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Radon is a radioactive gas that causes cancer. Although you cannot see, smell or taste radon, it still may be lurking in your home causing major health concerns. For this reason, it is crucial that you do a home radon test to make sure that you and your family are not at risk from exposure.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the EPA. Testing your home is the only way to know if you have dangerous levels of radon. It is recommended that all floors below the third be tested.

There are a couple of different options for radon testing; you can purchase a home radon test kit or you can hire a professional. If you are living in a home that you are not sure when it was last radon tested or you just want to have some piece of mind, a do it yourself radon testing kit will suffice just fine.

Professional radon tests are most commonly used when you are going to buy or sell a home and need accurate, documented radon levels in order to complete the transaction. Or, if you used a home radon test and would like to confirm the results with a professional, this is also an option.

The radon testing cost will vary depending on whether you choose to do a home test or hire a professional.

Do it Yourself Radon Testing

You can purchase a home radon test online or from your local home center or hardware store. You can expect that the radon testing cost will be between $10-$40 depending on the kit. Some states offer low-cost or even free radon testing kits, you can contact your state’s radon office to find out more.

Each kit will have included instructions, but in general this is the protocol you will follow to test your home for radon:

• Testing should begin only after all doors and windows in your home have been closed for at least twelve hours.
• You will then place the radon detector in the lowest livable area of your home and leave it alone for the next 48-96 hours.
• After the recommended time is up, you will then immediately package and send the detector to the lab specified on your kit to be tested. Results will be delivered back to you.

Do-it-yourself radon testing is easy to do, affordable and highly accurate. This is a great choice for most homeowners to make sure that their home is not emitting dangerous, cancer causing gas that could harm their family.

Read More: Sources of CO Poisoning in the Home

Professional Radon Testing

Professional radon testing involves a nationally or state trained and certified radon specialist coming to your home and performing the test for you. Professional radon inspection is often included in a home inspection and will cost around $150 on top of the home inspection cost.

If done separately, you can expect to pay upwards of $250 for this professional service. The most important thing is that you know and understand your home’s radon levels to make sure that you are not being exposed to this potentially deadly gas.

The days are getting shorter and the temperature is starting to drop, that means snow will soon be on its way. Shoveling snow is an unavoidable task that those of us living in snow-prone areas must contend with.

Snow shoveling is not only an inconvenience, it can also be hard on your your body — your back in particular. But with proper snow shoveling tips and techniques you can get the job done without putting too much strain on your body.

Choosing the Right Snow Shovel

An astonishing number of people are injured every year as the result of improper snow shoveling or overdoing it.

The number one contributing factor to snow shoveling injuries? Using a non-ergonomic shovel. Many shovels are poorly designed which leads to injury. Here are tips for finding the right shovel:

• Keep the scoop size moderate. Instinctively, you may want to go for the shovel that has the largest bucket capacity. But it also means your body is lifting and tossing a heavier load which puts immense strain on your body. We recommend choosing a shovel with a bucket between 18-22 inches.
• Choose a scoop material that works for you. Snow shovels are made from a few different materials. The main choices are: steel, plastic and aluminum. Each material comes with its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a steel shovel will be quite heavy in comparison to a plastic shovel but, will hold up better than plastic to driveway scraping.
• The shaft material of the shovel is important as well. You want to choose a shaft that is study and doesn’t bend and twist when you use it. You may need to invest a bit more, but a fiberglass or resin handle is your best bet as they are lightweight and durable.
• Pay attention to ergonomics. There is a big difference between an “ergonomically” designed snow shovel and a standard shovel. Many ergonomic shovels have a slightly curved shaft, while a traditional shovel will have a straight shaft.

  
  The ergonomic shovel is designed to reduce strain on your back by reducing the amount of bending you have to do when scooping the snow. These shovels will cost you a bit more, but it is well worth the money to save the back strain that comes with traditional shovels.

Pushing vs. Lifting

It is always less stressful on the body to push the snow rather than lifting it.

You can purchase specialized snow shovels that are designed to push snow. These shovels have a large plow on the front. You can also push snow with your regular snow shovel.

If you are able, push the snow out of the way rather than bend, scoop, lift and toss the snow. You will greatly reduce strain on your body.

Be Safe

Besides choosing the correct shovel and using proper technique, there are many other things that you can do to make sure you stay safe and injury free while clearing your snow.

• Make sure you are in good health. Heavy snow shoveling snow over an extended period of time becomes a cardiovascular activity. Check with your doctor to make sure that you in good physical shape to shovel snow. Elderly individuals and those with a heart condition are typically warned to stay away from shoveling as they are more prone to serious injury.
• Dress for the weather. Make sure that your body is covered and warm, but be aware of overheating in those extra layers. Check the weather to see what the conditions are outside and dress appropriately. There may be a good window of opportunity for you to shovel snow without working in very rough conditions.

  

  
  
• Take breaks. If you have to work during a heavy snowfall or when you have a large area to shovel, don’t try to do it all at once. Pace yourself and take a rest every so often, and stay hydrated.
• Track the weather. During a large snow storm when snow is expected throughout the day, plan on going out to shovel several times. Don’t wait until the storm is over to try to clear the snow, this will only lead to heavier more compact snow that is more difficult to remove.
• Always bend with your knees. To avoid putting excess strain on your back, bend at the knees to use those larger muscles to move the snow. Try not to bend at the waist and keep your back straight. A solid stance is also important — try to keep your legs hip-width apart and avoid twisting your torso.

