In the aftermath of floods and other natural disasters, no one is better equipped to deal with the damage than a well-trained team of restoration specialists. But that’s only part of their cleanup repertoire. For reliable mold, asbestos, and lead removal in residential and commercial properties, contact your nearby restoration service today.

As a building owner and landlord, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety and habitability of the properties in your care. Environmental hazards such as black mold, asbestos, and lead paint can pose serious health risks for a building’s occupants and tenants, as can unaddressed water damage. In order to safeguard your properties and avoid liability, it’s imperative that any and all corrective measures be performed by a professional restoration contractor certified to handle the work.

As a cause of health problems from asthma to cancer, mold has no place in your residential or commercial building. If you’re seeing signs of rotted wood, warped walls, or visible staining, don’t delay. Mold can permeate the porous surfaces of a building and spread very rapidly from space to space. Given the time-sensitive nature of mold remediation, it’s crucial to hire a licensed and insured mold specialist who will seal off the entire area, remove all traces of the fungus, and take the proper steps to prevent the mold from returning. But not all mold removal companies will help you pinpoint the source of the moisture and get to the bottom of your water problems. Be sure to look for a contractor who will go the distance from containment to prevention, with negative air machines to block the spread of mold spores and expert advice for keeping the mold away for good.

Asbestos is another health hazard that requires the specialized handling of a qualified restoration service. Present in many buildings built before 1979, asbestos has been proven to cause such serious respiratory conditions as asbestosis and mesothelioma. To prevent the inhalation of dangerous fibers during the abatement process, you need an asbestos removal company that will take the legally required precautions and follow the Department of Labor’s strict regulations for removing this dangerous material. Again, check that the technicians you hire will be using negative air machines to restrict air circulation. They should also be OSHA- and EPA-certified for asbestos removal.

Last, but certainly not least, lead can also present health risks in buildings constructed prior to 1978, especially to children under the age of six. From lead poisoning and reproductive issues to stunted growth and even brain damage, the effects of long-term exposure to lead can be far reaching. The EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule of 2008 sets forth specific procedures for containing the work area, minimizing dust (which can’t always be seen), and ensuring a thorough cleanup. One call to your local restoration service contractor can tell you whether or not they’re qualified to perform lead abatement in full compliance with government-mandated work practices.

So don’t wait for a flood to contact your hometown restoration service. Call on this well-equipped team of disaster cleanup specialists today to root out and remove all traces of mold, asbestos, and lead from your property.

A senior SEO marketer for Prospect Genius, Penny Jones writes about real property issues and effective lead generation for local businesses.

When your water heater stops working, it means more than just a cold shower; your washing machine, dishwasher, and other appliances may also be affected. Learn the warning signs that your water heater might be breaking down so you can call in a water heater repair professional before you’re left in the cold.

Decades ago, taking a hot bath or washing clothes required pumping enough water to meet your needs and then boiling it. Today, working that hard and waiting that long for hot water seems almost unthinkable, at least in places like the United States. Chances are you barely think about your home’s hot water heater—until the moment it breaks and you’re stuck with a cold shower. Avoid losing hot water entirely by learning a few key signs that your water heater might be in need of repair.

Water Is Slow to Run Hot

If you turn on a hot water faucet and it takes more than a minute to warm up, your water heater might be malfunctioning. Test several different faucets in your home to ensure that the problem is global, and also note whether the problem is worse at different times of day. Chances are, a water heater that is slow to heat will eventually cease to heat at all; bring in a water heater repair expert before that dreaded day arrives.

Flow of Water Is Choppy

If you turn the hot faucet on and the water comes out in spurts, or the pressure is very low, you may have a clogging issue in the hot water heater. Contact a water heater repair professional, as this problem can worsen over time.

Water Heater Is Making Noise

If your water heater has started making banging, clanging, or cracking noises, it’s time to get it looked at. Those noises might indicate that hard mineral sediment has developed inside the heater. Steam bubbles formed during the heating process can get trapped under the sediment, moving it around when they pop. The larger those sediment chunks get, the greater the chance that the damage to your water heater will be permanent.

