Proper Flushing

Sometimes clogs occur even when you only flush toilet paper and waste down your drain. This is often caused by flushing too much of this material or by curious kids sneaking into the bathroom and dropping toys or other materials in. To prevent clogs, you should flush only as much toilet paper as is necessary. Do not flush large wads with one flush. These large amounts ball up so that only the outer portion dissolves, and waste and toilet paper that go down after this will build up and a clog will form. Kids must also be taught to leave the toilet alone. Not only does this prevent toys from getting flushed, but it keeps little hands from being contaminated by germs lurking on the toilet bowl.

Power Outage Tips

No one likes it when the power goes out, but the below tips can help you make the best of an unpleasant situation.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. An unopened freezer should keep food frozen up to 48 hours. Food should remain cold in an unopened refrigerator for 24 hours. If power is out for a long period of time, use snowdrifts as a makeshift freezer for food.
• Unplug all equipment that will automatically turn on when power is restored or that may become damaged due to voltage irregularities.
• Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Do not use candles.
• Do not run a portable generator inside a home or garage. The carbon monoxide in enclosed spaces can be deadly.

Spring Ahead!

It's almost time to spring forward! Daylight Saving Time begins every year on the second Sunday in March. (So this year it is March 9th) Clocks are set forward by one hour in most of the United States, except Hawaii and most of Arizona. With Daylight Saving, we have more daylight in the evening and less in the mornings.

When you change your clocks, check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries in smoke detectors should be replaced yearly, and there should be smoke detectors on every floor of your home (including the basement) and outside bedrooms or sleeping areas.

Use Your Appliances Efficiently

Cutting back on unnecessary energy is easy and can help keep your hard earned money. Run your dishwasher only when it is full. The same is true for your clothes washer. Using the cold water setting when washing clothes when possible can also help you save as it can reduce your washer's energy by seventy five percent! Before you throw those clean clothes in the dryer, make sure that the lint trap is clean and use the moisture-sensing automatic drying setting if your dryer has one.

Winter's Not Over Yet!

Pipes, gas lines, and electrical cables that enter your house often have gaps around them that have been haphazardly filled with some kind of caulk. But that caulk eventually cracks, peels, and falls off. These gaps let in cold outside air, plus they are ideal entry points for mice and insects. Keep the pests out and your warm air in, seal the gaps with expanding foam.

Do You Know Where Your Emergency Shut Off Is?

Save Yourself a BIG Headache, take a few minutes over the weekend to make sure everybody in the house knows exactly where the main water emergency shut off valve is located. This should be tagged so it's easy to located in an emergency. You could be in BIG trouble if you get a burst pipe that starts spraying everywhere and you’ve got no way to turn it off quickly! Make sure you’re always prepared! Russo Bros.& Co. has waterproof tags if you need them. Please email and we would be happy to send you some.

Prevent Toilet Clogs

While a shelf over the toilet or the top of the tank itself may seem like a handy place to store items such as deodorizers, soaps, ornaments or brushes and combs, they actually increase the risk of clogs. These items can be easily knocked into the bowl and fall down the drain without you noticing until it’s too late. By keeping the area around the bowl clear of items that might fall in and slip down the drain, you decrease the risk of a major clog or damage to your toilet.