Of course you lock the doors at night. You leave the light on by the front door for more visibility. Every six months you check the batteries in the smoke detectors. You might even have an alarm system for added safety. But a simple plumbing leak might be putting your home and family at risk.
Mold spores are always in the air. When you have a problem in your home that allows leaks or drips, your home building materials stay damp. This is the perfect place for mold to flourish. And your family might be at risk.
According to the CDC, exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Mold can affect breathing, irritate mucous membranes, suppress the immune system, and cause excessive coughing, sneezing, and headaches. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold.
While some of the 55 species of cockroaches in the United States can live for weeks without food, they can’t survive more than a few days without water. Cockroaches are attracted to three things: shelter, water, food. In most cases, they first get attracted to food.
Then, they start looking for a suitable water source; all they require is a few regular drops in a place where they can easily hide. So, that means you should watch out for any leaky pipes within your household; these provide ample water sources for the nasty pests. If you don’t correct any issues leading to water damage, you may end up facing a serious infestation.
Also ensure to conduct regular checks so that there is no chance of further cockroach shelters developing. For example, if you’re keeping any pets, you want to empty their water and food bowls before nightfall.
Whether caused by a pinpoint leak or a burst pipe, plumbing leaks are a leading cause of cockroach infestations. A common allergen and asthma trigger, cockroaches, have been linked to disease outbreaks too. To protect your family’s health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests limiting access to water by fixing leaks in plumbing pipes, drains, and sink traps promptly.
