Quick answer: The main hidden hazards in many homes are radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, lead paint and fire. Most can’t be seen or smelled, so the basics are testing, working detectors, well-maintained fuel-burning appliances and properly licensed pros for anything that disturbs hazardous materials. Your HVAC system helps through proper 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. This guide covers 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 comes up from the soil, and testing is the only way to know your level. It has no color, odor or taste, and it can get in through foundation cracks and gaps around pipes. The EPA links long-term exposure to high radon levels with an increased risk of lung cancer.
Levels vary from house to house, even on the same street, so Central Texas homes, slab-on-grade houses included, can be worth testing.
What to do:
- Test with a radon test kit, or hire a certified radon measurement professional.
- If levels come back high, have a qualified radon mitigation professional design and install a mitigation system.
- Seal foundation cracks and gaps around plumbing penetrations as part of that broader plan.
- If your home has a crawl space, make sure it’s 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, not filtration, 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, and exposure can be deadly if nobody knows it’s there.
What to do:
- Install CO detectors on every level of the home, especially near bedrooms, and test them regularly.
- Have fuel-burning appliances inspected regularly by qualified professionals 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 help prevent backdrafting.
When is asbestos a problem in older homes?
Asbestos is generally 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. The EPA links asbestos exposure to serious lung diseases.
What to do:
- Don’t remove or disturb suspected asbestos yourself.
- Before renovating an older home, have suspect materials tested by a qualified professional.
- In Texas, asbestos surveys and abatement are regulated by the Texas Department of State Health Services, so use appropriately licensed professionals.
- If work could disturb asbestos near HVAC equipment or ductwork, make sure proper containment is in place 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. The EPA notes that lead exposure is a particular concern for young children.
What to do:
- If your home was built before 1978, have painted surfaces tested before sanding, scraping or renovating.
- Hire contractors who are EPA Lead-Safe Certified for renovation, repair or painting work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes.
- Keep painted surfaces in good shape, and clean dust from windowsills and floors regularly.
- During renovation, follow lead-safe work practices; containment and good HVAC filtration can help 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, flammable things 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 handy in the kitchen, garage and utility areas.
- Keep the area around your furnace, water heater and air handler clear of stored stuff, 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. Several of these hazards are structural or environmental and call for specialists, but your system still pitches in:
- Combustion safety: Regular maintenance and inspection of fuel-burning equipment helps confirm 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 can help capture airborne dust, including renovation dust, though it doesn’t remove gases like radon or CO.
- Moisture control: Managing humidity helps limit the conditions that encourage mold growth, which matters in humid Central Texas.
- Ventilation: Exhaust fans vented outdoors and fresh-air ventilation help dilute and remove indoor pollutants.
If mold is part of the picture, our sister company, Pure Maintenance of Central Texas (512-904-4646), offers Pure Maintenance dry fog treatment, a two-step process that Pure Maintenance says is designed to treat mold on surfaces and in the air throughout a space. It’s a mold service, and it isn’t a solution for radon, CO, asbestos or lead.
Final takeaways
Test for what you can’t see, keep detectors working, maintain your fuel-burning appliances and bring in properly licensed professionals for anything involving hazardous materials. Radon and carbon monoxide are invisible, asbestos and lead hide in older materials, and fire risk never fully goes away, so a little prevention goes a long way. Good HVAC maintenance, filtration and moisture control round out the picture. If you have questions about the HVAC side of home safety, we’re happy to help.
Gas furnaces are among the fuel-burning appliances to keep maintained; see our furnace service and repair.
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.
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.
