Archive for the ‘Winter’ Category
Winter Home Maintenance: Frozen Pipes
Wednesday, December 19th, 2018
Winter home maintenance plays a very important role in the protection of your home. With the cold weather that winter brings, comes harsh conditions that can be tough on your house. One of the most difficult things to deal with during the cold months of the year are frozen pipes. Here is a brief guide for protecting your home from the detrimental damages that come from frozen pipes.
How do I prevent pipes from freezing?
The most effective way to prevent your pipes from freezing is to wrap them with foam insulation. It is a good idea to wrap all of the pipes in your home to ensure protection. However, the most important pipes are those that are 6 inches or less from outside walls or are run through areas of the house that are not heated. Make sure that the insulation is wrapped tightly around the pipes to keep out the cold. Also, ensure that the joints are wrapped and taped to ensure protection.
What do I do if the pipes freeze?
If your pipes freeze, you need to try to thaw them as soon as possible. While it is important to unfreeze them quickly, you need to be strategic so the pipes don’t burst. Thawing an area of the pipe too quickly can cause it to burst.
The first step is to open the taps to the frozen lines and turn up the heat in your house. If the pipe is in a room that is not heated, a space heater can be very useful. Then, you will want to start thawing the pipe in sections, starting closest to the faucet. A blow dryer can be the perfect tool for this, it’s just enough heat to thaw the pipe and not too much.
What do I do about a burst pipe?
Shut off the water to your house immediately. If you don’t know where it’s at, I would recommend that you go find it now. Generally, the main water valve is located near a water meter. This is the main source of water into your home and if it is shut off quickly, the damages from a burst pipe will be minimized.
Louie’s ACE Home Center Can Help
Louie’s ACE always has a stock of winter home maintenance supplies and experts to answer your questions. Protect your home this winter and give us a call!
Keep Your Home Warm This Winter with Window Coverings
Wednesday, December 20th, 2017With winter upon us, our homes are much colder and our electricity bills are skyrocketing. Turning up the heater is the first thing we do as soon as we feel the cold, but there are other alternatives. If you invest in the appropriate window coverings, you won’t have to run the heater as often and will save a bunch of money. Although, purchasing blinds can require a large upfront payment, you are making an investment in your home and it will pay off.
Does It Really Work?
Of course it does! Windows are the greatest source of cold into and warmth out of your house. It has been said that windows account for 40% of heat loss in homes. You spend all this money on a heater, just to lose almost half of it to the outside. Installing blinds wouldn’t allow this loss to occur. If you are able to trap a layer of air in between blinds and the window, the heat won’t be able to escape and cold won’t be able to enter.
How to Make the Most of Your Blinds
Making the most of the newest addition to your home is actually quite simple. The best way to control the temperature in your home without touching the thermostat is to time the opening and closing of your blinds. During the day, you are going to want to open the blinds to let in all the sunlight and warmth. However, when dusk falls, close the blinds to keep the natural heat inside and the cold out.
The Right Window Coverings For You
Because every home and customer is different, there is not a one-size-fits-all window covering. The perfect window covering for you depends on the style you are looking for, the size of your windows, and the cold protection you desire. Louie’s Ace Hardware offers a wide variety of mini-blinds and basic rollers to fit any need. In addition, at Louie’s, you are able to special order products from Hunter Douglas. Whatever your style, we have you covered!
Emergency Kit for Your Car this Winter
Monday, January 30th, 2017The Reno Tahoe area has had one of the most extreme winters that we have had in years. With a flurry of winter storms, it has become even more important to winterize your car and prepare for emergencies. If you end up stuck in a storm, slid off the road, or in an accident, you may end up stranded in severe temperatures. In these situations, it’s important to prepare beforehand with the proper emergency car kit.
At Louie’s Ace Hardware, we carry all the essentials that you need to create an emergency kit for your car. Here’s the items we recommend carrying for winter safety in case you get stuck in a blizzard.
Basic Car Safety Kit:
This is the basic kit that we recommend having in your car year-round. These essentials also serve in cold weather too. If you need to replenish your safety kit, it’s a good idea to do this before heading out into any kind of severe weather.
