Archive for Weather

Leaks and Frozen Pipes

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Temperatures are going to drop again this weekend. If you are leaving your mountain home, be sure to turn off the customer valve and empty all the drains. Leave a faucet open just a crack to make sure there is room for any excess water to come out rather than freeze and bust your pipes. You may want to look into insulating your pipes if they are not already.

We do not forgive water bills for leaks or busted pipes. Any water that runs through the meter will be charged accordingly.

If you don’t know where your customer shut off valve is at the street, please call during normal business hours to waive a service fee and we’ll guide you. If you call after hours, there will be a fee starting at $15. An emergency leak or busted pipe call after hours could incur a fee starting at $50.

If you notice any leaks, call us immediately. Upon confirmation of the leak you could receive a $25 gift card to a restaurant in town.

Regular Office Hours 9am – 4pm 951-659-2675
After Hours Emergency Line 951-294-8282

Oh my, a frozen pipe leak!

Don’t let this be you!

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Posted in: Around the District, Customer Infomation, Customer Valve, Emergencies, From the Office, Frozen Pipes, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Pine Cove Water District, Snow, Water Bills, Weather, Weekend, Winter

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Snow Snow Snow

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It’s a beautiful sight to have all of this fresh snow on our beautiful mountain. It’s always recommended to stay home rather than chance the slippery roads. If you do have to leave your house, here are some tips and tricks to assist you.

Remove snow from the top of your vehicle
Although not illegal in California it could be potentially dangerous.
While you might think that clearing the snow /ice is just for your visibility, there is quite a hazard to leaving snow on the top.

Leaving snow on top of your vehicle could result in bits falling forward onto the windshield causing low visibility but it can also fall backwards onto cars and pedestrians behind you causing “ice missiles”, in which sheets or blocks of snow and ice fly off roofs or windshields of cars and trucks, endangering those in vehicles behind them. Ice missiles can distract drivers and cause them to swerve into other cars. And they can crack windshields, and sometimes cause injuries — even deaths.

If you haven’t experienced digging your car out, I highly suggest you give yourself at least an hour to do so. Click here for some tips from WikiHow.

 

Road and driving safety
Check weather and snow conditions and plan accordingly. Avoid driving during a snowstorm. Snow plows will be working and visibility might be low. Visit weather.gov for weather conditions and forecast. Check Caltrans for road conditions/traffic, including chain controls, road closures and more. Ensure you understand chain control requirements and how to install them (practice before coming).

Plan for safety and comfort. Make sure you start your trip with a full tank of gas. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return; check in when you get back. Pack water, high-energy meals, and snacks — and pack more than you think you’ll need. Dress in layers of warm, waterproof clothing, including extra layers. Don’t rely solely on GPS-based maps.

Park in safe, legal spots. Never block traffic or driveways, even to install snow chains. Play on open public lands only. Choose a hill that does not send sledders into roadways.

 

Well being
Be sure to hydrate and eat frequently throughout the day. Pay attention to weather conditions and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change or worsen. Keep an eye on the gas gauge; fill up if low.

 

With this colder weather, please be careful while driving on the icy roads. As always remember to winterize your home and turn off your water at the customer valve before leaving your mountain home.

Stay safe everyone!

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Posted in: Around the District, Frozen Pipes, Pine Cove Water District, Road Conditions, Snow, Storms, Weather, Winter

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Advice for snow-play visitors

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~as posted in the Idyllwild Town Crier Dec. 23, 2021 – Page A3

The U.S. Forest Service closed the Humber Park Trailhead parking lot last week to vehicles due to last week’s winter storm. “Once the parking lot road becomes iced over, many cars slide or get stuck in its steeper sections. Staff will monitor and reopen when/if conditions become safe again,” according to the San Bernardino National Forest’s (SBNF) Twitter post.

California Highway Patrol Officer Graham Aanestad had five vehicles towed for blocking Humber Park between last Saturday and Sunday.
SBNF also issued a snow-play advisory on its website considering last week’s snow and the coming week’s predictions.

