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.
Placing a rolled towel at the bottom of your exterior door or a draft guard prevents heat from leaking out.
To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your vacant home. Turning your water off, unplug appliances such as microwaves and toasters to prevent faulty switches.
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.
It is wise to communicate with a trusted friend or neighbor that your will be gone for a prolonged period of time and 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 for an extended period of time. Bundle the house up tight!!
As winter approaches it is important to winter-proof your vehicle and fleet can help keep it running its best so you, your workers, and fleet drivers can safely navigate the roads no matter the weather. Sometimes a winter storm can disrupt even the best laid plans, so check out the eight handy tips below for what to do if your vehicle or truck gets stuck in the snow:
Tip 1: Rock your vehicle instead of spinning your tires
If you’re stuck in the snow, your first instinct may be to press the gas hoping to gain momentum and become unstuck. This could make your tires spin, causing friction that may melt and pack snow, creating an icier, slicker surface—making it even harder to escape. Instead, put your vehicle in low gear and press the gas slightly to rock forward just a bit, then put the vehicle in reverse to rock backward. By repeating this rocking motion, you may gain enough momentum to help propel your vehicle out of the snow.
Tip 2: Shift to a lower gear
This tip pairs well with the rocking method. If possible, shift into a lower gear. For a manual transmission, this means first gear. For an automatic transmission, this means shifting from D (drive) to L or 1 (low or first gear) or 2 (second gear). This slows down the rotation of your tires, which decreases the likelihood of spinning and ice formation through melting.
Tip 3: Gain traction
If the rocking motion and using low gears are unsuccessful, you may need additional help gaining traction. Give your tires something to grab onto, such as your vehicle’s floor mats—or dry cardboard if you have some handy—and then try the rocking process again. Sprinkling cat litter or sand around the tires may also provide traction.
Tip 4: Watch where you park and keep moving
The best advice for getting unstuck is not to get stuck in the first place. If you drive a fleet vehicle or larger rig, you may find yourself parking in unfamiliar places for hours at a time. During snowy and icy weather, pay attention to where you park, avoiding muddy, slushy or soft ground when possible. If you will be at one location for several hours while wintry precipitation is falling or during frigid temperatures, move your vehicle frequently. This makes it less likely for snow and ice to accumulate around tires.
Tip 5: Start shoveling
Stock your vehicle with a snow shovel or pusher to clear a path around the wheels so you can move forward and back. If you don’t have a shovel, look for another tool that can help break up the snow and any ice that has formed such as a screwdriver or an ice scraper. Chopping up the ice can create a rougher surface, giving you more traction.
Tip 6: Add tire chains
If you regularly drive on snow-covered or icy roads, it may be a good idea to install tire chains. These chains fit around the tires of your vehicle and can help them navigate slippery surfaces.
Tip 7: Deflate tires slightly
Another option is to slightly deflate your tires. A flatter tire has more gripping surface and could provide the traction you need to get out of the snow. Only use this option if it’s a short drive to an air filling station. Driving long distances on deflated tires may cause structural damage to the tire and make steering difficult due to the increased surface area on the road.
Tip 8: Phone a friend—or a towing service
If you’ve given your best effort and still can’t get your vehicle out of the snow, it may be time to call for assistance. If it’s safe for drivers to be on the road, call a friend or coworker to pick you up. If the roads are unsafe, call for emergency assistance or for a towing service to transport you and your vehicle somewhere safe.
Once out of the snow, if you deflated your tires head to the nearest service station. Return any snow shovels, ice scrapers and tire chains to the vehicle. Restock any depleted supplies, such as ice melt or cat litter, that may be needed for the next snow or ice event.
If you must be outside in cold weather, make sure to familiarize yourself and your driving team with how to avoid frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-related injuries.
A water leak, planned work on your sprinkler system, venturing away from home, or an emergency may necessitate turning off the water to your home. Do you, and everyone in your household, know how to turn off the water to your home? The information below guides you on locating and turning off your water by utilizing the “house valve” aka “customer valve.”
Locating your house valve
Your house valve is typically outside your home and may be located in the front, on the side or in the backyard.
Locate the hose bib (outside faucet) next to your home that is mounted on a pipe coming up from the ground. (See Photo)
The house valve is located on that pipe between the ground and the hose bib.
