National Healthy Homes Month and Indoor Environmental Quality Tips for California Residents

Back in 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) inaugurated the first National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM). “The Power of Partnerships” is the theme for this year’s celebration that offers an opportunity for people to learn about housing and its impact on public health.

To help in this effort, HUD published Eight Healthy Homes Principles. It provides practical tips for homeowners and tenants, and includes the following:

1. Keep it Dry - Prevent water from entering a home through leaks in roofing systems and rainwater from entering the home due to poor drainage, also check the interior plumbing for any leaking.
2. Keep it Clean - Control the source of dust and contaminants, creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter, and using effective wet-cleaning methods.
3. Keep it Safe - Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly label. Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand.
4. Keep it Well-Ventilated - Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.
5. Keep it Pest-Free - All pests look for food, water, and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest-resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with the least toxic pesticides such as boric acid powder.
6. Keep it Contaminant-Free - Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint and keeping floors and window areas clean using a wet-cleaning approach. Test the home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks. Install a radon removal system if levels above the EPA action-level are detected.
7. Keep the Home Maintained - Inspect, clean, and repair the home routinely. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems.
8. Thermally Controlled - Houses that do not maintain adequate temperatures may place the safety of residents at increased risk from exposure to extreme cold or heat.

“People spend a tremendous amount of time in their homes, so making it a safe place is imperative for the health and well-being of all family members,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “National Healthy Homes Month is the perfect time to remind everyone that exposure risks are quite common in far too many homes. These include everything from lead and asbestos to radon, VOCs, carbon monoxide, bacteria, mold, and viruses to new a few. The good news is something can be done about it.”

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) scientists at LA Testing provide testing services that can assist the residents of California create healthy homes, schools, and businesses. They also offer sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, building inspection tools, and air monitoring instruments to identify a wide range of microbial, chemical, and radiological exposure risks.

To learn more about these laboratory testing services, sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments, or inspection tools, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com , or call (800) 755-1794. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail