Avoiding Plumbing Problems

Useful Tips to help you avoid plumbing problems and overflowing toilets: •Please be careful of items left around toilets. It is easy for things to fall into a toilet & end up being flushed. You then have a clogged or overflowing toilet to contend with. Leave your toilet lid closed when not in use to prevent items from accidentally falling into it. •If toilet is about to overflow or is actually overflowing, lift the ballcock inside the toilet tank to stop water flow, then cut water off at supply line under the toilet tank. •If toilet is clogged or overflowing, do not flush it again without plunging and waiting for the water level to drop back down. •Stop water from overflowing as quickly as possible and clean up all spilled water as soon as possible. •Retrieve any item that accidentally falls into a toilet before flushing. •Keep a plunger on hand for minor repairs. •Do not use the toilet as a trash can. This can clog the toilet and creates a huge waste of water by flushing when not necessary. Keep a small trash can in all bathrooms. •Do not flush anything but toilet paper and human waste. •Keep food from going down sink drains. •Clean hair from tubs/showers/sinks regularly to prevent it from going down drains. •Make yourself familiar with the location and operation of all water cut-off valves. •If you take the lid off the toilet tank, handle it with care so that it does not slip, crack or break. •Do not stand on the toilet or toilet lid. •Do not lean back against the tank as this can put stress on the toilet, tank and bolts. •Use a plastic brush (not metal or wire) to clean the toilet bowl and be careful not to scratch or damage the porcelain. •Call maintenance for major stoppage in plumbing lines.

It's Grilling Time!

Now that warm weather is here, we wanted to remind you of regulations pertaining to gas & charcoal grills. Grills may be stored on your patio or balcony, but the propane tank may not be stored there per Fire Dept Regulations and Drucker & Falk Community Policies. Gas grills have been known to cause apartment community fires by exploded during deck fires, causing major damage to the entire building rather than an isolated apartment. The following is an excerpt from your Resident Handbook: CHARCOAL and/or PROPANE GRILLS State building codes ban all portable charcoal and gas grills in all apartments. “Charcoal and gas grills are prohibited within ten (10) feet of combustible material at all occupancies...” As a result, please note that use of charcoal and/or gas grills is not permitted on your deck or patio. Charcoal grills, after coals are completely extinguished, may be stored on the deck or patio; gas grills may be stored WITHOUT the propane tank. Non-compliance with this regulation will be considered a violation of your lease and may result in immediate lease termination. We would also like to remind you not to dump used charcoal on the grounds or anywhere around your apartment.

Disposal Operation

• Always run a flow of cold water when grinding or disposing of food. Start running water before putting items into the disposal and continue for a short time after cutting off the disposal. • Always run disposal clear of food before using the dishwasher. • Fibrous food, eggshells, bones or large bulky items should NOT be put into the disposal. • If the disposal does not come on, press the red reset button on the motor body. • Never put grease down any drains. • Do not put an excessive amount of food in the disposal at one time. Feed in small amounts to prevent jamming of the blades. • Grinding a small piece of lemon or lime occasionally can help eliminate odor buildup. • Periodically grind a cup of ice cubes to help keep the disposal blades sharp.

Raleigh Ban on Garbage Disposals Lifted!

The Raleigh City Council's ban on new & replacement Garbage Disposals has been repealed.

Dishwasher Operation

•Only use powder or liquid detergents specifically made for use in dishwashers. Other detergents will cause over-sudsing (suds will leak from the dishwasher during use). •If your powder detergent gets old or lumpy, throw it away. Old detergent often will not dissolve and leave powder residue on dishes. •The amount of detergent you use depends on water hardness and how dirty the dishes. In most cases, detergent amounts should be increased for hard water and dirty dishes. •Rinse agents help reduce water spotting and improve drying. •Do not wash plastic items unless marked ‘dishwasher safe’ or the equivalent. •Load light plastic items so they will not drop to the bottom of the dishwasher where they might come into contact with the heating element and be damaged. •When loading sharp items to be washed, locate them so that they are not likely to damage the door seal. Sharp points should be down to reduce risk of cuts and/or stab wounds. •Do not touch the heating element during or immediately after use. •Do not sit or stand on the door or other parts of the dishwasher. •The wash tower rises through the center of the lower rack during the wash and rinse cycle. Don’t block it or load tall things next to it. This could block the wash arm and cause poor washing results. •Don’t load items that will block the soap dish door from opening.

Washer & Dryer Operation

Here are some tips for using your Washer & Dryer more efficiently to save energy & money: o Use your washer & dryer on the weekends when energy use is lower. o Most of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water. So set the washer for "warm" or "cold" wash instead of hot. Extra dirty loads might need a cold-water pre-soak. The only time you really need to use hot water is for oily/greasy stains. The washer rinse water should always be cold since the temperature does not affect cleaning. Using cooler water gives you the added bonus of longer-lasting clothes. o Buy cold-water laundry detergents if you have trouble with your current detergents when running cold-water washes. o Run only full, but not overfull, loads in your washer. One large washer load takes less energy than washing a couple loads on a lower setting. If you must wash a smaller load, set the water for a smaller load. o Clean the dryer filter before each use. Lint build-up can prevent the dryer from heating and can also be a fire hazard. o Dry full loads, but don't overfill. o Dry similar types of clothes together -- lightweight fabrics with lightweight fabrics; thick stuff with thick stuff. o Don't aim for bone dry. You'll wear out your clothes sooner. Use the automatic moisture-sensing shut-off if your dryer has one instead of the timer. If you take clothes out of the dryer while still slightly damp, you won't need to do as much ironing if you hang them up right away after removing them from the dryer. o Don't toss wet items into a partially finished load. o Put two or three loads in a row in the dryer to make the most of the heat generated the first time around.