Water Heater Is Leaking

A leaking water heater may still work, but it needs to be fixed. In addition to the obvious signs of leakage, such as puddles near the water heater and drips down the outside of the heater, look for mold growth on the floor and walls and a softening of the floor or walls in the area. A repair expert will be able to identify and fix the leaking pipe.

Hot Water Has a Foul Odor

Gas water heaters have an anode rod inside them that helps protect the water heater from corrosion. If your hot water is coming out of the faucet smelling like rotten eggs, the culprit is likely a problem with this anode rod. Contact a residential plumber or water heater repair expert to assess the problem and make the necessary repairs.

A water heater repair specialist will be able to determine the extent of the damage to your water heater. In an ideal scenario, you’ll just need a single replacement part; for more serious issues, the entire unit may need to be replaced. However, by catching the problem early, you should be able to minimize the inconvenience and cost to your family.

Penny Jones is a DIY home improvement buff and a senior Internet marketing strategist at Prospect Genius, a leader in local online advertising.

Hot water heaters are an essential part of our daily lives. They help power our washing machines and dishwashers, not to mention our showers and baths! However, if you have an older model, it may not actually be serving your needs efficiently or effectively. The traditional hot water heaters found in many homes have been surpassed in both design and performance by modern tankless styles. Learn how tankless models work and about the performance, cost, and energy benefits they offer. You may decide that going tankless is right for you.

A traditional water heater works by keeping a tank of hot water at the ready. A heating element cycles on and off throughout the day and night to make that possible, and then the hot water is fed to different faucets and appliances as called for. A tankless hot water heater, on the other hand, does not have a storage tank in which heated water is kept. Instead, it uses a sophisticated calculation process to provide hot water as needed on a case-by-case basis. When a hot water tap is opened, for example, the tankless heater’s flow turbine gets a signal to start the heating process. Based on the incoming water temperature, the desired water temperature, and the difference between the two, the heater’s control board adjusts the gas or electric flow to the burner assembly so that the water starts heating. When the tap is turned off, the heater shuts down and goes into standby mode until it’s called upon again.

This “on call” style of water heating provided by tankless models is useful for a number of reasons. Most of us have experienced the displeasure caused when a nice warm shower suddenly turns cold as the hot water runs out. This never happens with tankless water heaters because there isn’t a finite amount of water in a tank–instead, the water is heated as it’s called for, and for as long as it’s called for. In addition to making life a lot more pleasant, this approach also means that you’re not using as much energy–or spending as much money–to keep a tank of hot water ready to go day and night. When no hot water is being requested, the tankless heater doesn’t heat any up. Over time, the energy and cost savings that this provides can prove substantial.

The essential difference between a tankless water heater and a traditional model is that the former heats up water for home use as it’s called for. This intelligent functioning means that you and your family can enjoy unlimited hot water and can rest assured that you’re only paying for the hot water that you need.

Penny Jones is a home improvement enthusiast and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, a leader in the field of search engine optimization.

The causes of stress are countless these days. From family obligations and employment worries to health issues and financial woes, you barely get a chance to stop and breathe, let alone relax. But did you realize that regardless of where it comes from, chronic stress can bring about problems far worse than headaches and tension? Study after study has shown the barrage of physical symptoms that stress can manifest, from anxiety disorders and hair loss to heart disease and depression. Isn’t it time you took steps to alleviate the stress in your life? Getting started is as easy as getting a massage.

No longer the exclusive domain of those fancy few who frequent elaborate spas, massages are a wonderful way for each of us to cope with the impending health risks of too much stress. And with today’s affordable massage centers, anyone who feels beaten down by the daily grind or just flat-out exhausted from their life’s hectic pace can benefit from the healing hands of a professional massage therapist. Contact your local certified specialist to find out which type of massage therapy would work best for you.