Operating your house valve
Your house valve can be one of two types: a gate valve or a ball valve.
Gate valves close by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off.
Ball valves close by turning the straight handle a quarter turn clockwise until the water if off.
To verify the water is off, turn on the hose bib next to the house valve. As you turn the house valve off, the water from the hose bib should stop.
To turn the water back on, either turn the gate valve counterclockwise or turn the ball valve a quarter turn counterclockwise.
You may want to attach a tag or label to your house valve for quick identification so that you and the members of your household can find it even in the dark.
Everyone in your home should know how to shut off the water to your home. In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or an unexpected winter freeze, you may want to turn off the water supply to your home to prevent water damage to your property. Take a few minutes to locate and learn how to operate your house valve.
October billing (due November 1, 2024) is going out. If you get emailed bills, you may have already received yours. The mailing included our updated Newsletter which you can view here, as well as Winterizing tips which you can read about here.
The bi-monthly minimum is $80.00 for two month billing period, excluding any water usage. Water usage is billed as follows: $8.00 per thousand gallons from 0 to 7,500 gallons $10.00 per thousand gallons from 7,500 to 15,000 gallons $12.00 per thousand gallons over 15,000
(Because we weren’t able to read meters last billing cycle due to snow, the gallons of usage is doubled in this billing period.)
Water bills are mailed around the 1st of the Billing Month (even months). All bills are due and payable by the 1st of the following month (odd months). Any bill not paid by the due date will be termed delinquent and subject to a $15.00 late fee and/or termination. If shut off, a reconnect fee of $75.00 will be charged, in addition to the current amount due, to re-establish service.
There are several ways to pay your bill.ACH Auto Draft is a free service; the payment is automatically taken out of your bank account (filled out form required). You can log on to your account online, and pay with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover, or E-check. To register your account online, you will need your account number, and the Municipality Code which is PineCoveWDCA. Go to www.pcwd.org and click the “Billing” tab and the Payment option link. Next, click on the www.ub-pay.com link and register your account from there. You can come into the office and pay by check, cash, or card (one person at a time). Call with a credit/debit card (Please note that there is a convenience fee of $3.00 per hundred dollars charged if using a credit card). Drop payments thru the slot on the front door or mail a check or money order.
Frozen pipes can leave you without water in the worst of weather, and could cost a lot to repair. However, with a few simple steps, you can easily preserve both your budget and your peace of mind!
Before the cold weather sets in:
Check sprinkler or irrigation systems. Make sure everything is turned off and drained.
Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines. Fix drafty windows and plug drafts around doors. Identify your home’s freezing points.
Know how to shut off your water. If you do not know how to turn off your water give us a call we’d love to help you out!
Protect your pipes. Wrap them with insulation.
When temperatures stay below freezing:
If pipes run through cabinets or vanities open the doors to let warmer room temperatures flow in.
Keep water moving through the pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run.
But if your pipes do freeze:
Shut off the water immediately.
Thaw pipes with warm air, with a hair dryer or space heater. Do not leave space heaters unattended and do not use kerosene heaters or open flames.
Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks.
Winterize your home now and you’ll not only stay cozy all winter long, but you’ll also save on energy costs and slash your heating bill. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle!
To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your vacant home. 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.
Unplug appliances such as microwaves and toasters to prevent faulty switches.
Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
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 — as soon as they’ve accumulated a quarter of an inch of creosote.
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. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
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 that your will be gone for a prolonged period of time and 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 for an extended period of time.
October billing (due November 1, 2022) is going out this week. If you get emailed bills, you should have already received yours.
This months mailed billing included Winterizing Tips. Click here to view that item.
Previously we have sent a survey about property usage. If you haven’t already done so, please help us by clicking here for that survey.
The bi-monthly minimum is $77.00 for two month billing period, excluding any water usage. Water usage is billed as follows:
$7.00 per thousand gallons from 0 to 7,500 gallons
$9.00 per thousand gallons from 7,500 to 15,000 gallons
$11.00 per thousand gallons over 15,000
Water bills are mailed around the 1st of the Billing Month (even months). All bills are due and payable by the 1st of the following month (odd months). Any bill not paid by the due date will be termed delinquent and subject to a $15.00 late fee and/or termination. If shut off, a reconnect fee of $75.00 will be charged, in addition to the current amount due, to re-establish service.
