Healthy Home Checklist

A homeowner's guide to identifying environmental problems at home

If you're concerned about the quality of your home environment, use the checklist below to identify potential contaminants and sources of pollution. Ask yourself the following three questions about problem areas you identify to determine if you need to have your home evaluated by a professional.

1.            Do I perceive the problem to be an immediate health concern for occupants of my home?

2.            Are any occupants at high risk because of asthma, compromised immune systems, allergies, chemical sensitivities, or respiratory problems?

3.            Are there problems in several areas that might indicate a need to check out underlying causes or a reoccurring problem?

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, check with your health department, local lung association, university extension agents or government housing agency to find a competent tester in your area.

Answer the following questions, and you will receive customized tips and simple ways to improve your home's indoor air quality.

1. Do any household members smoke?  Yes ___  No ___

2. If Yes, how many? ______

3. Do they smoke indoors?  Yes ___  No ___

4. If Yes, where? __________________________________________________________

5. Are there pets in the home? Yes ___  No ___

6. Are there cats? Yes ___  No ___  If Yes, how many? ____

7. Are there dogs? Yes ___  No ___  If Yes, how many? ____

8. Are there birds? Yes ___  No ___  If Yes, how many? ____

9. Are there any tropical pets? Yes ___  No ___  If Yes, how many? ____

10. Are there other animals? Yes ___  No ___  If Yes, how many? ____

11. What other type of pet? ___________________________________________________

12. Are there any unusual or noticeable odors? Yes ___  No ___

13. If Yes, Where?___________________________________________________________

14. Do you notice these odors while you are indoors only? Yes ___  No ___

15. Do you notice them only when you enter your home? Yes ___  No ___

16. When you leave your home do you feel better? Yes ___  No ___

17. Do you have an attached garage? Yes ___  No ___

18. Do you store any chemicals in the garage? Yes ___  No ___

19. Do you store pesticides in the home? Yes ___  No ___

20. Do you store pesticides in the garage? Yes ___  No ___

21. Do you store cleaning chemicals in the home? Yes ___  No ___

22. Do you store cleaning chemicals in the garage? Yes ___  No ___

23. Do you have any known cracks or leaks in the home? Yes ___  No ___

24. Do you have any known cracks or leaks in the basement? Yes ___  No ___

25. Do you have any known leaks in the roof? Yes ___  No ___

26. Do you have any known foundation problems? Yes ___  No ___

27. Have you had any water leaks in the home? Yes ___  No ___

28. Have you had any plumbing problems in the home? Yes ___  No ___

29. Have you checked for Radon Gas leaks in the basement? Yes ___  No ___

30. Do you use a humidifier or dehumidifier? Yes ___  No ___

31. Do you know if you have any asbestos in the home? Yes ___  No ___

32. Was your home built before 1978? Yes ___  No ___

33. Have you checked for lead paint in your home? Yes ___  No ___

34. Do you have a fireplace? Yes ___  No ___

35. Do you have stale or musty air in your home? Yes ___  No ___

36. Are there any un-vented gas appliances? Yes ___  No ___

37. If Yes, Which ones? ________________  _______________  ______________

38. Do you have a frost free refrigerator? Yes ___  No ___

39. Do you clean the drip pan behind the refrigerator? Yes ___  No ___

40. If Yes, How often? Monthly ___  Every 2 Months ___  2 X Year ____ Yearly ___

41. Do you have any window air conditioning units? Yes ___  No ___

42. If yes, where does it drain? __________________________________________________

43. Do you have central air conditioning? Yes ___  No ___

44. Do you change your heating filters? Yes ___  No ___

45. How often? Monthly ___ 6 X year ___ 2 X year ___  yearly ___

46. Do you have a HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestor) filter? Yes ___  No ___

47. Is dust noticeable within your indoor rooms?  Yes ___  No ___

48. Is dust noticeable on any furniture? Yes ___  No ___

49. How often do you vacuum? Daily ___ 2 x wk ___  weekly ___ 2 x month ___ Monthly ___

50. Do you have a HEPA vacuum? Yes ___  No ___

51. Do you have wall-to-wall carpeting? Yes ___  No ___

52. Do you perform a hobby inside the home? Yes ___  No ___

53. What kind? _____________________________________________________________

54. Do you use a professional lawn care service? Yes ___  No ___

55. Do they use fertilizers or pesticides? Yes ___  No ___

56. Have you ever noticed any signs of rodents? Yes ___  No ___

57. Do you have termites? Yes ___  No ___

58. Do you have carpenter ants? Yes ___  No ___

59. Do you have cockroaches? Yes ___  No ___

60. Have you noticed any other kind of insect? Yes ___  No ___

61. If yes, do you know what kind? _______________________________________________

62. Do you have smoke detectors in the home? Yes ___  No ___

63. If Yes, how many and where? _____   __________________________________________

64. Do you have any CO detectors in the home?  Yes ___ No ___

65. If Yes, how many and where? _____  __________________________________________

Resource Center