SBNF expects large crowds over the holiday weekend because of snow. It asks visitors to:
• Research a destination. A few snow-play areas require Adventure Passes to park. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=STELPRDB5181410&width=full to search for a designation.

• Check weather and snow conditions and plan accordingly. Avoid driving during a snowstorm. Snow plows will be working and visibility might be low. Visit weather.gov for weather conditions and forecast. Check the Caltrans; http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for road conditions/traffic, including chain controls, road closures and more. Ensure you understand chain control requirements and how to install them (practice before coming).

• Plan for safety and comfort. Make sure you start your trip with a full tank of gas. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return; check in when you get back. Pack water, high-energy meals, and snacks — and pack more than you think you’ll need. Dress in layers of warm, waterproof clothing, including extra layers. Don’t rely solely on GPS-based maps.

• Park in safe, legal spots. Never block traffic or driveways, even to install snow chains. Play on open public lands only. Choose a hill that does not send sledders into roadways.

• Be sure to hydrate and eat frequently throughout the day. Pay attention to weather conditions and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change or worsen. Keep an eye on the gas gauge; fill up if low.

• Leave no trace. Pack out all trash, leftover food and waste. Remember to display your recreation pass.

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Posted in: Community, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Holidays, Snow, Weather, Winter

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US Forest Services in Riverside County

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Just a quick update that I received from Jon King and his San Jacinto Trail Report. Want to see the full report? Click here and give him a follow.

Full fire restrictions are in place on Forest Service lands, as described here. All campfires anywhere in the San Jacinto mountains, including at all USFS campgrounds and yellow post sites, are now prohibited. The total fire ban has finally been extended to Riverside County lands starting 23rd August, including for example the Hurkey Creek campground (thanks to Dan Roberts for updates on the county situation).

The U.S. Forest Service ranger station in Idyllwild remains closed due to USFS coronavirus protocols. Apparently it is unlikely to reopen before October, but possibly much later. Hiking and camping permits are nevertheless required for USFS lands, and should be available at the kiosk outside the ranger station. The State Park ranger station reopened about six months ago.

WEATHER A few days of temperatures around (or even below!) seasonal for the first time in two months came to an end early this week. Daytime high temperatures will again be above average for August starting Wednesday 25th, with overnight low temperatures in particular being well above seasonal, before cooling again to about average in the first couple of days of September. As mentioned above, monsoonal rains are a possibility from 29th August to at least 2nd September. Fire risk remains severe.

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Drought, Fire, Fire Danger, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Rain, Storms, Weather

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Winterizing Tips

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Prepare and protect your home for winter.
Your October 1st mailing included a pamphlet that has all of this information.

Conserve water and always use wisely.
When temperatures begin to lower in the fall, it’s time to get ready for winter. Every winter season, homeowners in mountain communities are at risk of the damage and expense caused by frozen pipes. However, just a few precautions can greatly reduce your risk (and may even help with your winter heating efficiency)!

Disconnect and Drain
Detaching hoses from outdoor faucets allows water to drain from the pipe.

Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas
If you have pipelines in an unheated garage or cold crawl space under the house, wrap the water pipes before temperatures plummet.

Seal Off Access Doors, Air Vents and Cracks
Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. Don’t plug air vents. Your furnace and water heater need proper ventilation.

Find the Master Shutoff
In case of a leak, everyone in the family needs to know where it is and what it does. It’s usually where the water line comes into your house from the street.

Remember, all water that passes through the meter is the homeowner’s responsibility, even water lost due to frozen/broken pipes.

Vacant Home?
Turn Off Your Water!
Homes should have a “customer” shut-off valve just outside the District’s meter box at the street. All homes have a “District” shut off valve before the meter. Before vacating your home, always turn off your water at your customer shut off valve, located next to the District valve. It is not necessary to have the District valve shut off if your customer valve is shut off and operational. Please remember that ONLY authorized District personnel may turn off/on the District water meter shut-off valve. If you need help or can’t locate your customer valve, contact your local District.

