Tips on having a completely sanitized house throughout the year – Yogesh Anand, President, CP MNT Division, Pidilite Industries Ltd.

New Delhi, November 15, 2016: The monsoon has officially completed its four-month cycle, and with the month of November commencing, humidity and mercury levels are expected to decrease. The month of November is known for the transition of the weather into the winter season.

With reports of cases of Dengue, world’s fastest growing mosquito-borne disease, expected to decrease in during this month, it is a significant opportunity for homeowners to understand that these diseases could be prevented by taking care of our surroundings and keeping the home well sanitized through all times of the year.

While it is important to remember that a home can only be completely sanitized if all the existing sanitary issues are taken care of, it is equally important to undertake immediate action upon detection of any household repairs spotted.

Here are some issues that usually crop up and some solutions that you can follow to ensure that your home remains dry, sanitized and clean throughout the year.

Breeding ground for insects and rodents –

Although insects and mosquitoes hatch in large numbers during monsoon, the eggs are laid throughout the year where they survive the cold, the heat and the dryness for over a year. When the right temperature and moisture conditions come in late summer and during the monsoons, they hatch. The larvae live in freshwater in tanks, ditches, pots and planters all around us. Eggs laid by an infected female mosquito carry the infection.

Cracks, holes and gaps around the walls, particularly near the kitchen and washroom area, if not treated on time, develop moist areas around and inside them and thus prove to be an excellent breeding ground for insects and rodents. Rodents and insects have a high rate of reproduction and can grow in population exponentially, thus causing large amount of turmoil within the house. It only seems prudent to take enough care and prevent walls from leaking or developing holes and cracks.

Water leakage –

Water leakages can be small like a drip or be big that spreads everywhere. Water is consumed in most parts of the house and small leakages often cause huge amounts of water wastage in the long run. Also, water leakages often result in issues such as indoor flooding, wall deformations and also cause the floor to perish away over time. One of the most important steps to overcome the issue of water leakages is to identify where the leakages are taking place. Areas of the house most prone to water leakages include pipes, water tanks, water coolers, washbasins, etc.

For sealing gaps, holes and cracks in walls it is recommended to use M-seal Gap Fill. M-seal gap fill is single component water based white acrylic compound that comes in a paste form and does not need any mixing. The same can applied from the tube into the gap and be allowed 4 hours to cure after which it can be painted upon.

For sealing water leakage from pipes and joints, it is recommended to use M-seal epoxy compound. M-seal epoxy putty contains a resin base and a hardener and has to be mixed well proportionally and to be used immediately after mixing it. M seal Phataphat seals in just about 30 minutes.

Broken Tiles and slabs–

Constant wear and tear over the years cause tiles and slabs to have edges that are chipped, broken or cracked. It also becomes unsafe to walk around broken tiles. The gaps present at the juncture where a drain pipe of a wash basin empties into the sink protector (jaali) are also an entry point for rodents/insects into the house.

Air leakages –

Air leakages are usually difficult to detect but may have hazardous implications on the health. Air leakages are most common in galvanized iron pipes, window and window frames and gas cylinders. Not only do air leakages have alarming health effects, but also affect the aesthetics of any home. Iron pipes may begin to rust and air leakages in windows may affect the cooling effect of air conditioners. Gas leakages from cylinders are potentially hazardous and thus must be repaired as soon as they are detected.

It is important to remember that any cracks, gaps and holes must be treated immediately to prevent any further. Any damage to the parts of the house, if left untreated may escalate the consequences and may also result in repeated repercussions.

Here are few simple steps that will guide you to seal any existing damages at your home –

1) Detect the damage – Try to detect the damage as early as possible.

2) Investigate the area – Different surfaces are unique and thus could need different kinds of sealants. Remember to know the surface of the damaged area before buying the sealant. Like M-seal Gap fill can be used for sealing gaps, holes and cracks in walls and M-seal Epoxy compound can be used for sealing water leakage, air leakage and broken tiles and slabs.

3) Prepare the concentration – As soon as the resin and hardener are mixed, the chemical reaction starts immediately and it is advisable to start application on clean substrate as soon as mixing is over

4) Apply the M- seal Gap fill sealant uniformly across the damaged area – Spreading of sealant is easy in the first 5-10 minutes, whereas smoothening of sealant surface with wet finger is possible up to about 30 minutes from application. Leave to dry and let the sealant settle over four hours

5) The epoxy compound will harden in 1-2 hours to an extent wherein one can start next operation viz. drilling, tapping, filing, painting etc.

Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)