Hidden Home Hazards: Radon, CO, Asbestos, Lead Paint and Fire

Quick answer: The main hidden home hazards are radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, lead paint and fire. Most can’t be seen or smelled, so the basics are testing, working detectors, maintained gas appliances and licensed pros for hazardous materials. HVAC helps through venting, filtration and moisture control.

Why do hidden home hazards deserve attention?

Because the serious ones rarely announce themselves. Several are invisible, odorless or sealed inside older building materials, waiting for someone to start a weekend remodel.

Below are five hazards worth understanding, what to do about each and where your HVAC system fits in. It’s general information, not a substitute for testing or advice from the right licensed professional.

What is radon, and should you test for it?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps up from the soil, and testing is the only way to know your level. It has no color, odor or taste, and it gets in through foundation cracks and gaps around pipes. The EPA treats high indoor radon as a serious hazard and recommends testing.

Levels vary from house to house, even on the same street, so Central Texas homes, slab and pier-and-beam alike, can be worth testing.

What to do:

• Test with a radon kit, or hire a certified radon measurement professional.
• Have a qualified radon mitigation professional design and install a system if levels come back high.
• Seal foundation cracks and gaps around plumbing as part of that plan.
• Keep a pier-and-beam crawl space vented or sealed the way a professional recommends.

One thing your HVAC filter can’t do: remove radon. It’s a gas, and gases sail right through filters. A mitigation system (usually a vent pipe and fan that pull soil gas out from under the house) is the recognized fix.

Where does carbon monoxide come from in a home?

Carbon monoxide (CO) comes from burning fuel: a gas furnace, water heater, fireplace, stove, or a car running in an attached garage. It’s colorless and odorless, which is exactly why you need a detector to know it’s there.

What to do:

• Install CO detectors on every level, especially near bedrooms, and test them regularly.
• Have fuel-burning appliances inspected regularly to confirm they’re running and venting correctly.
• Never run generators, grills or gas-powered tools indoors or in an attached garage, even with the garage door open. (If the 2021 freeze had you shopping for a generator, this one’s for you.)
• Keep chimneys, flues and vents clear and in good repair to prevent backdrafting (exhaust spilling back into the house).

When is asbestos a problem in older homes?

Asbestos is mainly a concern when the material is damaged or disturbed, which can release fibers into the air. It’s a fibrous mineral that went into many building materials, including some insulation, flooring, ceiling textures, duct wrap and roofing, especially before the 1980s. Federal and Texas rules treat disturbed asbestos as a serious hazard.

What to do:

• Leave suspected asbestos alone; don’t remove or disturb it yourself.
• Have suspect materials tested by a qualified professional before renovating an older home.
• Use licensed professionals: in Texas, asbestos surveys and abatement are regulated by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Insist on containment if work could disturb asbestos near HVAC equipment or ductwork, so the system doesn’t spread fibers through the house.

Does your home have lead paint?

If it was built before 1978, it may. Lead-based paint was used in many homes built before then, and it’s mainly a concern when paint is peeling or chipping, or when renovation creates dust. That’s why EPA rules require lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 homes.

What to do:

• Test painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home before sanding, scraping or renovating.
• Hire EPA Lead-Safe Certified contractors for any work that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 home.
• Keep painted surfaces in good shape, and clean dust from windowsills and floors often.
• Follow lead-safe practices during renovation; containment and good HVAC filtration limit how far dust travels.

How can you lower the risk of a house fire?

Mostly through prevention and a plan. Common causes include faulty wiring, unattended cooking, flammables stored too close to heat sources and poorly maintained heating equipment.

What to do:

• Install smoke alarms on every level and in or near sleeping areas, and test them monthly.
• Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage and utility areas.
• Keep the area around your furnace, water heater and air handler clear, and have heating equipment maintained regularly. The furnace closet is not a storage closet.
• Clean the dryer lint trap after every load and have the dryer vent cleaned periodically.
• Make an escape plan with your household and practice it.

How does your HVAC system help with home safety?

It plays a supporting role. Most of these hazards call for specialists, but your system still pitches in:

• Combustion safety: Regular maintenance of a gas furnace confirms it’s venting properly, which, along with CO detectors, is a key part of carbon monoxide safety.
• Filtration: A good filter matched to your system captures airborne dust, including renovation dust, though it doesn’t remove gases like radon or CO.
• Moisture control: Holding indoor humidity around 40-60% limits the damp conditions mold likes, which matters in humid Central Texas.
• Ventilation: Exhaust fans vented outdoors and fresh-air ventilation dilute and remove indoor pollutants.

What should you do next?

Radon and carbon monoxide are invisible, asbestos and lead hide in older materials, and fire risk never fully goes away. A little prevention goes a long way:

• Test for radon, and for asbestos or lead before renovating an older home.
• Test your smoke and CO detectors this month, and clear the space around your furnace, water heater and air handler.
• Bring in licensed professionals for anything involving hazardous materials.
• Schedule a Gold Eagle visit or call 512-489-4653 for the HVAC side: furnace venting, filtration and humidity.

Good HVAC maintenance, filtration and moisture control round out the picture. Gas furnaces are among the fuel-burning appliances to keep maintained, and Gold Eagle’s furnace service and repair covers that part of home safety.

Related guides: The Role of Exhaust in Healthy Indoor Air, Ozone in Indoor Air: Friend or Foe? and Indoor Air Quality Beyond Mold: Dust, VOCs, Filtration and Upkeep.

More quick answers: Where Should CO Detectors Go in a Home With a Gas Furnace? and Can an Air Conditioner Produce Carbon Monoxide?.

About Gold Eagle Services: This guide comes from the team at Gold Eagle Services, a family-run Austin HVAC, indoor air quality and mold remediation company founded in 2017. We’re licensed (TACLA119235 and RCO1783), insured and bonded, and we serve homes across the greater Austin area.

Need help with this in your home? Learn about our indoor air quality solutions, or call 512-489-4653 to schedule a visit.