The Dishh

A power outage is a pain for a number of reasons, but one that doesn’t always come to mind is how it can affect your plumbing. While most of your plumbing isn’t directly affected by your electrical system, an outage can still spell disaster for your pipes. While you should never hesitate to call a licensed plumber if you have an emergency, here are five things that you can and should do to protect your plumbing when you lose power.

 

1. Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

 

One of the biggest dangers when you lose power during the winter is having your pipes freeze. Frozen pipes can burst and cause serious damage to your plumbing and the rest of your home, so protect them by wrapping your pipes with insulation and turning on your faucets. Running water is less likely to freeze, even if it’s only a trickle.

 

2. Turn Off Your Main Water Line in Extended Outages

 

If you’re expecting your power to be out for at least a few days, shut off the main water line for your home. You should still turn on your faucets to let the remaining water drain from your pipes, but this should keep them from freezing if it gets really cold.

 

3. Install a Water-Powered Pump to Your Sump Pump

 

Your sump pump prevents flooding by removing water from your basement and directing it outside. It normally needs electricity to work, which won’t do you any good if your power goes out. Fortunately, you can have a water-powered pump installed that will work without electricity. This is especially helpful if your basement is prone to flooding and your power outage is due to a severe storm.

 

4. Open Your Cabinet Doors

 

If you have cabinets underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks, open them to expose the plumbing in them to the air in your home. Your heating system won’t work without electricity, but the air circulating throughout your home should still be reasonably warm. Exposing the plumbing under your sinks to this warmer air should keep them from freezing for at least a little while. When you do this, make sure that you move any cleaners or other potentially dangerous materials from your cabinets if you have pets or small children in your home.

 

5. Call a Plumber for Assistance

 

If you’re concerned about any damage that could be done to your pipes during a power outage, contact a local plumber to inspect your plumbing once the power is back on. Your top priority during the outage is to stay warm and make sure that you are safe, but don’t hesitate to call a plumbing professional to look everything over afterward.

 

Your plumbing might not be your biggest priority if your power goes out, but it should never be ignored, especially during the winter or extreme cold weather. Remember these tips to keep your plumbing safe, and don’t hesitate to call a plumbing professional if you need any assistance or any type of plumbing repairs.

 

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The winter isn’t always a season that we associate with lawn care. However, utilizing lawn services in your area during the wintertime could be instrumental in making sure that your lawn emerges in the spring looking as healthy as it possibly could. Many homeowners discount winter lawn care, which is why it’s good to know exactly what you stand to gain when you decide to reach out to a local lawn care professional. Let’s take a closer look at three smart reasons to use lawn services during the winter to see how it could benefit the health and look of your home’s lawn.

 

1. It Serves to Clear Debris That Could Affect the Health of Your Lawn

 

When you think of fall and winter, what do you think of? Most associate it with the falling leaves and other debris that inevitably makes its way onto your lawn. While this activity is what makes these months so memorable, it’s also what can have the most impact on the health of your lawn. Debris and fallen leaves can build up on your lawn, suffocating the grass, leading to extensive disease and damage, and even contributing to fungus and mold growth.

 

Reaching out for lawn services can ensure that this debris is actively cleared so that your lawn stays healthy through the winter months.

 

2. It Prevents Detrimental Infestations

 

Pests are constantly outdoors. Therefore, it stands to reason that they couldn’t damage your lawn during the winter. While this line of thinking is logical, it’s not entirely accurate. Certain insects like grubs can wreak havoc on your lawn during the wintertime. If left unchecked and unaddressed, you may find yourself staring at an extremely sparse front yard or backyard once spring rolls around. Working with a lawn care expert will ensure you have the support you need to prevent infestations throughout the winter.

 

3. It Can Help Grass Stay Healthy Even During Wintertime

 

Lawns need year-round care, even if you live in an area that experiences snowfall. One way to make sure that your lawn is healthy during the winter and after it is through aeration. Aeration serves to help air get through the ground and to the roots, ensuring that they’re able to grow nice and strong. Another strategy is fertilization, which gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow properly. Aeration and fertilization are two strategies you can employ yourself, but you may not have the tools or the know-how to get the job done. In this case, a lawn care expert can help you.

 

Lawn care is far more complex than people realize. During the winter, many may leave most of their plants and other living elements of their landscape like their lawn to their own devices. However, doing so can have a major impact that leaves your lawn looking ragged. Improve your lawn care knowledge with the three points above, and reach out to a lawn care expert to help you care for your lawn throughout the winter.

Featured Image: Unsplash

As much as you want to deck out your home for the holidays, you may also want to make your seasonal decorating cost-efficient and convenient. Utilize these tips to incorporate smart technology in your home’s holiday decor.

 

Create a Schedule

 

You can cut down on your decorating costs by creating a schedule for your exterior holiday lights. Smart technology allows you to determine what time you want the lights to come on and when you want them to turn themselves off. This helps you avoid having to plug in and unplug the lights yourself or keeping them on all night, which can raise your electric bill substantially.

 

Synchronization

 

Smart technology also lets you synchronize your home’s holiday decorations. For example, you may want to synchronize your lights to certain holiday songs. Likewise, you may want your inflatables to flash or sway to match the beat of songs you play on an outside music system. You can make your home a showpiece in the neighborhood and attract more admirers to your light show.

Voice Automation

 

You can use voice automation technology to control your holiday decorations verbally. You can tell your smart home device to turn on the Christmas tree lights, for example. You can also tell the device to turn your outside lights on and off or to play a certain holiday song for you. This tip can save you time and offer you a convenient way to enjoy your holiday decor.

 

Playlists

 

Smart technology additionally allows you to create playlists that you can enjoy inside or outside of your home. You can compile the playlist on your favorite app or mobile device. You can then tell your smart home system to play the songs on that list or to skip certain songs if you prefer. You can enjoy your favorite holiday tunes anytime without having to listen to the radio or a random playlist on an app.

 

Customized Christmas Tree

 

You can use smart technology to customize your Christmas tree. If you want it to turn on blue lights, for example, you can use your smart home device for this purpose. Likewise, you can use programmable lights on your tree to coordinate with certain songs or light patterns. This tip can enhance the beauty of and enjoyment you get from your tree.

 

Holiday Doorbells

 

You can create holiday doorbell chimes for your home using this technology. This tip makes your home more festive during the holiday season. It can also help keep you and your family in a celebratory mood.

 

Thermostat Control

 

With all of the holiday lights you have inside and on your home, you could raise your home’s internal temperature. Smart technology like what you can get from a business lets you control the thermostat and maintain a comfortable interior temperature. You can turn it down as needed when you have the lights turned on.

 

Smart technology can take your home’s holiday decor to the next level. You can save money, create your own customized schedule and make your home a showpiece.