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Water
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Good first aid kit
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Basic car tool kit
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Spare tire
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Good pair of jumper cables
Cold Weather Bag for Winter Emergencies:
In addition to your basics, we also recommend having a cold weather bag, specifically stocked with emergency items needed in a blizzard. Here’s some items that you should keep in your vehicle this winter:
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Water (take fresh water into car that isn’t frozen during each trip)
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Snacks
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Battery charger for phone
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Flashlights
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Rescue tool (with seatbelt cutter to easily escape car)
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Back-up phone
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Ice scraper
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Flairs
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Maps
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Portable shovel
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Emergency blanket
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Emergency candle
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Matches
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Tow cables
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Repair manual (keep this in your car always)
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Tarp/fire Starter kit (if you need to leave the car)
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Duct tape (this can be used for many purposes)
Emergency Items for Your Glove Box:
In the case of an emergency, you may not be able to access all areas of your car. Keeping your glove box stocked with safety items can give you quicker access to a few basics.
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Contact book with phone numbers
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Pen
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Poncho
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Aspirin
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Mini first aid kid
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Hand warmers
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Plastic bags/wipes (for sanitation)
Winter Clothing for Your Car:
In case you must exit your car or walk to get help, it’s important to have proper winter clothing and layers that can keep you warm in freezing temperatures.
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Warm sweater
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Jacket
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Hats
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Gloves
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Layers
We hope this check-list helps you prepare for winter storms. Stop by Louie’s for all your winterizing needs. We’d love to help you put together your next emergency kit and choose the right items for your vehicle.
Winter is Coming. It’s Time to Winterize Your RV!
Thursday, October 27th, 2016After the summer fun is done and the last camping day of fall has passed, it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your RV. Winterizing your RV may seem like a daunting task. But at Louie’s Ace Home Center, we have everything you need to get the job done. If you are staying in your RV, you are going to want to keep your water lines functional. Be sure to wrap your lines with foil and open your faucets slightly if you are planning to stay in the RV. If you are storing it, follow these simple steps to winterize your RV.
- Mind the water lines: You will need to drain and dry your water lines before storage. How do you do this? First, open the “petcock” and allow everything to drain except the water heater. What’s the petcock? The petcock is a small valve used for draining. It’s usually located by the water tank.
- Drain the holding tanks and open the faucets: Flush both tanks simultaneously. Some RVs come with a built-in tank system. If yours doesn’t, clean your tanks with a wand. Take the refuse to a dump station. Toilet, shower, sinks, open them all to winterize your RV. Flush the toilet until you are sure all the water has emptied out.
- Blow out the lines and seal them up: Purchase a compressed air adapter or blowout plug. Attach it to the water intake fitting and use a standard air compressor (like the ones you use to inflate the tires on your car) to blow out your water lines. This gets rid of excess water and prevents the dilution of your anti-freeze. Do this at a maximum of 50 psi. Replace your caps, close the faucets, and close the petcock. As a reminder, the petcock is the valve you opened to drain your water in the first place.
- Detach the compressor and add anti-freeze to your lines: Make sure to detach the air compressor. This is an important step! You can add pink RV antifreeze from the inside with a hand pump from outside. You can also choose whether or not you want to use a bypass (note: bypasses require more anti-freeze). Do not drain the water heater before you have added your anti-freeze. You will use 2 to 3 gallons of anti-freeze. If you can’t bypass your water heater, you will need 6 to 10 gallons. After the anti-freeze is in, turn on your fresh water pump and let it run. This video demonstrates this process thoroughly.
- Turn on your faucets: Turn on the faucets and test the systems until they run pink. That’s how you know the anti-freeze has filled up your lines.
- Don’t forget about other appliances or to re-connect your lines: Toilets, washing machines, icemakers, and showers need anti-freeze too. Make sure they have anti-freeze to winterize an RV. You will drain your water heater last. Take it out of the anti-freeze jug and reconnect it to the fresh water tank.
To fully winterize your RV, be sure to remove any perishables, laundry, trash, and valuable items. Fix anything that is broken as it will make it easier to use the RV when its time. Cover all your vents and holes so pests don’t see your winterized RV as a place to get warm. Cover your RV with an RV cover, and don’t forget your tires, too. Some people lift their RVs to take the pressure off the tires as well.