Inside this Newsletter
- Important Dates to Remember
- Updates at Hales Property Management
- Safe Driving in Chicago Winter: 4 Tips
- Best of the Blog
- Maintenance Tip: How to Safely Unclog a Garbage Disposal
- From the Desk of Keith Hales
Important Dates to Remember:
Jan. 7 – 17 – Sketch Comedy Festival
Jan. 15 – 17 – Cubs Convention
Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 22 – Feb. 4 – Chicago Restaurant Week
Jan. 30 – Polar Bear Plunge
Updates at Hales Property Management
As we continue to experience the freezing temps, residents are reminded to continuously check their faucets and appliances to ensure that the water (both cold and hot) are running normally. The extreme cold can create a substantial risk for frozen or burst pipes. As the water freezes, it begins to turn to ice and slowly expands creating a great deal of pressure in the pipe thus causing the pipe to burst. Even a small crack can unleash over 10 gallons in less than an hour!
Please see these quick tips below and don’t forget to check out our blog page for other important information and tips.
Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing
* Open cabinet doors under sinks and in storage areas to allow heat from the room to circulate around the pipes.
* Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip overnight; however, be careful not to run the water into a drain line that is exposed to the extreme cold because that line might freeze.
* Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing.
* Make sure the heat is turned on in the building and is set no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
* If you have experienced pipe freezes in the past, there’s a good chance that it will happen again so be sure to monitor it carefully.
What If You Have Frozen Pipes
* Shut off the water main for your unit (if you have one) to reduce pressure on frozen pipes and minimize flooding if the pipes burst. Contact Management immediately.
* Use a hair dryer to thaw the ice blockage if the frozen pipe is exposed and visible. (Do not use an open flame to thaw!)
* If you notice slower water flow and suspect frozen pipes, contact Managementimmediately so we can assess if a plumber is required.
With everyone’s help in conducting some minor due diligence, we can help you save a great deal of damage from occurring!
Safe Driving in Chicago Winter: 4 Tips
After an unseasonably mild December, the Chicagoland region is finally getting some snowfall. When it comes time to drive in winter conditions, remember these 4 safety tips:
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Fully clean off your car from snow and ice before you start driving. You need more visibility than just your front and back windshields to drive safely. Snow and ice from the roof of your car can also slide over your front windshield as you apply the brakes, creating loss of visibility at a crucial moment, so take the time to clean off the roof of your car as well.
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Accelerate and stop more gently.Safe winter driving is all about fluidity of motion-starting or stopping too quickly can easily send you into a skid. Using the lower gears on your car will also allow you to start more slowly and use engine braking for more gentle stopping.
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If the streets have not been plowed yet, take the biggest streets you can(these are more likely to be clean) to your destination, even if that way takes a little longer.
- Never warm up your car in an enclosed space, such as a personal garage. Doing so can lead to a dangerous buildup of gasses that can harm you or others.
Best of the Blog
Our blog is still posting weekly advice for owners and residents. Here are 4 recent posts we were particularly proud of:
The holiday season is the perfect time to take up a building-wide cause that will allow those who are less fortunate to also have a decent and dignified holiday celebration.
Find out about the key part you, the resident, play in promoting security in your building.
Maintenance Tip: How to Safely Unclog a Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are the unsung heroes of the kitchen, conveniently eliminating all kinds of food waste. But sometimes, users can overload their disposals and clog them. Here’s how you can safely unclog your garbage disposal when you notice it isn’t working as it should:
