| There are a few silent killers in apartments | | | | after following the instructions, you mail |
| and houses that you may not be aware of. No, | | | | into a lab to get tested. There are more |
| we aren't talking about the smell of dirty | | | | expensive devices that you can plug into the |
| feet that come from the apartment next to | | | | wall and give you a numeric readout of the |
| yours - the silent killer is gas and mold | | | | radon level. If you are renting, ask to see |
| accumulations that occur in some apartments. | | | | the test results from your landlord. A lot of |
| | | | states require radon testing for newer |
| There are two deadly gasses that you are at | | | | buildings, so you may be able to find out the |
| risk for when renting an apartment: radon and | | | | results. |
| carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is often | | | | |
| referred to as the silent killer, because you | | | | A final killer that may be lurking in your |
| can't smell it or see it, which makes | | | | apartment is mold and mildew. Although this |
| detecting it impossible to do without special | | | | problem is probably not as serious as carbon |
| equipment. Carbon monoxide can often leak | | | | monoxide or radon poisoning, it is more |
| from heaters, stoves, the exhaust pipe in a | | | | common and can be really a big problem. Mold |
| car and other appliances. If you are living | | | | and mildew can build up when there is too |
| in an airtight apartment that has been sealed | | | | must moisture in the air, and is prevalent in |
| up pretty well, and has no outside | | | | climates that have humid air. You probably |
| ventilation, you are going to be at greater | | | | know that mold can be beneficial to your |
| risk of getting carbon monoxide poisoning. If | | | | health, but the mold and mildew that occurs |
| you've just moved into a new apartment (or | | | | because of wet conditions is going to give |
| the heat has just been turned on for the | | | | you breathing problems. Mold and mildew that |
| season), and you experience symptoms such as | | | | has started to grow will continue to grow |
| a headache, dizziness, nausea or convulsions, | | | | until it is removed, and will get on anything |
| you need to get to fresh air as soon as | | | | and everything, including furniture, walls, |
| possible. There are carbon monoxide detectors | | | | clothing and carpeting and flooring. Some of |
| that plug into an electrical socket, and will | | | | these items can't be cleaned properly, and |
| warn you if you are in danger. | | | | need to be discarded, while other items can |
| | | | be cleaned with a bleach and water solution. |
| The second deadly gas that is common in newer | | | | Minor mold problems can be cleaned up by |
| apartments and houses is radon. This is a | | | | yourself, while major problems really need a |
| natural gas that comes from the earth | | | | professional to clean up (or a wrecking ball |
| naturally, and is scentless and colorless. | | | | to knock down the whole building). |
| Unlike with carbon monoxide, radon poisoning | | | | |
| doesn't give you any symptoms that will tell | | | | When renting an apartment, it is important to |
| you that you are being exposed. Instead, many | | | | remember that you are going to be living |
| people learn that they have been affected by | | | | there, and breathing in the apartment air |
| radon when they develop lung cancer. There | | | | every day. To keep yourself healthy, you |
| isn't any type of simple device to warn you | | | | should definitely make sure to consider the |
| that you are at risk, so you need to have | | | | silent killers when renting your next |
| your apartment or home tested. There are | | | | apartment or house. |
| relatively cheap kits you can buy, which | | | | |