Greetings!
Welcome to our third quarterly Hales Property Management Newsletter, full of interesting facts, informative articles, helpful tips, and other community living interests.
Reminder: Daylight Savings time ends November 2nd at 2:00 A.M.
Ask us! If you have a question about your condominium and would like us to answer it in our next newsletter, please email us.
HALES HAS GONE GREEN! LED LIGHT BULB PROJECT COMPLETE
In a continuing effort to “go green”, Hales Property Management partnered with Steinhardt Builders for an energy efficiency electricity project. The project involved replacing existing light bulbs with LED bulbs at no cost for the labor and material. Hales is excited to announce the project not only is expected to show significant long-term savings to the Associations electricity expenses, but also save money associated with the ongoing cost of light bulb replacement.
LED lighting is the most energy efficient, clean and Eco-friendly solution for illumination. It is basically digital light, and it comes with a multitude of amazing benefits, such as long life, versatility and zero UV emissions. According to the Department of Energy, switching a single light bulb will save the typical homeowner 36.5 kilowatt hours of electricity a year! The prices of LED bulbs used to scare consumers, but now they can be found for under $10 at most hardware stores – another good reason to replace your light bulbs and have a greener home.
Did You Know? Energy Conservation Tips
After each laundry load, clean the filter to keep the dryer running efficiently. Also, periodically check the air vent and hose for clogging. Keeping the air vent and hose free of lint prevents a fire hazard.
Use a humidifier. Humidity makes you feel warmer in colder months. With the proper humidity level, you’ll be able to turn your thermostat down to a lower temperature, save energy and still feel comfortable.
Make sure the seal on the oven door is tight. Even a small gap allows heat to escape and wastes energy. If you can move a dollar bill through the closed door, the seal is not tight enough and should be replaced.
When using the dishwasher, use short cycles. Select the shortest cycle that properly cleans your dishes. Shorter cycles use less hot water and less energy.
PREPARING YOUR FURNACE FOR WINTER
Regular maintenance along with periodic checkups by a licensed heating professional are essential for continued safe and efficient operation of your furnace. But don’t wait until the first cold snap hits to make sure your furnace is ready for winter.
Here are some simple steps you can perform, plus some things you can ask your contractor to do, to make sure your natural gas furnace will keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long.
- Clean or replace the filter.
- Make sure blower doors are replaced properly.
- Check to make sure the vents in the house are unobstructed.
- Remove all flammable objects from around your furnace and water heater.
FROM THE DESK OF KEITH HALES
Fall is a good time to start thinking of the things needed for the winter months in your home. Just like switching out your summer clothes to warmer ones, preparing your condo for the cold is crucial. There are some great products out there now from window insulator kits and programmable thermostats to special sealants and weather stripping to help keep in the warm and ultimately save you money. For some additional tips, check out our Four Tips to Save Money Around the Home this Fall blog along with other helpful condo or neighborhood related blogs.
We are happy to announce the addition of 14 new condominium associations to manage this year along with our 2 new rental buildings. As a result, we added 2 new seasoned managers and an account specialist to our specialty management team making this year our largest growth in 10 years.
Your feedback is always very important to me and greatly appreciated as it helps us constantly improve our high level service to our customers. Please let me know how we can improve our services to you and your building.
Enjoy the upcoming holidays,
Keith Hales, President, CAM, Managing Broker
Hales Property Management, Inc.
(312) 666-0149
