Showing posts with label ice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ice. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Safe Winter Driving in the Delaware Valley
Do The Right Stuff When The White Stuff Falls!Even in the harshest winter conditions, Horizon Services' plumbing and HVAC technicians can always be found out on the highways and byways of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Marylands, making their way to your home for service and repairs in our bright orange trucks. With a safety record that's second to none, you can be confident that Horizon service techs know a thing or two about safe driving when ice and snow hit the roadways.
We all know that even a dusting of snow in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland can result in serious traffic jams and scary driving situations. The winter of 2010 saw a record number of snow and ice-related car accidents in our region. The Horizon Comfort Zone recommends that whenever wintry weather threatens, you should exercise extreme discretion, precaution and alertness on the roads. If you really don't have to be out driving in winter weather, just don't. But if you should find yourself out on the roads in harsh winter weather, here are some safe driving tips from Horizon's service technicians:
Slow and Steady Wins The Race:
Would you rather arrive at your destination late...or dead? Our guess is late. Speed kills...especially in the wintertime. There's no shame or embarassment in driving SLOW when the roads are snowy and icy. No arrival time, no appointment is worth putting your safety at risk. Rabbits wind up in ditches...or graveyards. Turtles make it home in one piece. If time is of the essence, leave for your destination early. And try to avoid rush-hour traffic whenever possible.
Keep Your Distance:
Tailgating other cars is a sure way to get into a winter accident. Even if you're driving slow and apply your brakes in a timely manner, it's easy to slide and ram into car ahead of you or skate through intersection into oncoming traffic. During GOOD WEATHER, it is recommended that you maintain AT LEAST one car length of distance for every 10 miles-per-hour in which you are traveling. In the winter time, try doubling or even tripling that amount just to be on the safe side.
Take Control of Skids and Fish-Tails:
One of the best reasons to drive slow is that you will minimize the likelihood that you need to make sudden stops. Slamming the brakes almost always results in skids and sliding on snowy and icy road surfaces. And if a skid has already begun, slamming the brakes will almost always make the skid worse.
- If your rear wheels are skidding, take your foot off the accelerator. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go (that is, if your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right). As you recover, you might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently. If you have an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), do not pump the brakes, but apply steady pressure.
- If your front wheels are skidding, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately. The wheels will start to skid sideways, slowing the vehicle and returning traction. Gradually steer in the direction you want to go; put the transmission back into "drive" and accelerate gently.
Make Sure You Have Good Tire Tread:
New tires usually have about 10/32" treads. To grip snow and ice-covered roads, your tires should have at least 6/32" deep tread. If they don't, replace them. If there is significant snow or ice accumulation and it is expected to be around for quite along time, consider adding chains or snow tires.
Don't Use Cruise Control:
Cruise control is only for fast driving on open highways in warm weather. If you hit an icy patch, cruise control can actually make your car accelerate and hydroplane out of control.
Examine Your Windshield and Windows:
It's important to have good visibility when driving in winter weather. Make sure you have plenty of windshield washing fluid; make certain that it squirts OK onto the windshield. You may also want to apply a water-repelling solution on the outside of your windows like Rain-X to make sure that ice and frost don't accumulate. On the insides of windows, apply a spray-on/wipe-off defogger (available at most auto stores). And make sure you start the winter with a fresh set of wiper blades.
Clear Snow Off Car Roofs and Hoods:
Don't just brush snow off windows; clear snow off your entire car. This will make it easier for other cars to see you, especially in a white-out situation. It will also prevent large chunks of snow breaking off or blinding powder blowing off and endangering the safety of drivers behind you.
Be Wary of Black Ice:
Snow melt during the day can quickly freeze when the sun goes down and temperatures take a rapid dip below the freezing point. This can create a thin, sometimes invisible, but extremely slick coating on road surfaces called "black ice". Black ice is one of the leading causes of winter-related car accidents in the Delaware Valley. Try not to drive after periods of melt...especially if the forecast is for rapidly falling temperatures.
Fill 'er Up:
At a minimum, maintain at least a half a tank of gas at all times during winter months. This will prevent gas line freezing. Also, you never know if you'll be stranded in a snow-related traffic jam. And in a blizzard, gas stations may be closed.
