Housing Publications

Be Smart (Poster for Consumers)
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Some household products contain ingredients that can harm you, your family and the environment. BE SMART. Remember: Be safe.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Be Smart About Using Household Products!
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Sure your home is clean...but is it safe for your family? Be smart when you use, store, and dispose of household products.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety Guide
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Learn to control pests in and around the home, alternatives to chemical pesticides, how to choose pesticides, and how to use, store, and dispose of them safely. Also, reduce exposure when others use pesticides, how to prevent pesticide poisoning and how to handle an emergency, how to choose a pest control company, and what to do if someone is poisoned by a pesticide.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Good Night, Sleep Tight, and Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite...Your Wallet
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Urges consumers to be cautious when shopping for products and services related to bed bug infestations to avoid being sucked dry financially and possibly making the problem worse.
Available: online, as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury: Frequently Asked Questions
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Basic information about CFLs and how to properly dispose of them.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Electrical Safety Precautions During Disasters
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Follow these safety tips when dealing with electricity during and after storms and other disasters to prevent death, injuries, and property damage.
Available: as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

Home Electrical Safety Checklist
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Every year, electrical products are associated with injuries, deaths, and fires in homes. Use this checklist to spot possible safety problems before they occur. this checklist is a room-by- room guide and allows you to identify and follow up on safety concerns.
Available: as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

Indoor Electrical Safety Check
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Quick and easy tips to make your home safe from electrical hazards.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Outdoor Electrical Safety Check
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Detailed guide to preventing outdoor electrical hazards that can cause fires and dangerous shocks.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Surges Happen! How to Protect the Appliances in Your Home
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Find out what power surges are, what appliances need protection, and what devices work best.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Fire Safety Checklist for Older Adults
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Older people are at special risk for death and injury from fires. To protect yourself and those you care about, follow these tips.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Making Your Home Safe from Fire and Carbon Monoxide
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Prevent fires, protect yourself with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, keep carbon monoxide out of your home, and develop an emergency home escape plan for your family.
Available: online
Language: English
Cost: Free

Smoking and Home Fires
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Smoking is the number one cause of preventable home fire deaths across the country. If you smoke or live with someone who smokes, learn the facts.
Available: as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

Use the Right Wood the Right Way in the Right Burning Appliance
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Here are a few simple tips to make your fire burn hotter, keep your wallet fatter and keep your local air cleaner and healthier.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Winter Fires - Safety Tips for the Home
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The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are, however, a major contributing factor in residential fires. Many of these fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Flood Preparation and Safety
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Details steps to take before and during a flood in your community, including how to protect your possessions, prepare an emergency kit, and stay safe. (Previous item number: 588X)
Available: in print, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

FloodSmart, Know Your Risk
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Property owners can purchase insurance against flooding losses. Learn the requirements and questions to ask. (Previous item number: 589X)
Available: in print
Language: English
Cost: Free

Safety for Older Consumers - Home Safety Checklist
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Many older Americans are injured in and around their homes every year. Use this checklist to prepare for an emergency and to spot possible safety problems in your home.
Available: as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
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This Guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth. Molds can gradually destroy the things they grow on. You can prevent damage to your home and furnishings, save money, and avoid potential health problems by controlling moisture and eliminating mold growth.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

An Office Building Occupant's Guide to Indoor Air Quality
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This booklet is intended to help people who work in office buildings learn about the factors that contribute to indoor air quality and comfort problems and the roles of building managers and occupants in maintaining a good indoor environment. Because good indoor air quality depends on the actions of everyone in the building, a partnership between building management and occupants is the best way to maintain a healthy and productive work space.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Care for Your Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
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This brochure provides quick and simple overview of some key indoor air pollutants including radon, secondhand smoke, asthma triggers, volatile organic compounds, molds and combustion pollutants. The brochure unfolds into a poster that features action steps to improving indoor air.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Does Your Wood Stove Have a Dirty Little Secret?
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Information on burning the right wood the right way in the right appliance to save money, keep your home safe and make your home healthier.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Duct System Efficiency
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Fix potential problems that can affect your family's health and comfort and cost you money.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
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This brochure is written in easy-to-understand language for the general consumer interested in the technical differences among the various air cleaners available. The brochure provides types of indoor air pollutants and air cleaning devices, performance of air cleaning devices in removing indoor air pollutants, general information on the health effects of indoor air pollutants, and additional factors to consider when deciding whether to use an air cleaning device.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Guide to Home Ventilation
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Ventilation refers to the exchange of indoor and outdoor air. Without proper ventilation, an otherwise insulated and airtight house will seal in harmful pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, and moisture that can damage a house.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Healthy Indoor Painting Practices
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Following some simple steps can help reduce potential problems for residents, neighbors and painters.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

How Smoke from Fire Can Affect Your Health
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Fires can be a threat to life, natural resources and property. But flames aren't the only danger. Smoke also can be a threat to your health.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Indoor Air Hazards Every Homeowner Should Know About
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Get rid of molds, carbon monoxide, radon, asbestos, lead, tobacco smoke, and other pollutants.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Learning About Radon
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Written for Native Americans, this 18-page booklet discusses radon's place in the world, the basics on testing, and how homes can be fixed to reduce radon levels. Native Americans should contact their Tribal health department or state radon program office for more information.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home
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This guidance has been specifically designed for people who have tested their home for radon and confirmed that they have elevated radon levels - 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Know what to look for when selecting a qualified contractor to reduce the radon levels in your home, determine an appropriate radon reduction method and maintain your radon reduction system.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon
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This guidance offers strategies for testing your home for radon and discussions of what steps to take after you have tested, discussions of the risk of radon and radon myths.
Available: as pdf
Languages: English and Spanish
Cost: Free

Residential Air Cleaners (Second Edition) A Summary of Available Information
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This publication focuses on air cleaners for residential uses. It does not address air cleaners used in large or commercial structures such as office buildings, schools, large apartment buildings, or public buildings. It should be particularly useful to residential housing design professionals, public health officials, and indoor air quality professionals. This version replaces "Residential Air-cleaning Devices: A Summary of Available Information" (EPA 400-1-90-002, February 1990)
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Should You Have Your Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
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Tips on deciding if your ducts need cleaning, choosing a cleaning service, evaluating health claims, and keeping ducts clean.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Bottled Water Basics
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Not all bottled water is the same. Get tips on how to choose it based on the type of water and the source, taste considerations, and more.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Drinking Water From Household Wells
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Families with their own wells are responsible for maintaining them and making sure that the water is safe to drink. Here are facts on sources of pollution and how to keep your water safe.
Available: as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free

Water on Tap: What You Need to Know
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Explains where it comes from and how it's treated, what contaminants are, and what to do in case of a problem with either your public or private water supply.
Available: online, as pdf
Language: English
Cost: Free