Once your water is turned off, open and drain ALL household and irrigation lines. Any trapped water can freeze causing pipes to expand and break. Once all the lines have been drained, it is important to close all household and irrigation lines again before leaving your home.

Keep in mind that maintaining low heat in your home does not necessarily ensure that your pipes will not freeze. This is especially true if you are not a full-time resident. If you have any questions about winterizing or a Customer Shut-Off Valve, please contact your District office.

Pine Cove Water District 951-659-2675

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Posted in: Uncategorized, Water Conservation, Weather, Winter, winterizing

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Another hot weekend ahead

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Have you seen the weather reports for this coming weekend? It’s going to be a hot one.
I’m seeing reports of 85-90 degrees in the Mountains, 104-103 Inland, and up to 117 in the Desert.

When to be concerned about heat illness
If you’re unable to keep yourself cool, you may develop the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which, if left untreated, can turn into heatstroke — a serious medical emergency that can lead to organ damage or death without immediate attention.

When temperatures are high, such as during a heat wave, you may also want to check in more frequently on young children under the age of four, as well as older people above the age of 65, because they are more susceptible to heat-related illness.

Where is our Monsoon?!?!?
According to The Weather Channel (weather.com);
The monsoon in the Southwest has been generally inactive so far this year, which has led to an expansion of drought and record heat in the region.

The upper-level setup has not been ideal for ample rainfall to drench the Southwest or for heat relief to arrive this season, which lasts from June 15 through Sept. 30.

The monsoon usually brings relief from the scorching summer heat. However, with a generally absent monsoon, excessive heat can persist.

Several daily record highs and record warm lows are anticipated later this week and into the weekend from western Texas into Southern California.

What can you do to keep cool?
Last week, we wrote about 10 ways to beat the heat according to Lifehacker.com; here are some more ideas for the upcoming hot weekend.

5 best ways to stay cool according to Insider.com:

1. Keep out sunlight. Close the curtains or blinds, use shutters, shades, or awnings, apply high-reflectivity window film.

2. Utilize fans properly. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms so be sure to turn them off when you leave the room. Window fans or portable fans are best used when the air outside is cooler than the air inside.

3. Drink lots of water. Your body needs water to effectively deal with hot temperatures. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty! Getting bored with water? Add frozen berries, grapes, or melon chunks to sparkling water to switch things up.

4. Use cold washcloths. The Mayo Clinic recommends placing a cold, damp cloth on your pulse points – such as the back of your neck, under your armpits, on your wrists, or groin.

5. Eat cool foods and avoid alcohol. Put your quaran-tini down and drink something with no alcohol since too much alcohol can cause your body to actually lose water. Food suggestions include salads, watermelon, mint, and ironically enough – hot peppers.

I hope these suggestions help. Stay cool Idyllwild.

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Posted in: Community, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Weather, Weekend

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Beat the heat.

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Although this coming weekend is not looking like it’s going as hot as last weekend, it still looks like a nice comfortable warm one.

One of the many benefits of living on the hill is the lower temperatures due to the lush trees surrounding our town.
Trees provide an evaporative cooling effect that can decrease local air temperatures by several degrees Fahrenheit.

When the temperatures do rise again; here are the Top 10 Ways to Beat the Heat according to lifehacker.com.

10. Drink More Water
Seems like a no-brainer. Staying hydrated helps with so many things. When you’re sweating a lot, drinking enough water becomes even more important. Of course water isn’t your only option for hydration but with the quality water that the Pine Cove Water District supplies, why would you want anything else?!

9. Keep Excessive Sweat at Bay
Thankfully we don’t have some of the high humidity on the hill that some other places get as it can be the worst part of the heat. You can get the sweating under control with a few tricks, like applying antiperspirant at night and wearing breathable clothing materials, such as cotton.

8. Make a DIY Air Conditioner
Running the AC can get expensive so why not make your own? There are plenty of options to choose from if you do an internet search.

7. Optimize Your Fans
Did you know that if you face your box fan out, rather than in at night, your room will stay cooler and you might be able to sleep more comfortably?
If you have a ceiling fan, run it counter-clockwise (the “summer” higher-speed setting) for optimum cooling.