Never Drive Impaired:
Winter driving demands that all of your senses be at their most heightened. Do not drive if you are sleepy, ill, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A mug of coffee or hot chocolate can help keep you alert -- but try not to sip and drive at the same time; keep both hands on the wheel and wait until you come to a stop to take a drink.
Stay Behind Snow-Plows:
They may be moving slowly down the road, but resist the temptation to pass them. First, they are blazing a safe trail for you. Second, in passing them, you are taking a lot of risk. Your acceleration may cause you to skid. You may not be able to evade oncoming traffic in time. And the plow could end up spraying your windshields with snow, salt or gravel. Plus, snow-plows have blind spots: the driver may not see you attempting to pass and end up making a sudden turn right into your vehicle.
Keep a Winter Survival Kit On-Hand:
This should include an ice scraper; a bag of sand, kitty liter or other abrasive material for road traction; snow shovel; de-icer; flares; flashlight or lantern; cell phone; jumper cables; blanket; water bottle; batteries.
More Winter Driving Resources:
- Driving On Snow and Ice (Edmunds)
- How to Drive in the Snow (Edmunds)
- Driving Safely in Snow and Ice (Weather.com)
- Driving Tips (AAA Mid-Atlantic)
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Monday, January 3, 2011
Old Man Winter and Your Plumbing
Don't Get Left in the Cold with a Plumbing Emergency!It's a new year. Winter has officially arrived. Already, most of the nation has experienced has experienced an episode or two of nasty winter weather...including cold temperatures. Unfortunately, winter is also the time when your home is most prone to plumbing problems -- both routine and outright disasters.
Most of the more serious winter plumbing problems -- like cracked, burst and frozen pipes -- should be left to the plumbing experts. But as homeowners, there are plenty of things we can do ourselves to prevent these plumbing mishaps and to ensure that our home plumbing systems work as efficiently as possible all winter long. A regular round of checks and some preventive steps can be easily carried out to help maintain the long-term optimal working of your plumbing system and save on costly plumbing repair bills.
It's Always Wise to Winterize!
If you didn't do it before winter arrived, make sure now that any outside hoses are disconnected from faucets and and outside pipes turned off and drained, as water in them will freeze and expand. This will cause pipes and fittings to crack and burst. This can lead to serious leaks and even flooding. This can happen to plastic as well as metal pipes.
This shut-down of external pipes can be made easier if your home has shut-off valves installed, which will close them down and drain the water off. Once effectively disconnected, the exterior faucets can then be protected from the cold weather with lagging.
If you have pipes situated in areas of the home that are not heated, such as garages, these can be insulated from temperature extremes using heat tape or insulating sleeves available at most hardware stores.
To increase energy efficiency, seal doors and windows from drafts using materials you can buy in any home centers. This will keep warm air inside your home, adding a few degrees of warmth to your pipes and fixtures.
Check your water heater, which has an extra burden placed on it during cold months, flushing it out to get rid of any build-up of sediments, as these cause corrosion and greatly effect efficiency and longevity of the unit. Drain off a few gallons using the faucet situated near the base of the unit. Also check the pressure release valve, which should snap smartly back into place when lifted after allowing a spurt of water to the drain. If it is slack, get somebody in to replace it.
The water heater’s thermostatic control should be set according to the season. In winter you’ll want optimum performance, of course, at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also have to clean debris such as dead leaves from around the downspouts to allow for better drainage after the coming thaw.
It's important to prevent ice build-up in your pipes during the winter. Try not to let any sink, tub or toilet go idle for too long. Be sure to use as many fixtures as regularly as you can so water doesn't accumulate in one place and freeze. One good idea to make sure that water keeps flowing throughout your pipes is to leave faucets on at a very slow trickle...especially at night when temperatures can take a sudden plunge.
Going on a winter vacation or plan to be out of the house for an extended length of time? It’s a good idea to close the main water valve and then open the faucets at the top and base of the house to drain the system, keeping the heat on as you do so.
You need only a very basic set of tools to maintain your home plumbing system this winter. A pipe wrench is probably the most important, enabling you to get a good grip on pipes and fittings. A pair of pliers will help you to adjust nuts and bolts, but these can damage fittings if you slip up, so get some smooth sleeves to fit. These tools are fine for the small maintenance jobs you’re likely to be carrying out, but for bigger home plumbing jobs it’s best to get the professionals in, otherwise things could take a turn for the worse.
Related Plumbing Information from Horizon Services...
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