Tips for using your garbage disposal properly

First, start running your faucet. While running water down the drain, put a small amount of the food debris down the disposal adding a little bit at a time. Once all of the food is disposed of, turn off the disposal, but continue to run the water for 30 seconds afterwards to wash down any remaining pieces.

*Do not put anything down there without running the water. Do not fill the disposal before turning on the water or power. Never put peels, eggshells, or noodles down there-i.e. potato peels, carrot peels, etc.

Outlets

If only the top outlets on your electrical outlets in the living room are working, it’s probably that the light switch that controls them is off. It’s usually located at the entrance to the room the outlet is in. This is so you can plug lamps in and use the switch to control them.

Dishwasher

If your dishwasher isn’t cleaning as well as it used to, we have a solution for you! Empty it out and take a half-filled medium sized glass with white vinegar in it, set it on the bottom rack, and run your dishwasher through its normal cycle. This will clean the internal parts of the dishwasher to make the cleaning cycle more efficient.

Refrigerator

When your refrigerator is not cooling, or food is freezing, please check to make sure the dial inside the fridge is set to the “recommended” setting. Sometimes they get bumped when putting food in or taking it back out.

Refrigerator door bars: Please do not overload your refrigerator doors. When you put too much in them, they get too heavy, and will break the door bars.

Fireplace

If your fireplace doesn’t work, look through the glass to see if there is a small flame at the bottom. If not, then put in a maintenance request to turn your pilot light on. Once that is on you can use the switch on the wall to turn the fireplace on and off. If there is a flame (pilot light is on) and it still doesn’t work put in a maintenance request and we will look at it.

In the fall, when you want to start using your fireplace, put in a maintenance request and we’ll turn on your pilot light. In the spring, when you don’t want to use your fireplace anymore for the season, put in a maintenance request and we’ll turn the pilot light off for you. Our maintenance staff prefers to do this for you.

Starting up your heater for the first time

Turn on your heat and test it before it gets too cold! This will ensure that everything is working properly and you won’t have to call after hour’s maintenance the first night it gets really cold! There might be a slight burning smell when you first turn your heat on, this is normal and should stop after a short time.

Starting up your A/C for the first time

On a day that is at least 65 degrees, turn on your air conditioner unit for at least 10 minutes. Check the vent to make sure that cool air is being emitted. If you detect any issues, contact the office for service. We want to fix things BEFORE it gets hot outside!

Winter Tips

Salt buckets will be placed at each door in every building, and salt/sand barrels will be placed on all of the ramps to the parking garages. Please feel free to use them if ice has formed or you are not getting enough traction. Please keep the salt/sand barrels covered when not in use.

Make sure that you move your car to a cleared out stall after each snowfall to ensure that the entire parking lot area can be cleared. Cars not removed will be ticketed and towed.