6. Keep Your Food Cool and Avoid Using the Oven
This is a great time to pull out that slow cooker you hid away after winter. You can make a whole meal without adding too much heat to your kitchen. There are rice cookers that also have a steamer tray that can serve the same purpose. Cold soups and salads are a great option too; pasta salad, bean salad, gatzpacho, cold shredded chicken on a bed of lettuce. Get creative and see what you can come up with.

5. Exercise Comfortably, Even in the Heat
If you enjoy exercising, you don’t have to stop just because it’s hot. Switch it up to water sports, avoid the sun at it’s strongest time (usually afternoon), and exercising in short bursts.

4. Optimize Your Windows (and black out curtains)
Close windows and use insulated drapes to keep the sun out during the day and open them at night when the sun is down. You can also hang a damp towel in front of the window to cool the air flowing into your home and open opposing windows or windows on the top and bottom floors for maximum air flow.

3. Cool Your Car Down Quickly
Prior to getting on the road, roll down one window and open and close the opposite door a few times to cool the car down.

2. Stay Cool While You Sleep
Cool your head with a special pillow like the Chillow, sleep on top of a wet sheet, or do some research online for other cool sleeping strategies.

1. Know Your Body’s Best Cooling Points
There are points on your body that react best to cooling. For me, it’s the back of my neck, for some, it could be your wrists or top of the head. By applying ice cubes or an ice pack wrapped in a towel (or any other cold object) to these pulse points, you’ll cool down more quickly and effectively.

What other tactics can you suggest for keeping cool?

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Fall Preparation for Winter Precipitation

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When the beautiful fall leaves turn and the air becomes crisp is a good time to think about how to prepare for the coming cold months. It is important to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter. Winter can cause cause costly bills. Heating costs can double if your windows are poorly insulated or if the heating system is out-of-date. Plumbing can break or burst creating extensive damage to your home and high water bills. To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your home even if it will be vacant for long periods of time. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle.

  • Learn how to properly shut off your water valve (in case a pipe bursts) and turn your water off every time you leave your mountain home.
  • Insulate pipes with insulation and wrap any exposed pipes.
  • Clean your gutters; make sure water can flow freely through your gutters to avoid icicles and ice dams.
  • Change your ceiling fans clockwise to force hot air at the ceiling towards the floor.
  • Replacing the filters in your forced heating unit improves the efficiency of your unit.
  • Window insulation film can help keep heat from escaping out your windows.
  • Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
  •  The simple act of installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, by sealing drafts and reducing air flow
  • Placing a rolled towel at the bottom of your exterior door or a draft guard prevents heat from leaking out.
  • Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year. Your chimney doesn’t necessarily need to be swept every single year, but it does need an annual inspection. Wood stoves, however, should be swept more often.
  • Trim tree branches near your windows, roof, or parking areas before the weight of winter ice and snow can cause them to snap.
  • Inspect your home for any openings where animals could use to get inside. Make sure your fireplace flue or damper is closed, as bats, birds and squirrels are known to get inside this way.
  • Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment.
  • Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
  • It is wise to communicate with a trusted  friend or neighbor if you plan to be gone for a prolonged period of time and make sure they have your contact information. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, and heating or electrical system issues while you are away.

Early this year we experienced extreme low temperatures and lots of snow. Pine Cove lost of over a million gallons of water in February and March this year. This loss was a result of many leaks around the District and caused by freezing temperatures. PCWD always recommends turning your water off at the street customer valve to prevent any water disasters or leaks. Conserving water whenever possible is important to this District.  Pine Covers are very aware and are cautious about conserving water as much as possible.  If you  aren’t sure how you can reduce your water usage,  we have many water conservation tips here on the blog and on our website at pcwd.org that are useful for conserving water both inside the house as well as outside.

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Conservation, Customer Infomation, Customer Valve, From the Office, Frozen Pipes, Leaks, Pine Cove Water District, Storms, Water Conservation, Weather, Winter, winterizing

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