Have wholesome meals. Work out frequently. Avoid smoking.
We often hear this advice from strangers, parents, friends, and doctors, to the point that it becomes a cliche and loses meaning. And let’s face it, healthy habits are hard to adhere to. However, leading a meaningful and purposeful life necessitates consistent work and regular attendance. In this article, we’ll explore ten ways to live better lives. Read on to learn more!
Check for Radon in Your New Home
Lowering cancer risk is crucial to helping your family live better lives. Therefore, have a radon test on your new house to shield your loved ones against a lung cancer disaster. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon exposure causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Even though that is far less than the 480,000 smoking-related deaths annually, it is still a considerable number. Furthermore, it is the main factor causing lung cancer among nonsmokers.
The breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks produces harmless amounts of radon. There are occasions when it concentrates in houses constructed on uranium-rich soil. It can enter buildings through openings in the foundation surrounding pipes, wires, pumps, structural joints, or wall or floor fractures. Typically, crawl spaces and basements have the highest radon concentrations. Radon gas enters the lungs through breathing, where it can harm lung lining cells and raise the chance of developing lung cancer.
The only method to determine whether you’re exposed to radon gas is getting tested, as it can’t be seen or smelled. The EPA has published a Citizen’s Guide to Radon, which provides instructions on how to test your house for radon quickly and affordably and what to do if the results are too high. Using a kit you can purchase online or at a hardware store, you can complete the testing yourself or hire a professional for radon testing services. Take action to reduce radon levels if they are high in your house. The most popular technique involves installing a vent pipe system and fan to extract radon from below the house and release it outdoors.
Pump Your Septic Tank to Avoid Health Issues
Regular septic tank pumping is a crucial part of good maintenance because neglecting to do so can lead to serious problems, resulting in an expensive and dangerous situation. However, how frequently will you require septic tank pumping? Bob Vila indicates that a septic tank should be pumped and emptied every three to five years.
Septic tanks hold human waste but filter the effluent before it enters the groundwater. This system can let bacteria and other hazardous substances into the environment if improperly maintained. Sewage can contaminate underground water when it seeps into the surrounding ground.
If you acquire water from a well, you must properly manage your septic system. Pumping septic tanks can reduce the possibility of tainting subsurface water. It also enables the system to work as intended and prevents impurities from leaking. If you depend on subsurface water, you should also periodically test it to ensure it’s safe.
Over time, sewage odors can develop in your septic system. Routine cleaning and pumping prevent this problem. This smell is most noticeable around your toilets and drains. Preventing the unpleasant smell of sewage requires annual maintenance services to ensure your septic system is operating at peak efficiency. This will be essential when helping your family live better lives.
Restore Your Home and Clean Up Mold
Water, fire, and storms may all be extremely destructive and seriously harm your property. But the word ‘mold’ is the one that makes homeowners cringe. In addition to the potential for aesthetic and structural degradation, it often presents as a fear of sickness. Although mold can lead to serious diseases and health problems, allergies or the common cold may be the most prevalent symptoms. Congestion, headaches, and sore throats could all be signs of mold growing in your home.
It’s important to locate and eliminate mold in your house for your family to live better lives. However, you shouldn’t attempt mold remediation or residential water damage restoration. Remediation is advised if an examination or indoor air quality testing reveals abnormally high mold levels. Let a professional remediation business with qualified, experienced personnel in removing and cleaning up mold from indoor environments handle the problem.
However, you can prevent mold by managing moisture. The worst infestations typically happen in basements with inadequate foundation drainage, attics, walls where water seeps in from the outside, and moist crawl spaces. The greatest defenses against mold are to seal leaks, ensure attics have adequate ventilation, keep crawl spaces dry, and direct water away from the foundation.
Rent a Dumpster to Remove Clutter
If your home feels like it’s becoming a hoarder’s paradise, we have a solution. It’s time to rent a dumpster if you’re ready to declutter. Renting a residential dumpster is a cost-effective option for organizing and thoroughly cleaning your house. Unlike your typical residential trash program, a temporary dumpster on your driveway means you can fill it with as much waste as you’d like, with no restrictions on how many cans or trash bags you can fill.
Before looking for a dumpster rental in your area, decide how long you want the trash on your property. Consider when you’ll have enough time to finish cleaning or organizing your home. While the dumpster is at your place, give yourself adequate time to do your work.
Temporary local dumpster rentals often charge weekly, allowing you to schedule your project for one or two weeks. Look for a dumpster rental company that gives you a precise estimate of the cost of your project upfront rather than just an estimate. Angi estimates that renting a dumpster will cost you roughly $382 per week, allowing you to expedite the junk removal procedure.
Decluttering your surroundings could be a smart place to start if you want a simple method to relieve stress and help you and your family live better lives. Removing extra items can improve your mental health, making you feel better, more in control, and calmer. A better-organized space might contribute to mental relaxation.
Remove Dangerous Pests in Your Home
Finding out you have a bug infestation is at the top of the list of things that can make you feel uneasy in your house. In addition to identifying the problem’s origin, you should ensure it has yet to spread to other parts of the house. Furthermore, you can avoid unnecessary stress by selecting a pest-removal method that doesn’t involve using harsh chemicals or hiring pest extermination services.
