Mold information for homeowners provided by the  Environmental Protection Agency

Someone once said: "As far as houses and termites go, there are only three types of residences: those that have had termites; those that now have termites; and those that are going to have termites." While the source of this quote is, most likely, an exterminator (who probably said it with a smile upon his face), the fact remains that scores of termite colonies may have invaded, or may be about to invade, your home!

Since all buyers and sellers must deal with this issue through the common "Wood Infestation" certification that is standard in most agreements of sale, let's take a look at some termite facts.

• Subterranean termites live in underground colonies, from which they build tunnels in search of food. They depend upon moisture for survival, so they cannot live inside the wood frame of your home. They build mud tubes, primarily along foundation walls, from the ground up.
• One in twenty homes is infested each year by termites.
• Concrete foundations are not a deterrent. Termites only need a crack of 1/64 inch in the slab floor to invade your home.
• On average, there could be as many as 13 to 14 termite colonies, 1million in each colony, per acre of land. A typical home may easily have three to four colonies situated under or around it.

What can you do to reduce the risk of termite attack on your home?

• Eliminate wood contact with the ground. Wood elements should be at least six inches above ground level. Make sure the soil around your home is graded properly, away from the foundation.
• Don't allow moisture to accumulate near the foundation. Divert water away from the foundation. Check faucets, water pipes and air conditioning units for leakage and repair immediately.
• Do not store firewood, lumber or other wood debris against the foundation or within any crawl spaces. These materials attract termites and are a source of food.
• Do not store cardboard / corrugated boxes on the floor of your garage. Probably one of the most common things we are all "guilty" of, these boxes provide tasty havens for scores of termites. If necessary, construct shelving in your garage to store your boxes and cartons.

If you have a new home which was landscaped after you moved in and was never re-treated, the chemical barrier was probably broken, and the home is very vulnerable to termite infestation. You may want to consider having your home treated by a professional pest control firm. Although you can take certain actions to make your home less attractive to termites, the best way to prevent infestation is to treat the soil around and beneath the building with a termiticide.

Preventively treating a home for termites is a reasonable investment, especially if the structure has had no prior history of treatment. If a pest control firm did previously treat the building, then it's a good idea to maintain the warranty by paying the annual renewal fee. Should termites re-infest the building (which is a definite possibility), the company will return and re-treat the affected area at no charge.

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Mold - Questions & Answers

Five hundred Americans accidentally die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, and at least 10,000 people a year are treated for exposure to the colorless, odorless gas.

Thousands more never seek medical care because, with most cases occurring in winter, the early symptoms mimic those of flu and can be easily misdiagnosed. The most common early symptoms of what is known as the "silent killer" are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Yet only 26 percent of all U.S. homes have carbon-monoxide detectors, although that is up from 18 percent four years ago.

The primary reason is financial, industry experts believe. A detector that meets Underwriters Laboratory standards costs between $40 and $70. Battery-powered smoke detectors, by comparison, retail for $5 to $20. In addition, the majority of states and municipalities require that smoke detectors be installed on every floor of a house, and some will not permit a house sale to go to settlement until that requirement is met. Just a few states and municipalities require carbon-monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide is most dangerous for unborn babies, infants and children. Because fetuses, infants and young children have smaller bodies and faster metabolisms, they absorb carbon monoxide more quickly and at lower levels. When a fetus is exposed, the gas destroys oxygen cells and interferes with brain development.

When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it combines with the hemoglobin in oxygen to form carboxyhemoglobin. When that happens, the hemoglobin is no longer able to carry oxygen to the brain and vital organs.

For example, if you are a healthy adult in your 40s, and the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in your blood is 10 percent, there are no symptoms. At 15 percent, you have a slight headache. At 45 percent, you are unconscious. At 50 percent, you are dead.

For infants, toddlers and the elderly, lower percentages are as toxic as the higher levels in a healthy adult.

There are many potential sources of carbon monoxide in the house.

Fuel-burning appliances, chimneys, and flues are not designed to last forever. Even new homes have carbon-monoxide problems because of installation errors or design mistakes. The Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends installing at least one carbon-monoxide detector in the house, but favors installation of a detector on every floor, especially outside the bedroom area.

There are both battery-operated and plug-in varieties; the latter often include a battery backup in case of power failure. There are also dual-purpose models - carbon-monoxide and smoke detectors.

A detector should meet Underwriters Laboratories requirements and sound an alarm signal before most people experience the adverse effects of carbon-monoxide poisoning.