Be a healthy home hunter

Think about indoor air quality before you rent or buy

WHEN LOOKING TO PURCHASE a new home or rent an apartment, it’s important to look beyond the size of the home or the amenities in the kitchen and ask yourself, “Will it be healthy for me and my family?”

Levels of indoor pollutants (radon, mold, carbon monoxide, lead, asbestos, volatile organic compounds [VOCs], toxins and pet and rodent dander) are often two to five times higher—and may even be 100 times higher—than outdoor levels. Numerous studies confirm a broad range of health problems caused by indoor environmental exposures: headaches, fatigue, nausea, aggravation of asthma and allergies, transmission of infectious respiratory diseases and life-threatening poisonings. Indoor pollutants in homes and apartments are of significant concern because most Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, with most of that time spent at home.

The best way to ensure you don’t end up in a house or apartment that might make you sick is to conduct a thorough walk-through inspection of the property for specific issues that can impact your health and safety.

When buying a home

Prepare to inspect the home yourself, and don’t depend on a bank-supplied home inspector to find all the issues for you. Alternatively, hire the services of an independent home inspector who works for you, rather than the bank or the seller. The seller must disclose certain things by law, if they have knowledge of the issue. Otherwise, they can state “Unknown.” The two categories that could capture water, moisture or mold issues are “4. Hazardous Materials” and “5. Known Defects.”

Be aware, however, that the disclosure statement is not a warranty by law—the seller is not obligated to do any testing or investigative work. If the landlord or seller refuses to allow follow-up verification or testing, consider this a red flag and be prepared to walk away from the deal.

When renting an apartment or house

When renting, follow the same approach as buying a home. Protect yourself by verifying any claims made by the landlord or their representative. Insist that proof of repairs, reports and any other information you need be provided before signing an agreement. Legally, the landlord must provide the smoking policy and disclose information on energy efficiency, bed bugs, radon testing and smoke detectors. However, there is no requirement for disclosure of water leakage, mold, lead, ventilation air, exhaust air, rodents or other pests. These issues can significantly impact your health and well-being, particularly if you have children or if someone in the household has asthma or chronic illness. Maine does have an “implied warranty of habitability,” which would include, for example, drinkable water, adequate and safe heat (68˚F in the winter), a building envelope that does not leak water, windows that aren’t broken and adequate pest control.

Pay particular attention to moisture in any finished basement space, especially if carpeted.


What to look for in a home or rental inspection

Here are some common problems to look for and/or test for during the walk-through inspection of your prospective living space.

Outside

  • What to look for

    Peeling or blistering paint; warping or loose siding and popped nails; new paint in patches

    Concerns

    Moisture problems and possible cover-up

  • What to look for

    Roof shingles that are discolored, breaking, warping or growing moss; poorly maintained gutters or gutters that discharge near foundation. Check for presence of soffit, ridge or gable vents.

    Concerns

    Water leakage, structural damage, mold growth, ice dams. No soffit vents might indicate moisture trouble if roof not originally designed as a “hot” roof. If in doubt, ask.

  • What to look for

    Cracks or holes in the foundation (stone, concrete, block), visible footing drain discharge; make sure ground slopes away, not toward, the home.

    Concerns

    Water leakage into basement, access for pests

  • What to look for

    Match vent hoods outside to exhaust fans inside; stuck dampers; sooty boiler/furnace discharge; presence of a radon mitigation system

    Concerns

    Moisture discharge into home instead of outdoors; reentrainment of fumes and CO into home. Test home for radon even if it has an air or water system already installed.

Inside

  • What to look for

    Take note of what you smell upon first entering the home.

    Concerns

    Odors can indicate a variety of problems: moisture, ventilation, heating system, rodents, VOCs, sewer gasses, pet waste. Presence of air fresheners and candles may represent attempt to cover up.

  • What to look for

    Mold, water stains, condensation, peeling or blistering paint, new paint in areas

    Concerns

    Roof/water leakage; plumbing leaks; elevated humidity, mold and structural damage; possible cover-up.

  • What to look for

    Old stained carpets

    Concerns

    Mold, insects, bacteria

  • What to look for

    Dark sheathing or staining in attic; rodent nests and scat; missing/torn insulation; wet basement areas or dehumidifier use. Ask yourself: “Do I like breathing the air in this basement?”

    Concerns

    Mold and moisture issues; pest infestations, high levels of humidity, improper attic venting. Any moisture/mold in basement will eventually move upward to rest of building due to stack effect.

  • What to look for

    Ask to review maintenance records of heating systems; look for fans that are vented outdoors, especially bathrooms and kitchens and clothes dryers.

    Concerns

    Carbon monoxide poisoning; poor efficiency and combustion pollutants indoors; proper ventilation of high polluting areas.

Contributed by Kristofer G. Anderson, P.E., of KG Anderson, and Christine G. Crocker of Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC). For more information about healthy indoor air quality, visit maineindoorair.org.


Summer 2024 cover

This article appeared in the Summer 2024 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!

Find Maine experts that specialize in healthy, efficient homes in the Green Homes Business Directory.