Go to PEHA Survey Form or PEHA Nursing Care Plan

 

Key Materials from Essentials for Healthy Home Practitioners course:

• Modules

  • Overview - PDF

  • House As a System - PDF

  • Keep It Dry - PDF

  • Keep It Clean - PDF

  • Keep It Ventilated - PDF

  • Keep It Contaminant-Free - PDF

  • Keep It Maintained - PDF

  • Making It Work - PDF

• References

  • IOM Asthma Dampness Mold

  • American Housing Survey - 2005 national data and description

  • International Property Maintenance Code 2003 Healthy Homes Provisions

  • HUD Housing Quality Standards

  • Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist

• Videos

  • Healthy Homes - Six Minute Overview

  • House as a System by Dennis Livingston

  •     Introduction and Fire - 23.5 minutes / 32 MB   

  •     Air - 21.5 minutes / 22MB   

  •     Water - 27.5 minutes / 27 MB

  •     Earth - 22.5 minutes / 22 MB

 

 

___________________________________________________

 

Drinking Water Source

EPA regulates public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. Approximately 15 percent of Americans rely on their own private drinking water supplies, and these supplies are not subject to EPA standards, although some state and local governments do set rules to protect users of these wells. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the water’s source and its quality before it is sent to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.

• Basic Information - Learn about the types of drinking water wells and guidelines for proper construction.

• Where You Live - Find information about private drinking water wells in your region or state.

• Frequent Questions -This page answers questions you may have about your well water.

• Human Health - Learn about health risks associated with drinking water wells.

• Partnerships - Several organizations are working to keep private drinking water wells safe.

• What You Can Do - Learn how to do your part in keeping your drinking water well safe.

• Publications -Download or order copies of brochures, booklets, posters, reports, and multi-media publications.

• Related Links - Link to web sites with additional information on private drinking water wells.

• Glossary - Look up unfamiliar terms in EPA’s electronic glossary.

Key Resources:  EPA - www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/index2.html

___________________________________________________

 

Kitchen - Cleanliness

The kitchen is a favorite place for pests such as cockroaches and mice.  They can find food, water and dark places to hide.  See the Pests section in Indoor Pollutants for more information. 

 

__________________________________________________

 

Kitchen - Ventilation - Keep It Ventilated - PDF

The kitchen stove should be ventilated outside.  Some stoves have a fan that blows the heat, odors, and grease into the room rather than outside.  This is a problem.  If the stove burns gas, then the combustion byproducts are spread throughout the kitchen.  Therefore, it is especially important to vent stove exhaust outside.

 

Key Resource:  EPA - www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/combust.html

___________________________________________________

 

Bathroom

Install and use exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors from bathrooms.  This actions can eliminate much of the moisture that builds up from everyday activities. There are exhaust fans on the market that produce little noise, an important consideration for some people. Another benefit to using bathroom exhaust fans is that they can reduce levels of organic pollutants that vaporize from hot water used in showers.  See Mold and Moisture section of Indoor Pollutants

___________________________________________________

 

Basement

See Basement Section in General Housing Characteristics. 

___________________________________________________

 

Living Room

See Mold and Moisture section of Indoor Pollutants

___________________________________________________

 

Laundry area

Install and use exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors from the dryer.  Even if electric dryer, the smells and moisture can be a problem.  This actions can eliminate much of the moisture that builds up from everyday activities. See Mold and Moisture section of Indoor Pollutants