There are several ways to pay your bill.ACH Auto Draft is a free service; the payment is automatically taken out of your bank account (filled out form required). You can log on to your account online, and pay with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover, or E-check. To register your account online, you will need your account number, and the Municipality Code which is PineCoveWDCA. Go to www.pcwd.org and click the “Billing” tab and the Payment option link. Next, click on the www.ub-pay.com link and register your account from there. You can come into the office and pay by check, cash, or card (one person at a time). Call with a credit/debit card (Please note that there is a convenience fee of $3.00 per hundred dollars charged if using a credit card). Drop payments thru the slot on the front door or mail a check or money order.
December billing went out this week. If you get emailed bills, you should’ve already received yours.
This months mailed billing includes our Winter Newsletter with updates and local resources and Winterizing Tips. In case you don’t get the paper mailing, I’ve attached those items here – December Billing Inserts
Water bills are mailed around the 1st of the Billing Month (even months). All bills are due and payable by the 1st of the following month (odd months). Any bill not paid by the due date will be termed delinquent and subject to a $15.00 late fee and/or termination. If shut off, a reconnect fee of $75.00 will be charged, in addition to the current amount due, to re-establish service.
There are several ways to pay your bill.ACH Auto Draft is a free service; the payment is automatically taken out of your bank account (filled out form required). You can log on to your account online, and pay with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover, or E-check. To register your account online, you will need your account number, and the Municipality Code which is PineCoveWDCA. Go to www.pcwd.org and click the “Billing” tab and the Payment option link. Next, click on the www.ub-pay.com link and register your account from there. You can come into the office and pay by check, cash, or card. One person at a time with a mask. Call with a credit/debit card. Drop payments thru the slot on the front door or mail a check or money order. Please note that there is a convenience fee of $3.00 per hundred dollars charged if using a credit card.
There is no doubt that mulching builds soil, reduces the need to water, and helps control weeds. But what does it do to protect plants from the cold? In many climates, perennials will survive just fine without any protection. In cold areas, snow is an excellent insulator; it keeps plants underground at a temperature around freezing and protects them from the worst of winter conditions. If we could be sure that there would be a good layer of snow throughout winter, our gardens wouldn’t experience many problems at all. Without snow or other mulch in tough winter months, however, plants may suffer heaving and freezing, which can damage their root systems.
The best time to apply winter mulch is just after the first hard frost. By putting mulch down at this time, you will help stabilize the temperature of the soil right around freezing. Applying mulch too soon may delay freezing and encourage heaving and thawing. Applying it too late may cause the roots of plants to experience temperatures below that which they can handle.
Pine bark or wood chips are the best mulches; they enrich soil as they degrade. A layer of mulch about 4 to 6 inches deep over the plants works well. Most perennials will pop through the mulch in spring. If the plants are young, small, or newly planted in fall, you may need to clear some of the mulch in spring so that the plants can emerge without difficulty through the winter protection.
Organic mulches cushion the soil from compaction and erosion caused by heavy winter rains while safeguarding the soil’s storehouse of nutrients. In addition, winter mulches can enhance the cold tolerance of perennial vegetables, herbs and fruits, helping to insure a strong comeback in spring.
Recently laid wood chips to keep the roots nice and cozy
The what, why, how, and where
What are woodchips? Woodchips are small pieces of wood.
Why would I want woodchips in my garden design? The most common way of using woodchips for gardening is to spread them on the ground as mulch.
How? It is important to remember that, as with any permaculture technique, every site is different and every plant species has its own unique requirements. You may find woodchip mulching in one part of your site does not work, while in another place it does wonders. • Spread the woodchip mulch at least 2-3 inches deep • Plant seedlings in the soil just below the woodchips • It may be too difficult to move the woodchip layer for seeds which are small or closely spaced, such as carrots, beetroots, spinach, and onions, so maybe use a different mulch material if you are planning to grow these kind of crops • Squash grow particularly well in woodchips
Where can you get woodchips? We currently have a large pile at our Dutch Flats location that Pine Cove residents can go and gather as much as they’d like for free. Special for December – have a truckload delivered for only $100
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