What’s Hiding in Your Home (and How to Fix It)

1) Dirt & Contaminants You Bring Inside

• Leave shoes at the door: The first four steps inside your home can track in up to 85% of outside contaminants.
• Measure indoor air quality: Use sensors to validate if your filters and purifiers are working.

2) Air Cleanliness Starts with Your HVAC

• MERV 13 filter (if compatible): Great first line of defense. Do not exceed your system’s rating or you could restrict airflow and damage equipment.

3) Essential Detectors

• Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors: Test monthly.
• Radon detector: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking—test and monitor.

4) Water Safety

• Reverse osmosis filtration: Brian uses RO and tests his water monthly for peace of mind.

5) Swap Out Toxins at Home

• Plastics: Replace with wood, ceramic, or food-grade stainless steel.
• Cookware: Avoid nonstick pans that may contain PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Choose stainless steel or cast iron.
• Cleaning products: Many contain VOCs that can react to form formaldehyde. Opt for low- or no-VOC alternatives.

6) Cooking & Indoor Air

• Gas stoves: Emit nitrogen dioxide and fine particles linked with childhood asthma. Use strong ventilation or consider alternatives.

7) Light, Windows & Skin

• Window film: Blocks ~99% of UVA/UVB to reduce skin damage indoors. Brian still values morning/evening sun exposure outdoors.

8) Carpets vs. Clean Floors

• Dust & allergens: Carpets can hold up to 10× more dust, allergens, and microbes than hard flooring. Vacuum twice weekly with a HEPA-quality vacuum.

9) Air Purification

• Brian uses multiple HEPA air purifiers and an air monitor (he calls it “overkill”). A good HVAC filter + one bedroom HEPA unit is a strong starting point.

Sleep Optimization Tips

• Evening light: Blue/white light suppresses melatonin. Switch to a dim red LED lamp ~2 hours before bed (a budget option around $30).
• Total darkness: Blackout curtains or a comfortable eye mask can significantly improve sleep.
• Sound: A pink noise machine can smooth disruptions and help you fall and stay asleep.

Electronic Tidiness & EMFs

• EMFs: Brian’s team is still studying this and hasn’t taken a firm position yet.
• Practical habits: Keep the router out of the bedroom; consider turning off Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth at night.

Build Health into Your Systems

“Systems and habits solve for health.” Brian sets up infrastructure—HVAC filtration, water purification, light and sound control—so the home runs on autopilot. Don’t try to do everything at once; start with quick wins:

• Upgrade to a MERV-compatible HVAC filter.
• Add a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom.
• Use a red-light lamp in the evening.

Bonus: Movement for Longevity

Not a house hack per se, but Brian often walks stairs three steps at a time as a simple longevity practice.

Disclaimers