Stay injury-free this winter and get the job done without taxing your body while you brave the cold and snow!

You ordered the perfect gift, you’ve tracked its shipping status in anticipation of its arrival, but you come home from work on delivery day to find the package mysteriously absent from your doorstep. Your package may have been stolen. Now what?

If a Package is Taken From Your Porch, Who is Responsible?

There is a dramatic increase in packages delivered to homes around the holidays thanks to the explosive rise of online retailers such as Amazon. These online retailers often deliver packages to homes when the residents are at work.

With the holiday season upon us, more and more packages are being reported as missing from front porches all around the country. According to recent survey published by Comcast, 31% of Americans have experienced package theft at some point, while a 2017 study by InsuranceQuotes found that 25.9 million Americans have had their packages stolen during the holiday season alone.

Thieves take advantage of the pile of unprotected parcels at your door by swiping them right from your front porch. Since porches often lack any security measures, criminals can get away scot-free with package theft. What can be done, then, to remedy the situation?

Read on to find out how to get reimbursed for your stolen item or have a new one shipped to you.

How to Handle a Package Theft

Verify that the package was delivered

The first step you need to take if you think someone stole your package is to track your shipment. If you haven’t been following the tracking updates closely and are only counting on the original estimated delivery date, you may have missed some important updates.

When a retailer ships your package to you, they typically send a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number. You can use that tracking number to check the status of your shipment along the way through the shipping company’s website.

Packages are often delayed for one reason or another, especially in the winter time with snow and inclement weather preventing trucks from reaching or departing fulfillment centers and post offices. Double check your tracking number to verify that your package was indeed delivered on this date.

Additionally, it is important to make sure that you didn’t inadvertently send the package to the wrong address. Maybe you just moved, and the retailer had your old address stored in their system.

After you have verified that the package was delivered and it went to the correct address, it is time to investigate further before contacting the delivery service.

First, check with your neighbors to make sure that the delivery driver didn’t mistakenly drop it off at the wrong door. This happens more often than you would think.

Also, make sure that a concerned neighbor didn’t grab it off your porch for you as a precaution because they knew you weren’t home to get it yet or they didn’t want the package sitting out in inclement weather.

Save yourself the time and trouble of calling customer service only to realize that your package was with your next door neighbor all along.

Contact the seller

If you believe that your package was taken from your porch and your neighbors have no information on the package’s whereabouts, it is time to reach out to the retailer that you bought the item from.

Every retailer has a different policy when it comes to situations like these, but most are sympathetic to the situation and will refund or replace the stolen item for you.

Amazon, for example, covers most stolen packages with their A-to-Z Protection. If your item was purchased through one of their retail partners, known as Amazon Sellers, you may have to reach out to the third party first to try to resolve the situation.

In most cases, you should be able to work it out with the seller and they will provide you with a replacement item. However, if the retailer refuses to assist you, you may need to file a claim with the shipping company.

File a claim with the shipping company

If the retailer who you purchased the item from denies any responsibility for the missing package and wants to lay blame on the shipping company, you can file a claim with the shipping company. All major delivery services provide a claims reporting service via their website or by calling their customer service department.

If all else fails, you can check with your credit card company to see if they offer purchase protection. There are many stipulations with these policies, so be sure to get clarity about your card’s policies to see if the company will cover stolen packages.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Packages

If you have ever experienced a package stolen from your porch, you know how frustrating it can be. It is especially exasperating if you have had to jump through hoops in the claims process to remedy the situation.

Consider these tips for protecting your packages this holiday season:

• Purchase package insurance for high-ticket items. For instance, if you are buying electronics like a new laptop, it is worth the extra money to purchase the optional insurance to ensure that you are covered should the laptop go missing. Insurance is usually purchased either through the retailer or the shipping company.
• Plan to be at home when the package arrives. This is the ideal scenario, although we understand it is not always possible to be home at the time of delivery.

  Perhaps ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye out for the delivery and secure your package until you get home, or have the package delivered somewhere where you know a person is present to accept it. If you aren’t familiar with any of your neighbors yet, send the packages to your workplace.

• Request that your package be left at the Post Office or UPS store for pick up. This way, you can securely pick up your package when you have the time. No need to worry about thieves raiding your porch while you are away.

  In major cities, Amazon also offers a number of designated package pickup locations called

  Amazon Lockers, which will hold your item safely until you arrive. To retrieve your package, you need only enter in your special code at the machine or scan your smartphone.
• Get a lockbox. These reinforced containers are protected by a lock that can only be accessed by delivery drivers if they have a package that is addressed to you and scheduled for delivery on that day. BoxLock is one of the most well-known companies that create smart padlocks for you to do just that.
• Install a security camera. Cameras alone can sometimes deter thieves from encroaching upon your property, though in many cases thieves will wear hoodies, sunglasses, or use some kind of cloth to make their face impossible to recognize. One particular camera designed to watch your porch is the Skybell Video Doorbell, a doorbell that automatically detects people who approach your door and notifies you through your smartphone so you can verify the person’s identity.

  

• Require signature on delivery. When ordering or shipping expensive items, require that the package be signed for, so that only the designated recipient can pick up the package. While this also adds on an extra fee, that extra verification step goes a long way in making sure your item doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.

We hope that we have provided some useful tips for what to do if your package is stolen, and for preventing such situations in the future.