Do you suspect you might be dealing with a termite infestation? Fear not. Since pests like warm, wet soil near wooden sources and fallen trees, you can apply wood and soil treatments around the perimeter of your property to help keep them away. A little petroleum jelly or silicone caulking (to seal holes) and even a combination of aromatic scents, such as peppermint and citronella, can help prevent an ant infestation, which is less harmful but still a nuisance.
Suppose you frequently see spiders in your home’s cracks and crevices. In that case, leave leftover soap – ideally scented with eucalyptus – wherever webs assist in repelling the creeps. Additionally, you can apply a little pennyroyal oil spray to cotton balls and use them to clean windowsills. Using an electric fan or covering food will also help keep flies out of your house.
The persistent presence of food scraps or crumbs is a major factor in luring pests to our houses. Clean up food spills and crumbs immediately to stop pests from forming food trails. Additionally, deter insects by making sure your doors are securely sealed. It’s essential to address pest infestations promptly, ensuring your home remains a sanctuary for you and your family to live better lives.
Clean Your Chimney for Clean Air
How much does your chimney’s state affect the air quality in your house? Does it matter that much? Simple answer: without a doubt! It should be impossible to smell your stove or fireplace inside your house. If it does, it’s time to contact local chimney services to inspect the situation and do any necessary cleaning and repairs.
Why is it so important to handle this? Inhaling the dangerous pollutants linked to your chimney – such as smoke, gases, and creosotes – can result in several grave health problems, such as histoplasmosis, cancer, and respiratory disorders. This is particularly valid for people who already have medical issues, severe allergies, or asthma.
You shouldn’t take any chances regarding your air quality! Make an appointment for an inspection if the condition of your chimney or fireplace worries you in the slightest. They’ll ensure your structure is sound, make any required repairs, give you peace of mind, and help you live better lives.
Replace Carpets With Hardwood to Remove Allergens
If you have allergies, you know what you breathe in can harm you. However, while you have little control over the air outside your house, there are things you can do to lessen bothersome allergens indoors. Hardwood floor installation is one of the best upgrades you can make in place of carpet. According to the Asthma and Allergy Association of America, hardwood floors are easier to clean and do not trap allergens, so they are the best flooring option for those who suffer from allergies and asthma.
Although carpeting appears soft and fluffy, it can house dust mites, pollen, and other allergens. These tiny particles and insects can survive in the fibers for years, creating seasonal congestion and allergic reactions. Although cleaning your carpet will assist, it might not eliminate all the allergens – they will soon reappear. Since dust and filth can’t sink into hardwood floors, there are no spaces for these allergies to grow. The flatter, smoother surface reduces the accumulation of dust, pollen, and other outside contaminants, relieving discomfort.
Additionally, cleaning wood floors is quick and simple. Wood floors are level and smooth, making it easy to detect when dust builds. A simple broom or microfiber mop sweep can swiftly and thoroughly eliminate allergens. All you need to do is clean your hardwood floors once a week. By making your home a haven from allergens, you can ensure that at least eight hours a day (sleeping hours) are allergen-free and that you live better lives.
Install New Flooring That is Easy to Disinfect
There are many arguments concerning which flooring is ideal for your home, but one important factor is maintaining the various floors. You should install floors that are simple to maintain to make life easier. Which floors are, therefore, the simplest to maintain? Consider vinyl plank installation.
Due to their durability and resistance to water, luxury vinyl floors are usually the easiest to maintain. It doesn’t require specific cleaning techniques. You can easily clean up dirt, dust, crumbs, spills, and other debris without leaving stains, keeping the floor looking cleaner for longer.
Tile flooring is also simpler to maintain than wood flooring. However, regularly vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping can maintain clean tile and wood flooring. Remember that gorgeous new floors should draw attention without taking all your time to make them look good.
Hire Professionals to Assist You With a Drinking Problem
Acknowledging your alcohol addiction is a critical first step in receiving assistance. Addiction counselors and drunk driving lawyers can offer you the help and direction you require. When discussing how much you drink and any accidents you might have caused, try to be truthful and precise.
You will have had difficulties in some way trying to completely manage your drinking if you have developed an alcohol dependency. Therefore, you’ll probably need assistance to either quit or reduce your consumption and some strategies to maintain your progress and live better lives. Your counselor can suggest various assessment and support services, such as local community alcohol services. Inquire about free local support groups.
Repair Your Concrete to Avoid Tripping Hazards
Uneven sidewalks or cracks in the concrete create a fall risk. There are various reasons why these trip hazards could arise, but concrete repairs are always an ideal solution. Although there are countermeasures against most threats, most are reactive. While certain problems may be easier to see than others, to remove concrete trip hazards, you must be able to pinpoint their root cause.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act definition, any shift in vertical level greater than 1/4 inch is considered a trip hazard. The ADA mandates that trip hazards be eliminated from all public and commercial sidewalks. Trip hazard requirements apply to all federal, state, county, and municipal buildings.
Even though it may seem uncontrollable, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you and your family live better lives. Fix your concrete, swap your carpeting for hardwood floors, and test for radon. These practices can improve your health and give you a long life.