Happy New Year
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Christmas is almost upon us! We will be closing early December 24th at 12pm. We will also be closed on Christmas Day and the day after, December 25 & 26th. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, December 27th. Our normal business hours are from 9 am until 4 pm.
We do have someone on call 24 hours a day, should a water emergency occur.
That number is 951-294-8282, but remember, this number is for emergencies only.
Everyone here at the Pine Cove Water District wishes all of our customers a very merry holiday season and a new year overflowing with blessings!
Jeremy Potter, Jennifer Hayes, Kaley Chapman, Jensen Beri, Dan Arson, & Mouse the dog.
Eliminate Static this Winter
What Is Static Electricity?
Static is the buildup of an electrical charge on the surface of another object. As the charge moves from one object to another, it releases electricity, producing a shock. It is directly affected by humidity. Static increases when the air gets cold and humidity drops. To stay warm in your home, you turn up the heat, further adding to a decrease in humidity and increasing static. While static can be annoying and sometimes painful, there are some simple things you can do to reduce it.
Add Humidification
Probably the most important tip is to add water back to the air circulating in your home. This can be done in a few ways. First, a humidifier can be used to produce a continuous stream of moisture. This can be a unit placed in the room you are in or a humidification unit added to your home’s heater.
If you don’t have a humidifier, you can place a pot of water on the stove and let it evaporate, adding moisture to the air. This can be particularly nice if you also add things that smell good – like evergreen sprigs or a drop or two of essential oils like lavender. Just be sure not to let the pot get dry. It’s a good idea to set an alarm so you can move freely away from the stove.
Use Fabric Softener
Another major source of static electricity is fabric – whether it is your clothing, your upholstery, or your carpet. Dryer sheets can go a long way to reduce static in these instances. While you can’t get your furniture in your dryer, you can rub a dryer sheet over the surface of the upholstery.
For your carpet, you can either use liquid fabric softener or static elimination sprays. If you use liquid fabric softener, dilute with water and spray just a little on the carpet – you don’t need to soak the surface to get a good result.
For reducing static in your clothing, try wearing natural fabrics, such as cotton. Anything synthetic will build up a charge faster, and therefore create the shock when you touch something.
Carry Something Metal
To stop the dreaded shock when touching the doorknob – touch it with something metal first, essentially grounding yourself. This can be a key, a thimble, or a safety pin that you keep with you for just this purpose.
Clean Floors
And finally, keeping your floors tidy and clean through vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping can also help reduce static electricity by reducing the amount of dust. The Cleaning Authority is here to help with that – get an estimate today.
Winterizing on a budget
- 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!!
8 Tips for Getting Your Vehicle Out of the Snow
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.
Learn more about how to respond for a winter storm.
Thanksgiving Closure
Pine Cove Water District office will be closed on Thursday Nov. 28th and Friday Nov. 29th
Our emergency staff will be available by calling 951-294-8282
How to Turn Off Your Water
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.
Veteran’s Day Closure
THANK YOU to ALL who have served. We APPRECIATE your SERVICE!
The Pine Cove Water District office will be closed Monday, November 11th in honor of Veteran’s Day.
We will reopen with normal hours Tuesday the 12th.
If you have a water emergency please call (951)-294-8282
Simple Ways to Save Water During the Holidays
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is approaching! Time for decorating, baking, and celebrating with your household. While you might be putting final touches together, or maybe you are still in the early stages, one thing you may or may have not thought about is water.
The consumption of this precious resource can often be overlooked when preparing your favorite holiday dishes, but water plays a huge role in the kitchen, from food preparation to the clean-up process.
Here are some simple ways to save water while preparing your favorite holiday meals:
Defrosting Frozen Foods
Leaving the faucet on to defrost a frozen ham or turkey will waste a ton of water. It can cause quite the dent in your water bill, too. Instead, let your frozen items defrost overnight in the fridge.
Rinse Veggies and Fruits
Fill a large bowl or pan with water to rinse vegetables and fruits rather than running the tap. This water can be reused to water your garden or any indoor plants you may have around the house.
Food Scraps
Don’t use your garbage disposal to discard food waste after holiday meals. Toss scraps into the garbage can or save those leaves, rinds, and stems for making compost. Not only will you save water, but the compost can later be used to fertilize your garden.
Dishwashing
If you have a dishwasher, use it. Washing full loads of dishes saves 5-15 gallons per load and uses significantly less water than washing by hand.
Inspect for Leaks
Inspect your bathroom fixtures for malfunctions and leaks before your guests arrive. During the holidays, bathrooms are likely to experience heavier usage than normal which can lead to more issues. Fixing a leak as small as the tip of a ball point pen can save up to 110 gallons!
For more water saving tips that you can use year-round visit saveourwater.com