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| July 2011- Past News and Updates |
Tips for a Clean Garage Probably the most misused area of your house is the garage. In theory,
a garage is only supposed to be used to keep your car(s) in. However, many of us use our
garage to store anything and everything. Eventually there is no longer any room to even park a car
in the garage and the garage itself becomes very dirty and unsightly. Well, if your garage is like
this, here are a few tips for a clean garage.
When following the tips for a clean garage you first have to turn it back into a garage. So, you
have to organize and clean it. Anything that you don’t need throw out. Anything that doesn’t have to
be in the garage (and this should be just about everything) should get stored or placed
somewhere else. You can even put-up shelves, hang cabinets, or use a storage chest to store
items in the garage.
Once the garage is organized, you want to clean the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. The walls
and ceiling can usually be cleaned well enough with a wet/dry vacuum. If your floor isn’t too dirty
you can use a wet/dry vacuum on it too. However, usually you need to use something more
powerful. To get rid of oil stains from your garage floor you can use any type of commercial
cleaner made for the job. For extremely dirty floors, you should use a de-greasing solution. Cover
the floor with the solution, leave it for about ten minutes, and then scrub it. Next use a squeegee
to get all the dirt and mud into one pile and then pick it up and dispose of it.
It’s easy to let our garages become overrun with dirt and disorganization. To win back your
garage, just follow these simple tips for a clean garage. It will take you the better part of a day but
the time will be well spent.
a garage is only supposed to be used to keep your car(s) in. However, many of us use our
garage to store anything and everything. Eventually there is no longer any room to even park a car
in the garage and the garage itself becomes very dirty and unsightly. Well, if your garage is like
this, here are a few tips for a clean garage.
When following the tips for a clean garage you first have to turn it back into a garage. So, you
have to organize and clean it. Anything that you don’t need throw out. Anything that doesn’t have to
be in the garage (and this should be just about everything) should get stored or placed
somewhere else. You can even put-up shelves, hang cabinets, or use a storage chest to store
items in the garage.
Once the garage is organized, you want to clean the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. The walls
and ceiling can usually be cleaned well enough with a wet/dry vacuum. If your floor isn’t too dirty
you can use a wet/dry vacuum on it too. However, usually you need to use something more
powerful. To get rid of oil stains from your garage floor you can use any type of commercial
cleaner made for the job. For extremely dirty floors, you should use a de-greasing solution. Cover
the floor with the solution, leave it for about ten minutes, and then scrub it. Next use a squeegee
to get all the dirt and mud into one pile and then pick it up and dispose of it.
It’s easy to let our garages become overrun with dirt and disorganization. To win back your
garage, just follow these simple tips for a clean garage. It will take you the better part of a day but
the time will be well spent.
Getting ready for a Fire or Flood -
www.fema.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency
www.floodsmart.gov Info about floods, risk of financial loss due to flooding and flood insurance.
www.ready.gov Info on how to get ready for an emergency.
www.disasterassistance.com Access to Disaster Help and Resources.
Do You Have A Plan?
battery was weak. Quite annoying at midnight! Then this morning there was the Sacramento
Bee article on “Natomas to vote on tax to fix levees”. Those two items brought back my recent
Last night my bedroom’s smoke detector gave the dreaded signal (constant beeping) that the
neighborhood meeting with Mayor Kevin Johnson. One of the items we discussed was Mayor
Johnson’s interest in informing & getting Sacramento residents to be prepared for a flood.
So I posed the question to myself. Do I have an emergency plan? It is sobering to realize that
homes in high-risk flood areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the course of a 30 year loan.
Yes I have fire & flood insurance but what is my emergency action plan? Is everyone in my house
on the same page?
My Personal Property - Emergency Preparation
My number one priority is to keep everyone in the house safe! My number two priority is to
minimize potential flood or fire damage and have the necessary records to substantiate &
expedite the settlement of an insurance claim.
I identified these critical must have items that are packed & ready to go in a moment’s notice:
Food & Water - Emergency Plan
It Only Happens to the Other Guy!
