Here are ways to keep pipes from freezing in the first place:

1. Leave the cabinet doors under the kitchen sink open so that the room air can warm the pipes.

2. Place a lamp with a 60-watt bulb in the potential problem area to warm the walls and pipes. Make sure there are no combustible materials near the bulb.

3. With rigid foam insulation, close and seal all foundation vents that are near water pipes.

4. Insulate the foundation walls and the ends of the floor joists with rigid foam insulation.

5. If the crawl access is inside the home, set a fan in the opening to blow warm air from the home to the foundation. Don’t use a fan when the access is in an unheated garage or outside the home.

6. If the water pipes are freezing inside the exterior wall, cut an opening in the wall to expose the pipes to the home’s warm air. Place fiberglass insulation behind the pipes, between the pipes and the home’s exterior wall. The hole in the wall can be covered later with a hinged door or a panel that can be removed during cold spells.

7. Have the home’s exterior walls insulated. Caulk and seal around doors, windows, house faucets and outside outlets.

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When driving in snow make sure to keep your distance from the car in front of you by a bigger margin than usual.

Gradually put your brakes on instead of suddenly hitting them.

Steering your vehicle in snow can be tricky. So be alert.

Watch out for the other drivers on the road.

Reduce your speed.

Gear down.

These are only a few tips to help with driving in the snow. The biggest tip is to stay at home unless you just have to be out in the snow.

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Beneath the pristine white blanket of snow lies a very destructive force. Snow can deal as much damage as fires, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Heavy snow damage has frozen acres upon acres of agricultural crops, resulted in major car accidents due to the slippery roads, caused severe flooding, and destroyed billions of dollars worth of property.

1. Clear the rooftop of snow.

2 .Improve the air ventilation in the attic.

3. Ensure that all gutters and drains are clean and free from dirt.

4. Also make sure that gutters and drains are connected firmly to the house.

5. Remove snow from doors and windows as well.

6. Clear the area around exhaust pipes and air vents on heaters and furnaces.

7. Keep water moving within pipes to prevent them from freezing.

8. Watch out for snow-covered trees that are surrounding the house.

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“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
~Zig Ziglar

The above is one of my favorite old quotes! It really is true. Take time to do something kind for another. I like to compliment (sincerely) people! What will you try? Do it for the rest of the week!
Make it a great day!
Sherri

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Well it is that time of year for snow and ice. You might want to check your tires to make sure they have good tread on them to help drive in the snow. If you are dealing with ice it is a totally different problem. Just because a vehicle has four wheel drive it does not mean it will go on ice. So be very careful if you have to go out in it and if you don’t have to that is even better.

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As a DKI member (largest restoration contracting organization in North America) First Restoration Services is a Certified Green Risk Professional. What does this mean? This gives First Restoration Services knowledge and expertise necessary to evaluate damage to an existing “green” building and understand what must be done in order to work on it and build it back in such a manner that it remains “green.”

As a result, First Restoration Services understands the unique criteria used in green rating systems, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Moreover, unlike any other restoration services group, we understand the valuation issues critical to assessing initial property coverage limits.

It is important to understand that no other property damage restoration services group has taken significant steps toward understanding what it means to restore green. First Restoration Services takes great pride in understanding the building components with which we work, how to restore in the most efficient way possible, and now have the ability to do so in an environmentally conscious manner.

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…Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh…

I had the joy of being one of the judges for the Hendersonville Christmas Parade!  The weather was wintry…and a good time was had by all. The 1st place winner was: Stoney Mountain Baptist Church,followed by Habitat for Humanity and Crab Creek Baptist Church.  The theme  was Then and Now, one that all can relate to.

Merry Christmas!

Sherri

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Often times, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we forget to protect our home and if disaster strikes, it leaves us out of our “nest” just in time for Christmas. Because of Christmas Lights, Christmas Trees, and cold weather, the risk of disasters striking our home increases during this time of year. To help prevent accidents, remember when decorating with lights not to overload any of your circuits with too many or you may end up with the kind of lighting you don’t appreciate. Also, Christmas trees and other greenery are flammable, so always turn off your tree lights when you are away from home and keep it watered and well hydrated. Also, we have been having some really frigid temperatures this week, so it is important to remember to keep your heat running, even when leaving town, to keep your pipes from freezing causing major damage to your home.

As always, if you do have any emergencies or disasters at your home, First Restoration Services is here for you 24/7/365, which means that even for the holidays, we are here to help! We will try to keep your holiday’s cheerful even in times of distress!

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Before you enjoy Hendersonville’s finest golf courses like Champion Hills, Cummings Cove, Etowah Country Club, you might want to park your golf carts outside just in case your pipes decide to freeze.

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