General Info / Tips
Occasionally check under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to see if there are any leaks. Often times these leaks go unnoticed since they’re hidden during most day-to-day life. This can prevent major damage over time.
Weather Changes
As seasons begin to transition, you may notice some unexpected changes.
Weather changes can make doors or windows not close as easily as they normally do as they make take time to adjust to weather changes (expanding and contracting).
Winter / Cold Weather Season: Before Winter and cold weather season starts, it can be helpful to put interior and exterior insulation, covers, covering over wall air conditioning units (PTACs). This is to keep the warm air in and cold air out.
Summer / Warm Weather Season: Before Summer and warm weather season starts, before turning on your wall air conditioning unit, be sure to remove any interior and exterior insulation, covers, covering that was put on during the cold weather season.
Seasonal Bugs and Pests
During seasonal changes you may randomly experience more pests or bugs in your unit.
A lot of times this will start to happen when the weather goes through a seasonal change (starts to get cooler [end of summer] or warmer [end of winter] outside). The pests (bees, ants, etc.) start looking for warmer (or cooler) places and small crevices to get into.
With that, bees could very well be entering the building from another unit or the common areas and making their way through the common areas under your doors or other crevice and into your unit.
This is probably what is happening at this point since it has been getting colder (especially at night). Unfortunately, it comes with the territory and some years are better than others.
Extreme Cold Weather Tips
On very cold days or days with sub-zero temperatures, here are a few tips to help keep the water flowing in your home:
- If any of your indoor faucets are located on exterior walls, set your faucets to a slow drip. This is usually necessary only during especially bitter cold spells and sub-zero temperatures. Faucets and pipes located along exterior walls are especially susceptible to freezing and can burst (causing a lot of damage). For maximum effectiveness, make sure both the hot and cold lines are opened slightly since both are vulnerable. Also, consider leaving lower cabinet doors open, so your pipes will be warmed from the room air. Leave your faucet on at the rate of a slow drip, the water dripping from your faucets over night (and during the day if the temperature is below zero) (see picture below)-
- Be sure your heat is on, even if your home is vacant. Leaving your temperature at 60 degrees is adequate.
- Seal any drafts from the windows or doors.
- Make sure all exterior doors are closed completely behind you.
- If your heater goes out, please be patient. On extremely cold days, chances are that heater repair workers will be in high demand due to others’ heaters going out – so a repair may take longer than normal.
Also, please be sure to take care of yourself and loved ones in the cold weather!
Extreme Heat Weather Tips
On very hot days or days with extremely high temperatures, here are a few tips to help keep cool in your home:
- Stay hydrated.
- Seal any drafts from the windows or doors.
- Make sure all exterior doors are closed completely behind you.
- If your air conditioner goes out, please be patient. On extremely hot days, chances are that air conditioner repair workers will be in high demand due to others’ air conditioners going out – so a repair may take longer than normal.
- If your apartment / unit has multiple air conditioners and one of them goes out, consider using only the room or area that has the working air condition until the other can be repaired. This would include closing the door to the room or closing off as best as possible the area with the working air conditioner so that the working air conditioner is only cooling that room or area (to keep at least one part of your apartment / unit cool).
Also, please be sure to take care of yourself and loved ones in the hot weather!
Leaving For an Extended Period of Time?
If you’re planning on leaving for an extended period of time. Please plan accordingly.
- In the winter, be sure your heat is on. Leaving your temperature at 60 degrees is adequate.
- In the winter, consider leaving lower cabinet doors open, so your pipes will be warmed from the room air.
- Consider keeping your blinds open (in the winter) or closed (in the summer) to either let sunlight in or keep it out.
Please contact us if you have any issues with these or have any further questions.