Effects of Living In A Cold Home
Are Cold Homes Unhealthy?
Our home has two goals: to provide a roof over our heads and provide a comfortable home for us to live in. When winter hits, we all feel the cold creeping into the home. The reality is that cold homes can have a significant impact on our health and could lead to serious, if not fatal health complications over time. Data shows that living in a home under the recommended temperature of 64 degrees can be detrimental to one’s health.
Risks Associated With Living In A Cold Home
The young and elderly are the ones who are most impacted by a cold home. Prolonged exposure can aggravate existing conditions, such as asthma and arthritis. Health conditions caused by a cold living environment include:
Asthma
Heightened Risk of Infections
Respiratory Infections
Heart Attacks & Strokes
Poor Sleep & Insomnia
Mental Health Issues
Circulatory & Cardiovascular Problems
Common Cause of Cold Homes
Cold temperatures tend to affect homes with structural deficiencies, lack proper insulation and air sealing, or have inadequate heating systems. Due to the way homes are built, many are left with open gaps and cracks that air can travel through, such as:
Natural settlement cracks in concrete
Nail holes
Penetrations around plumbing and electrical wiring
Vented crawl spaces
Vented attics
Solve A Cold Home Issue With Proper Insulation
Fortunately, there are ways to solve cold home issues. Reaching out to an insulation contractor can improve overall comfort. They have the proper tools to help with identifying the insulation needed for a home. Here at Home Solutions of Iowa, our home energy audit is designed to identify problem areas in the home. Once we know what is causing the home comfort problems, we can recommend the right insulation services.
