition

Brokers and agents have always held the role of trusted advisors and experts, and this is even truer now. These realities are underscoring just how important better lead strategies are, so that teams can increase their lead flows over time, whether the market is up or down. Read More

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • Great Spaces: An Elevated Look at an Upper East Side Condo
  • Webinar: How Technology Is Changing the Home-Buying Process
  • Social Media Savvy: How Fostering a Sense of Authenticity Builds Trust and Credibility

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2023 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2023 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X