What I Found When I Tested My 72 Year Old Home

Today I want to share exactly what my fiancé and I did when we bought our 1952 Minneapolis home. Like many older Minnesota homes, it had character but also some hidden health challenges.

⏱️ Where I spend my time in our home

Before diving into testing and improvements, I tracked where I actually spend my time at home for a week, then extrapolated it to an overall percentage of my time. While this changes with Minnesota's seasons, it gave me a rough picture of which spaces to prioritize first.

This breakdown was interesting – I am spending nearly 67% of my home time in just two spaces (bedroom + office). If you want to do this exercise, grab a notebook (or your notes app) and take 10 minutes each night to record where you spent time that day.

Here's how we transformed our top three most utilized spaces:

🛏️ The Bedroom (My #1 Priority - 37.5% of our time)

Why It Matters: I spend 9 hours a day here sleeping and getting ready. Poor bedroom environment directly impacts sleep quality, which affects everything else.

A few things we found:

• Flickering overhead light and night stand lights
• EMF exposure from phone usage and charging stations right next to the bed
• Lauren waking up with "allergies" most morning

Some things we changed:

• Replaced the overhead fixture with flicker-free, warm light bulbs (2700K)
• Reduced phone usage, removed TV, and moved all charging devices at least 3 feet from the bed
• Started vacuuming, dusting, and washing sheets weekly
• Purchased a air purifier with HEPA filter
• Added blackout blinds to reduce light exposure during late sunset summer nights

Results: Both of us started sleeping more soundly. No more eye strain and the air felt noticeably fresher.

💻 The Office (My #2 Priority - 29.2% of our time)

Why It Matters: This is where I work from home, take calls, and do my focused work. Poor lighting and ergonomics impacts productivity and daily energy.

What we found:

• Harsh LED lighting causing afternoon headaches
• Old chair and short desk
• Poor air circulation making the room stuffy by midday
• Wi-Fi router positioned way too close to our desks

What we changed:

• Installed full-spectrum, flicker-free lighting with adjustable brightness
• Purchased a screen for the door and window, keeping them open most the day
• Invested in a chair with proper back and neck support, utilize app to do stretching exercises every hour
• Moved the Wi-Fi router to a central location in the basement, where I get connectivity but is 12+ feet away
• Positioned desks to maximize natural light from windows

Results: Fewer afternoon headaches, better focus during long work sessions, and the room feels fresh even after 8-hour workdays.

🍳 The Kitchen (12.5% of our time)

Why It Matters: We cook, eat, and have our morning coffee here. Poor ventilation and water quality affect both our food and the air quality throughout the house.

What We Found:

• Gas stove releasing nitrogen dioxide and cooking odors that linger
• Metallic-tasting water from old under-sink plumbing
• Plastic cutting boards and containers

What We Changed:

• Utilize a simple air purification unit and filtered water bottles
• Replaced plastic with wood, stainless steel, or glass where applicable
• Got in the habit of running the exhaust fan during cooking AND for 15 minutes after, added a filter to it too
• Added a small potted plants and herbs on the windowsill (natural air purification bonus!)

Results: Water tastes clean, cooking smells clear out quickly, and we actually use our fresh herbs daily (unexpected win!).

BONUS TIP: A radon test revealed higher levels of concentration in the basement, and in the addition on our back. We decided to utilize the basement for storage and laundry purposes, but minimize our time in this living area. We also installed a vapor barrier in the crawl space below our addition to help reduce radon emittance from the ground! We may consider a mitigation system in a few years if our situations changes and we need the space!

Why Your House Will Be Different

Here's the thing – every home is unique. Your 1990s ranch will have different challenges than our 1952 home. Your daily routine, family size, and even your location within Minneapolis will create different priorities.

Maybe your biggest issue is mold in the bathroom, air quality in the kitchen, or personal products with chemical exposure. Perhaps you spend more time in your basement workshop or have a home gym that needs better ventilation. The specific problems vary, but the approach stays the same: test first, then prioritize based on where you spend your time and what you find.

That's exactly why I would highly recommend considering our testing services!