I know I still have a long way to go but I must admit feeling a bit more comfortable and self-
assured knowing that I am a little better prepared to not only handle an emergency myself but for
those around me. - David Heitz, RCCA Treasurer
www.fema.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency
www.floodsmart.gov Info about floods, risk of financial loss due to flooding and flood insurance.
www.ready.gov Info on how to get ready for an emergency.
www.disasterassistance.com Access to Disaster Help and Resources.
Do You Have A Plan?
battery was weak. Quite annoying at midnight! Then this morning there was the Sacramento
Bee article on “Natomas to vote on tax to fix levees”. Those two items brought back my recent
Last night my bedroom’s smoke detector gave the dreaded signal (constant beeping) that the
neighborhood meeting with Mayor Kevin Johnson. One of the items we discussed was Mayor
Johnson’s interest in informing & getting Sacramento residents to be prepared for a flood.
So I posed the question to myself. Do I have an emergency plan? It is sobering to realize that
homes in high-risk flood areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the course of a 30 year loan.
Yes I have fire & flood insurance but what is my emergency action plan? Is everyone in my house
on the same page?
My Personal Property - Emergency Preparation
My number one priority is to keep everyone in the house safe! My number two priority is to
minimize potential flood or fire damage and have the necessary records to substantiate &
expedite the settlement of an insurance claim.
I identified these critical must have items that are packed & ready to go in a moment’s notice:
- A suitcase packed with three days clothing, extra shoes, toiletries, & coat (under my bed).
- Medical Prescriptions – all neatly packed and ready to go.
- Cell Phone & Battery Charger, Laptop Computer, & Digital Camera (photos after loss)
- Includes inventory, photos & receipts of all purchases
- File Box #1: Legal/Financial: Trust, Mortgage, Auto/Home/Flood Ins, Bank, Credit Card,
Passport - File Box #2: Home Improvement Projects & Receipts
- Dog Food Storage Container – Month Supply, Dog Food & Water Bowls
- You might want to check out the website www.knowyourstuff.org.
They have very easy to use free templates that store the information online.
Food & Water - Emergency Plan
- Safety kit – 3 gallons drinking water, 3 days canned food, opener, first aid kit, blankets,
radio, flashlight. - I’ve input three emergency phone numbers into my cell phone: Emergency #1, #2, #3.
- Plan & practice a flood evacuation route with your family. Know your safe routes that are
on higher ground. - My brother Ron (out-of-area) is the go to emergency contact. Believe it or not but long
distance calls or texts have a better chance of working during a local emergency. - Have a plan to protect your pets.
- Protect Yourself and Your Home
- If flooding occurs, go to higher ground and avoid areas subject to flooding.
- Designate one or two locations to meet in case you get separated during an emergency.
- Listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest storm information.
- Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if advised to do
so.
It Only Happens to the Other Guy!
I know I still have a long way to go but I must admit feeling a bit more comfortable and self-
assured knowing that I am a little better prepared to not only handle an emergency myself but for
those around me. - David Heitz, RCCA Treasurer
How to Save on Home Heating & Air-Conditioning- Keeping your home warm during cold winter
months and cool during the summer months takes energy and money. Cold-air drafts through
windows, poor insulation and ill-fitting doors wreak havoc with your heating and air bills, as do
high ceilings, manual thermostats and inefficient HVAC systems. Save yourself some money
heating bill.
months and cool during the summer months takes energy and money. Cold-air drafts through
windows, poor insulation and ill-fitting doors wreak havoc with your heating and air bills, as do
high ceilings, manual thermostats and inefficient HVAC systems. Save yourself some money
heating bill.
- Perform a whole-house energy audit. Check every outlet, door and window for drafts.
Hold a tissue at the seams on a windy day. If the tissue moves, you have a draft. - Schedule an inspection and annual maintenance appointment for your HVAC system.