Ideal for first-time customers, a full-body Swedish massage involves five different types of motions to meet your individual comfort level and physical goals, including:

• Effleurage sliding and grinding movements
• Petrissage kneading to compress soft tissues
• Tapotement rhythmic tapping
• Friction for heat and stimulation
• Vibration or shaking by hand or mechanical aid

By adjusting the level of intensity and frequency of these time-tested techniques, your massage professional can help you achieve a wealth of health benefits, from reducing pain and relieving stiff joints to improving circulation and restoring function to injured areas.

If you suffer from consistent pain or would prefer your treatment to be focused on a specific area, then deep-tissue massage may be the right choice for you. As the name implies, this type of specialized massage targets the zones located under the muscle surface. When performed properly by a trained technician, the manipulation and adjustment of deep tissue can help to heal stressed muscles, fascia, joints, and more. But beware the improper handling of deep-tissue techniques. Done incorrectly or over too many areas of the body, deep-tissue massage can actually contribute to widespread nerve and muscle damage.

So don’t take chances with your elevated levels of stress. While you may not be able to mend your family rifts or put out the fires at work, you can take time out for a soothing, restorative massage. Call your nearby massage center today to discuss your options and make an appointment. You may also want to try a pregnancy massage or even a couples massage.

Penny Jones is a senior Internet marketer for Prospect Genius. He specializes in health issues and affordable Web advertising for local businesses.

Two popular career changes are embarking on work at home jobs or beginning your own commercial venture, complete with business signs and a public image. If you’re looking for a career change into one of these areas, know some of the basic difference between these two avenues so that you can decide which is best for you.

Switching up your work situation is one of the most exciting life changes that a person can make. Taking a major step like this can be completely invigorating and serves as an ideal opportunity to try something that you’ve always wanted to do. Two of the most frequent paths that come up when people look into reinventing their professional identity are either job opportunities in the work at home sector or jobs that you create yourself by starting your own business (in which you take care of everything from installing a custom sign to soliciting customers). Both of these options have a lot to offer, but they are also very different. You should make sure you know the essential differences between them so that you can pursue the one that truly speaks to what you need and want from your work.

The business from home route offers an array of benefits including: schedule flexibility, zero commute time, and the opportunity to be your own boss. You set your own hours, your work location, and even your “appropriate workplace attire.” If you’ve spent any time in a corporate or office culture, this type of setup may be incredibly appealing because the only person you have to answer to is yourself. The flip side of this is, of course, that you’re totally responsible for your productivity since you’re the one setting all of the parameters. When you decide to engage in a work from home job, you should make sure that this type of flexibility is a good fit for you. Home-based job opportunities provide the potential for a great deal of financial success, a low-stress work environment, and a truly individual approach to the job market. The most important thing to remember is that it’s up to you to make these elements work to your advantage.

When it comes to career shifts, the entrepreneurial route is also very individual-based. This individuality is expressed, however, in a totally different way than with the home based business path. When you start your own business, you’re very rarely working alone. You are in charge, of course, but you will usually be working with other people. You are also responsible for creating, maintaining, and promoting a public image for your business. This is perhaps the biggest difference between these two paths. When you work at home, you don’t need to worry about advertising the company you’re working through. When you have your own business, however, your financial success and the longevity of your business depend on getting your image out there and getting customers in the door, on the phone, or on your Web site. In order to do this, your business needs to have visible signage. You might also consider other physical ways to get your name out into the world. These include creating and using elements such as custom decals, custom stickers, and custom banners. In addition to these ideas, you might also think about screen printing (also known as silk screening) T-shirts or other clothing items with your company’s name or logo. These can be worn by employees, sold to customers, or both. Either way, your name and image are getting out into the public sphere, which is key for your business’s success.

When it’s time for you to change up your work situation, ask yourself if you need to manage your time totally on your own terms or if you are chomping at the bit to screen print your logo and get it out there in order to tell everyone about your new business. Whether you choose jobs in the work from home job market or the entrepreneurial sector, the most important thing is knowing that you’re doing something you enjoy.

