We like to think of our homes as the cleanest place possible. Obviously we know that there are going to be neater places than our own rooms. But when you step outside your house, it’s possible to suddenly feel that you need to wash your hands after you touch anything.

You shouldn’t forget that your home home may not be the hygienic heaven you think it is. Here are three risks you may not have considered.

Your HVAC system

Your HVAC system is what deals with your heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Notice what the initials stand for, now? Maintaining a clean HVAC system is extremely important as it’s something that affects your entire home.

If there are any unsanitary elements in or around your HVAC system, it can causes serious problems. One common problem with HVAC systems in the presence of mold. Mold lives long and strong wherever there is ample moisture in a building. If your HVAC isn’t draining its fluid correctly, you could well have mold growing in there. And speaking of the HVAC fluid, if this gets contaminated then the bacteria there can spread throughout your house. If you have problems with your HVAC system, you may want to look into hygienic treatments from Proac.

Your garden hose

It’s summer. (Well, at the time of writing it’s actually winter. But I’m asking you to use your imagination!) It’s boiling hot outside. The kids are playing with the dog, you’re outside with a glass of cool lemonade. The sun starts getting a bit too much, so you reach for the garden hose. You spray it over yourselves, then the kids, then the dogs. YOu have a water fight. You take long drinks from the bountiful supply from the hose. Cooling and convenient, right?

It’s a common summer image. This is worrying, because hose water is generally very unclean. Garden hoses aren’t regulated by any national drinking water act, the way taps are. In fact, a study by the EPA found that 100% of the hose water they tested contained a number of toxins that exceeded legal safe levels. You need to ensure this safety yourself by considering options like  a Clear Flow garden hose.

Lead pipes and paint

You may have heard that government laws have restricted the use of lead in house building since the late seventies. Great! I hear you say. I wasn’t even born then! I don’t have to worry about that, right?

Well, ask yourself: can you say for sure how old your house is? Houses that were build before about 1978 may still be replete with lead fixtures. The most common items containing lead in these homes are paint and pipes. You may have heard a lot of horror stories about the dangers of lead-based toxins in homes. Well, you may find that many of them are true. Lead has been linked to nerve disorders and kidney damage, among others. If your house is over a couple of decades old, you may want to looking into a lead test kit. Consumer Reports should help you find the ones that’s most suited to your home. If you do find lead, tell your landlord of the results. They are legally obligated to do something about it. If you own the property, get a certified lead abatement contractor in there.