Make sure your HVAC is working at full capacity. Change the filters regularly. Wrap your
hot water heater with an insulated blanket; these can be found at most home
improvement stores. - Program your thermostat so it automatically lowers the temperatures at night and during
the day when you are out of the house. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, buy
one at your local home improvement store and install it. - Fill any cracks or gaps in your windows and doors with weather stripping. Use door
thresholds with your doors leading outside. Don't forget your garage door. Any gap
between the door and your garage floor invites cold air in and warm air out. Look for
holes in crawl spaces too. Fill these with expandable foam or seal with caulk and
weather stripping. - During the winter, open your curtains and blinds when the sun shines, but keep them
closed on shady days and the opposite in summer. During the winter as dusk
approaches, close all curtains and blinds to keep the heat in and the cold out. - Turn your ceiling fan on, but reverse the blades in the winter so it pushes the warm air
down. The movement circulates the warm air. Close your chimney flue when not using
your fireplace, and don't use your bathroom exhaust fans unless absolutely necessary. - Change your single-pane windows to multi-pane windows. These are more energy
efficient and may qualify for a tax credit.
How do you know if you have sun damage or dry rot?
Damage is usually worse on the south and west facing areas. Sun damage to the surface of
T1-11 siding, fascia boards and beams show up as areas of cracked and blistered paint. For
minor damage, you can sand and fill the damaged areas.
Fungal dry rot can infect the wood on your house including the extended beams, siding and
fascia boards. Infections on the outside can spread to wood on the inside. When you see that
the wood is split, cracked, warped or disintegrated, it is probably dry rot. If you suspect dry rot
problems, consult a knowledgeable contractor to take care of it ASAP. If the damage is severe,
replace the siding and fascia boards. The beams can be restored by cutting off the infected
areas, treating them with an anti-fungal and rebuilding the beam.
Paint protects the wood from these kinds of damage. To prevent future damage, paint every four
or five years. However, it's best to paint the south and west facing areas every two years.
Damage is usually worse on the south and west facing areas. Sun damage to the surface of
T1-11 siding, fascia boards and beams show up as areas of cracked and blistered paint. For
minor damage, you can sand and fill the damaged areas.
Fungal dry rot can infect the wood on your house including the extended beams, siding and
fascia boards. Infections on the outside can spread to wood on the inside. When you see that
the wood is split, cracked, warped or disintegrated, it is probably dry rot. If you suspect dry rot
problems, consult a knowledgeable contractor to take care of it ASAP. If the damage is severe,
replace the siding and fascia boards. The beams can be restored by cutting off the infected
areas, treating them with an anti-fungal and rebuilding the beam.
Paint protects the wood from these kinds of damage. To prevent future damage, paint every four
or five years. However, it's best to paint the south and west facing areas every two years.
Landscape Reminders:
small and the soil is wet.
winter months.
Monthly Inspectors from Riverside Management tour the neighborhood to ensure that properties
are well maintained and that unapproved architectural changes have not been made.
small and the soil is wet.
- Mistletoe, a parasite, attacks trees and deprives them of water and nutrients. This makes
the tree susceptible to disease and potential death. Since birds spread this parasite from
tree to tree, you should remove it to prevent neighborhood infestations. Now that the
leaves have dropped, it is easy to see it. On infected limbs less than three inches around,
prune 12 to 18 inches below the point where the mistletoe is attached. On limbs and
trunks greater than three inches around, cut it off at the point of attachment. Check www.
sactree.com for more information or to request a loan of pole saws to help you remove it.
- Leaves and needles should be raked or blown from the landscape and removed from
the sidewalks and streets regularly.
- Roses should be pruned now.
- Lawns (grass) need fertilizing, weeding and, when the temperatures are over 70
degrees, reseeding. Start planning these spring maintenance tasks now.
- Irrigation systems should be off or set to run only on the weekend (even number
winter months.
- Bird droppings can carry diseases, which can be spread to humans and pets, so please
clean it off the sidewalks.
- Dog owners must pick up their dog's poop during walks.
Monthly Inspectors from Riverside Management tour the neighborhood to ensure that properties
are well maintained and that unapproved architectural changes have not been made.