Preparing for the Worst-case Scenario: Home Edition

Juggling your work, your family, and your house can be burdensome, even for professional jugglers. It takes striking the perfect balance with these three aspects to keep your sanity in check while you’re busy managing your life.

And sadly, no rule book can dictate what you’re supposed to do when a disaster happens or how you can prevent it from happening in the first place. There are, however, scattered guides about certain home-related crises and what you can do to stop them from overtaking your life.

Overflowing Toilet or Leaking Pipes

This is probably the worst thing that can happen to you when you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. One minute, you’re happily doing your business, and the next, your toilet’s spewing all your deposits back to you.

Another situation you can find yourself in is cooking in the kitchen. Suddenly, the small leak you thought would go away caused a pipe to burst and flood your kitchen. You never know when a disaster will strike and push you to call an emergency plumbing repair in the dead of night.

Water damage is no laughing matter because it can cause your house’s foundational structure to weaken, or it can give you health problems when left unchecked for too long. It will be better to call in an expert once you notice these damages before they turn into bigger ones you can no longer control.

Polluted Indoor Environment

Good ventilation is important in every household because it provides you with the air that you breathe. But if that air is contaminated with pollutants that the naked eye cannot see, where will that leave you? There can be several reasons why your home’s air is polluted. These are just some of them:

Unclean Air Conditioning or Heating System

Air conditioning or heating systems are responsible for the circulation inside your home. They provide you with air and heat that you need to be comfortable despite the weather outside. But these systems are also prone to dust and debris clogging the filters.

When this happens, the filters will be unable to clean the air of dust, germs, and moisture, which can cause the air to become stuffy. This can make it harder for you and your family to breathe, as well as increase the risk for asthma attacks.

Luckily, this can be solved with a quick visit from an expert who can change your filters or clean up the debris clogging up your vents. You can also do it yourself if you want to. Just be very careful not to damage anything or inhale all the contaminants accumulated inside the system.

Mold Buildup

When your house doesn’t have proper air circulation, it leaves much room for humidity to settle within the walls and on the roof. That humidity can cause mold buildup, which can eventually lead to allergies, lung problems, or a weakened immune system.

The reason for this is because mold thrives in places with moisture, and if there isn’t enough air circulating through your home, the moisture won’t be kept to a minimal level. Fortunately, mold can easily be cleaned with soap and water or kept in check with a dehumidifier in enclosed spaces.

Pest Infestation

Insects are common in households, and it is nearly impossible for a home to be rid of them completely. But insects who have established colonies inside your walls, basement, or crawlspace are a different matter altogether.

This is a pest infestation that can cause you and your family serious health problems, especially if they manage to infiltrate your vents or water system. Insects such as cockroaches or mites can contaminate what you eat and where you sleep.

Their body parts and wastes can accumulate in your floors, beddings, or furniture, and even in the air that you breathe. When these pollutants enter your body, they can cause allergies or breathing problems like asthma.

Pests are hard to get rid of on your own. You might need to require assistance from exterminators or non-toxic pesticides if you really want to do it independently. Be careful with handling the chemicals and get all visible crannies where they might have reproduced.

Keeping a house together is a full-time job. It’s not something that you can put off, particularly not when there’s an emergent situation like a toilet overflowing or a pest infestation reaching your bedroom. This won’t make your home a habitable environment, which is its sole purpose.