Hantavirus Warning Signs + Annabelle Gurwitch’s Healing Wallpaper + Backyard Water Features
6/16/202650 min
Hantavirus may be rare, but it can pose a serious risk to homeowners dealing with rodent infestations. Dr. Zachary Rubin explains where the virus hides, how to safely clean up droppings, and the warning signs every homeowner should know. Then, writer Annabelle Gurwitch shares how a roll of vintage wallpaper helped transform a room filled with painful memories into a place of healing and hope. Plus, landscape contractor Jen Nawada breaks down everything you need to know about adding a water feature to your yard, from simple birdbaths to backyard streams.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
* Whether adding insulation to a 100-year-old home is worth the investment and the best ways to do it.
* What it really takes to add a wood-burning fireplace to a home that never had one.
* How to investigate and solve a recurring mold problem before it affects your family's health.
* What homeowners should know when they discover old knob-and-tube wiring behind their walls.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJenn Largesse· Host0:00
[upbeat music] From LAist and APM, American Public Media, it's This Old House Radio Hour. I'm Jen Lardjas. Hantavirus could be hiding in your attic. The warning signs every homeowner needs to know.
Zachary Rubin· Guest0:12
We've had almost 1,000 cases since the mid-'90s. Most of the time it comes from rodent droppings in your home.
Jenn Largesse· Host0:20
How a roll of vintage wallpaper helped best-selling author Annabelle Gurwitch reclaim a room and rediscover the joy of living.
Annabelle Gurwitch· Guest0:28
We go upstairs to the bedroom. There's this wallpaper that is like opalescent cherry blossoms. And I am just love at first sight.
Jenn Largesse· Host0:39
From a simple birdbath to a backyard stream, how adding a water feature can transform the way your home feels. All this, plus we're answering your home improvement questions at 877-864-7460. Coming up next. [upbeat music] It's This Old House Radio Hour. I'm Jen Lardjas. Hantavirus has been making headlines lately, but for decades the virus has posed a risk to homeowners across the American West. Today, allergist and immunologist Dr. Zachary Rubin explains where hantavirus hides, how to safely clean up rodent infestations, and the simple precautions that can help keep your family safe. Dr. Rubin, when should you be on high alert for hantavirus in your home?
Zachary Rubin· Guest1:25
Hantavirus, we've had, uh, almost 1,000 cases since