| Cold before Snowfall? Be sure to remember to follow guidelines - No snow groundcover, then more chance of freeze-ups Protect Lower Windows
Observe the angle at which snow will fall from the roof; some
lower windows will need to be boarded up to keep from breaking.
When the Ground Freezes
(From about late October through May)
For those who own a home on the south side of the street, & with the city water connection being on the north side of the street,
approx. 3/8 of the homes I work with will need to keep water
running on a regular basis, or the water could freeze in the
ground. (not in the pipes of the unit, but in the ground) No
fun paying $l50 to the plumber with an arc welder; no fun hunting up the right connections; no fun being without water!
The best thing we have found, instead of just letting water run
in the sink or bathtub (as it can easily be turned off accidentally),
is to get a Y connection for the cold
water to the washing machine, and leave one side alone,
but turn on the other to run constantly...you just loop another
hose into the washing machine drain...Works like a charm!
Winter Wind
If you live in an area where the wind blows strongly, at times,
this is also a time to keep a small amount of water running to
keep pipes from freezing up inside the unit. (Note what the temperature
is after wind chill has been factored in.) It's even a good idea if no one is at home during a work day, to leave water running on cold winter days. The wind can come up most unexpectedly.
If you have the type of windows that crank open, be sure they
are closed whenever you are away...any time of year... as unexpected winds can come up and damage them. Also, hang on to the garbage cans or you will be buying others (tie on the lid and label both parts!)
Don't Forget
If you are a renter & planning a vacation in the winter time
and will be gone more than seven days,
Alaska Law requires you to notify the landlord, so there will
be someone to check the property in your absence if severe weather turns up. (You could be liable for triple damages.)
In freezing weather someone should check a vacant place every
few days. Furnaces have been known to cycle off for no reason
and you certainly don't want the expense of frozen or broken
water pipes.
We make a diligent effort to maintenance our furnaces and hot
water tanks for all rental units each year. Since l993 we have
replaced five furnaces and four hot water tanks.
If you are renting one of our units,
& paying for your own utilities,
they should be as reasonable as possible, and you should be comfortable
with few inconveniences, as well!
SNOW REMOVAL
All mobiles will need to have the snow shoveled from their roofs periodically. As landlord, we take care of all snow removal
on mobile home roofs as it is too vital to do in a timely basis
& this is our responsibility.
Driveway snow removal is necessary almost everywhere. Renters should arrange for their own driveway snow removal on an "on call" basis with those who provide this service. Be sure to line up someone early in the year..
Also, remember early on in the winter to mark where the fuel tanks are. We find a mark midway on the side of the home indicates where to start shoveling should heavy snows cover up all trace
of where they are!
During snow removal times of year, do not park on the city streets,
as it could hinder street snow removal. Our police will ticket
vehicles so parked.
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Do you own rental units in Valdez? Inquire about our property management services. If it is your desire to keep your rentals in good condition, I would like to work with you. | 
