True Story: Healthy Rental Home

Duct before and after cleaning

My landlady is a saint. Or at least, she has me convinced she is.

As an employee of 4CORE I know the dangers of radon and dirty furnace ducts, and as the mother of a one-year-old, I want to minimize the risks of poor indoor air quality to my family.

So when I brought the scary results of two radon tests (one done in February, one in May) to my landlady and asked her what could be done, she didn't bat an eye. She called up a radon mitigation company and ordered the work on our basement to take place within a month.

Similarly a few months later, my husband noticed a nasty black residue inside our ducts and told our landlady. She ordered work from a company that specializes in duct cleaning, and had her home serviced, as well. Now both furnaces are working more quietly, efficiently, there is no burnt smell from dust settling in the system over the summer, and I'm betting our bills will be reduced, too.

Saint or Savvy?
Is our landlady really a saint, or is she savvy by maintaining the value of her rental investment? Is she protecting our family's health because she loves the way my daughter waves and smiles at her, or does she realize that:

Unhealthy Indoor Air Quality + Taking Action = Doing the Right Thing

I'm betting on a bit of both - the canned pears she gave us last week would indicate she is a caring person, but she also owns a large ranch, a home in Silverton, and three homes in Durango and maintains all of them with an eye for a bargain and frugal spending.

Rental Property Owners: Food for Thought
If you own rental property, the first thing that might cross your mind is "I don't want to know if it has radon or a dirty HVAC system, because then I'll have to fix it."

However, there is a movement afoot in our region to educate home buyers (you probably won't hang on to your rental forever), and home renters too, about the dangers of unsafe air quality.

Why not do the right thing now and maintain your rental investment by ensuring a safe, clean Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, and gain peace of mind by testing your rental (and home!) for radon. A healthy and efficient home helps to ensure comfort for the occupant and the budget!

About the Author

Teresa Shishim is a Colorado native who is dedicated to improving where we live through collaboration. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science at Western Washington University and has significant experience managing and coordinating projects and programs, including marketing campaigns, volunteer programs, and events. She gained this experience through a variety of positions, including serving as the Director of a non-profit river restoration group and as Marketing Manager for a start-up software company.

Teresa is the designated Community Energy Coordinator for Archuleta and San Juan Counties.