What’s the Story?

IS YOUR HOUSE KILLING YOU? is an Australian series that reveals the unseen health dangers that homes can pose to their owners. Each week environmentalists Peter Dingle and Cedric Cheong visit the home of a family plagued by a variety of medical issues -- like asthma, eczema, and fatigue. After taking samples from the house and surrounding areas, the team runs tests searching for hidden contaminants like mold, noxious chemical fumes, and poisons. Owners are also tested for allergies and contamination levels. Once the problems are identified, the team oversees the home's detoxification and gives the owners concrete advice on how to avoid long-term exposure to pollutants in the future.

Is It Any Good?

The show's title may be a little dramatic, but it certainly sends the message that what you don't see can definitely hurt you. It offers clear explanations about how long-term exposure to unseen contaminants can be the direct cause of a wide variety of conditions, from uncomfortable allergies to life-threatening illnesses. It also examines how household products and chemically treated home renovation materials can contribute to the level of toxins that people are exposed to over time.

While the show doesn't address how costly it can be to decontaminate and/or renovate a home, it does point out that the money spent on doctors and medications to treat contaminant-related illnesses can be reduced and/or avoided if homes are detoxified. It also shows how very basic, relatively inexpensive precautions -- like cleaning homes properly and wearing protective gear when handling chemicals -- can greatly reduce exposure to harmful elements. Bottom line? The information presented here may be enough to motivate homeowners suffering from chronic or inexplicable illnesses to look to their houses for clues.

Have you seen it?

TV Show Details

TV Rating

TV-PG

Network

Sundance Channel

Cast

Cedric Cheong
Peter Dingle
Petra Schulenberg

Genre

Reality TV

Where to watch

Sundance Channel, DVD

For Your Family