If you’re an expectant mother, you know all too well that
pregnancy comes with a lot of new experiences. One of these is
the pain and discomfort associated with carrying your child. While staying off of
your feet can help to ease some of this physical distress, it’s often not enough to deal
with all of the aches and pains that you experience. One effective method for
improving your health, decreasing pain, and reducing the stress you feel during your term is
massage.

Massage therapy can be a really effective means of making
you feel relaxed, calm, and pain-free during your pregnancy. Many women don’t think about this as an option because they assume that it would be too
dangerous. However, when working with a professional massage therapist who is trained and qualified in
pregnancy massage, you won’t have anything to worry about. The health of you
and your baby will always come first.

If you’re willing to try one of these
massages during your pregnancy, you can look forward to the following benefits:

● Reduced anxiety

● A decrease in depression symptoms

● Relief of muscle aches or joint pains

● Improved sleep patterns

● A reduction in stress

● Improved labor outcomes

As you can see, there are a wide range of benefits associated with
seeing a massage therapist during pregnancy. Reducing the stress, anxiety, and
pain you feel will make you much calmer and physically ready when it’s time for you to deliver.

The Right Technique

While there are many different types of massage treatment, Swedish massage
is the most common type used on women during pregnancy. The goal of this type
of massage therapy is to relieve muscle tension and improve the circulation of
the blood through applying mild pressure to different muscle groups of the
body. This form of massage therapy is usually recommended during pregnancy because
it works to relieve common discomforts brought on by hormonal changes.

Finding the Right Therapist

If you’d like to try Swedish massage during your pregnancy, you
should make sure that you find a certified professional to work with. Your
health and your baby’s health could be at risk if you choose a professional who
is not skilled in offering pregnancy massages. Certified professionals will
have undergone training beyond the normal standards and will have knowledge of
specific techniques designed to bring pregnant women relief. You can trust them
to put your safety and comfort above all other things. Your OB may be able to recommend a professional in your area who is qualified for safe pregnancy massage, so don’t be afraid to ask!

When it comes to courier services, few deliveries demand a greater level of care than those involving sensitive healthcare documents and medical substances. After all, this is not candy or flowers you’re transporting. This is someone’s most private medical material, including anything from human blood and tissue samples to test results and X-rays to patient records and supplies. With packages of this nature on the line, medical courier services must adhere to a stringent set of delivery processes and procedures, as well as comply with a complex array of government guidelines and regulations.

For starters, in order to maintain the integrity of a specimen and ensure accurate testing, each and every sample must be packed and shipped in accordance with the universal guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). One wrong move could render a specimen useless, making it necessary to collect a second sample and possibly delaying the patient’s treatment. It could also risk exposing the medical courier to potentially hazardous or infectious blood samples and fluids.

Time and temperature are of the utmost importance when transporting medical substances, as are the use of proper receptacles and handling specifications. Blood specimens for potassium and cortisol, for example, need to be tested within two hours from the time they are collected. Otherwise, they have to be stored in special separator tubes to avoid flawed test results. Often, blood specimens need to be transported in an upright position to promote complete clot formation. In addition, all specimens, regardless of their contents, are required to be sealed in a leak-proof container and kept at the correct temperature to safeguard the condition of the sample. Specimens that are transported in temperatures that are either too cold or too hot can alter a laboratory’s test results, leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of the patient.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is another government mandate that outlines procedures for the proper delivery of medical material. Signed into law in 1996, the HIPAA Privacy Rule sets a national standard to protect an individual’s medical records and other personal health information. For a medical courier service, that means additional training in the way confidential medical materials must be secured and documented during the transit process.

Above all else, medical couriers must be trained with an emphasis on safety and responsibility. As the conduit between medical centers, laboratories, clinics, doctor offices, pharmacies, and the rest of the nation’s healthcare network, they play an enormous role in upholding the validity of medical materials. In addition to following protocol throughout the entire distribution process, they must also be prepared to file affidavits and document the chain of custody whenever necessary.

With so much to learn about transporting medically sensitive materials, it all comes down to training for today’s professional medical courier. Considering the constraints of time, temperature, and red tape, it’s a whole new level of “handle with care.”