A home ought to be a stronghold for a family to feel safe and comfortable. Despite all of our modern conveniences, our homes are still threatened by a number of factors that require homeowners to stay on high alert to protect their loved ones. New technology is being developed each year to help eliminate the threat of sickness, radiation, and element catastrophes to help keep households secure. Here are a few precautions that homeowners should take to ensure the health and safety of their loved ones.
Protecting Your Home From the Elements
Earthquakes, tornados, floods, all of these catastrophes can come unexpectedly and yet they can play such a role in changing our lives forever. Those who have lost their belongings, homes, or even a loved one to a natural disaster can express their heartache and frustration — for this reason a homeowner needs to ensure their home can stand up to disaster. Flooding is the number one most common cause of property loss in the United States with millions of dollars being paid out by insurance companies each year. By ensuring that your home is adequately waterproofed, you can guarantee that your possessions are in safe-keeping. Basement waterproofing companies and sump pump installation contractors typically will include a limited warranty that guarantees the quality of the waterproofing.
Protecting Your Home From Microwave Radiation
As our constant need for modern technology continues advancing at such a rapid rate, it is likely that many of these modern marvels may come with unintentional side-effects. There are some who believe that the gradual spike in cancer cases over the past few decades may in fact share a relationship with the increase in cell towers. Cellular phone towers enable us to use our mobile devices, yet there is also strong evidence that the electromagnetic radiation from cell phone towers could be damaging the health of humans and animals in proximity. A 2007 study measured the blood levels of serotonin and melatonin both before and five months after the installation of a new cell site; the study found that both hormones were adversely affected after the installation of the site. Although this may play a serious role in the development of cancerous cells, a startlingly few number of studies on whether or not there is a relationship between cell phone towers and cancer have been performed. There are electromagnetic radiation blockers that can decrease one’s exposure; there are personal versions that can be worn like a necklace or residential ones that help protect one’s home from constant exposure if you live near a tower.
Protecting Your Home From Radon Gas
Unlike cell towers, radon is a proven cancer causing radioactive gas that may be prevalent in the ground, groundwater, or building materials in one’s home. Radon is the result of the natural decomposition of uranium in water, rock, and soil; the gas can find its way into one’s home through cracks in the foundation and other pathways. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. smokers with high radon levels in their homes are at a high risk for lung cancer, and children are particularly susceptible to radon. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office have both estimated that there are nearly 20,000 lung cancer deaths annually due to radon. As the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking in the United States, the threat of radon is serious. It is estimated that around one out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon levels at or above the EPA action level. Only a residential radon testing company can determine if your radon levels are safe — a radon testing company will only use a qualified specialist. Furthermore, the expertise of a radon testing company means professional recommendations to fix the problem and reduce your exposure. January is radon testing month, so ensure that a radon testing company in your area is scheduled for a visit: it could save your life.