The bitter colds months are here and southern tier and northern Pennsylvania homes are turning up the heat.

The Firemens Association of the State of New York reminds you that heating homes is the second leading cause of homes fires, injuries and death.

Many New Yorkers and Pennsylvanians are working from their homes and keeping the heat turned up, and putting more work on our furnaces and heat sources.

According to a FASNY news release December, January, and February are the months for fires caused by heating sources in our homes.

Make sure you are following all safety precautions during these times.

Smaller units like space heaters and plug-in electric heaters can increase the risk of fire in your home, and are responsible for 25,000 house fires, and thousands of burn injuries, if they are not properly used.

Always make sure your heating equipment is maintained and working properly, and make sure you have sufficient smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and check the batteries.

In the news release FASNY President John P Farrell says We recommend everyone place carbon monoxide alarms outside of sleeping areas in the home, especially as it gets colder and snow may block exhaust pipes in homes. We want all New Yorkers to be fire-safe this winter and remember if there is a fire: get out, stay out, and call 911

Here are a few tips from the Firemens Association of the State of New York.

Be Safe this winter, for more information CLICK HERE

See the article here:
Heating Homes Leading Cause of Fire in Winter - wnbf.com

SELBYVILLE, Del., Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report "Electric Water Heater Market by Product (Instant, Storage), By Capacity (< 30 Liters, 30-100 Liters, 100-250 Liters, 250-400 Liters, > 400 Liters), Application (Residential, Commercial), Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2026", by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of electric water heaterwill cross $22 billion by 2026.

Increasing urban migration, rising middle-class income groups along with growing smart city construction projects coupled with ongoing building infrastructure development, is anticipated to boost the market value. Stringent government mandates and norms to replace the existing units with energy-efficient heating systems will further augment product penetration.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/680

Increasing deployment across the remote off-grid areas along with growing product adoption across various commercial establishments comprising hospitals, resorts and hotels, among others, will fuel the electric water heater market growth. Ongoing construction of green buildings coupled with robust expansion of the service sector will spur the industry value. Furthermore, the rising middle-class income group and increasing disposable incomes will further drive the market landscape.

The storage water heater market is projected to showcase significant growth during the forecast timeframe led by key features comprising higher mass flow, low operation cost and efficient heating capability. Growing consumer spending in the real estate sector coupled with ongoing refurbishment activities to develop the prevalent building infrastructure will strengthen the market revenue.

Flexible installation with the existing electrical circuit combined with easy repair & maintenance will accelerate the product deployment across residential applications. Ongoing government incentive programs to fund commercial infrastructure construction activities comprising airports, hospitals, and educational institutions is set to accelerate product acceptance. Additionally, growing demand for energy-efficient heating equipment coupled with increasing R&D activities and product advancements will positively enhance the market share.

Stringent mandates & norms concerning the growing carbon emissions coupled with the abundant availability of gas resources will influence the Europe electric water heatermarket size. According to the European Commission, the eco-Design and labelling directives regulate the water level standards along with the technological advancements with respect to smart control heaters. Increasing water heating requirements on account of extreme climatic conditions is set to further accelerate market expansion.

COVID-19 has led to a global pandemic that has affected the global economy, impacting numerous industries comprising construction and component manufacturing, among others. The industry manufacturers all around the world bear supply shortages owing to lockdowns imposed by countries.

Eminent players operating in the electric water heater market consist of A.O. Smith, Panasonic Corporation, Rheem Manufacturing, Havells India, Whirlpool Corporation and Bosch.

Request for customization of this research report @

https://www.gminsights.com/roc/680

Some major findings of the electric water heater market report include:

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3Electric Water Heater Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.2.1 Vendor matrix

3.3 Innovation & sustainability

3.4 Regulatory landscape

3.5 COVID-19 impact on industry outlook, 2020 2026

3.5.1 Top 10 countries impacted by COVID-19

3.5.2 Optimistic view

3.5.3 Realistic view

3.5.4 Pessimistic view

3.6 Customer requirement

3.7 Entry barriers

3.8 Price trend analysis

3.8.1 Price trend analysis, by application

3.9 Industry impact forces

3.9.1 Growth drivers

3.9.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.10 Growth potential analysis

3.11 Porter's analysis

3.12 Competitive landscape, 2019

3.13 PESTEL Analysis

Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/electric-water-heater-market

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free:1-888-689-0688Email:[emailprotected]

Related Imageselectric-water-heater-market.png Electric Water Heater Market Growth Predicted at 5% Through 2026: GMI Stringent mandates & norms concerning the growing carbon emissions coupled with abundant availability of gas resources will influence the European electric water heater market growth.

Related LinksSmart Water Metering Market Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.

More here:
Electric Water Heater Market Revenue to Cross USD 22 Bn by 2026: Global Market Insights, Inc. - PRNewswire

Orchids to

Batman at All Saints Apartments, once again our hero!

the good folks at B&B Plumbing for their timely response, acumen, professionalism and exceptional customer service to repair a water heater.

those who installed the lights in the trees on Washington Street! Our downtown is a wonderland!

Dr. Wagner, Chelsea Spartz, their support staff and all the nurses in the cancer center treatment room at CRH, a heartfelt thank you for your skills, your kindness and everything you do for us, from Chris and Fred Hales.

the person in the white pickup truck at McDonalds on State Road 46 for paying our breakfast food order on Wednesday, we will pay it forward.

Audio Source for amazing customer service.

the gentleman who bought our breakfast at Jills on Tuesday.

Kaylee and Robin at the Columbus Dialysis for all your help the last few weeks, from Tom and Judy.

Wade Meyers and Nicol at the prosecutors office, from Marie.

the meeting leaders who fail to show any concern about putting teachers back into the classroom.

those considering it a plausible and sensible idea to bring children back into schools during the worst wave of COVID-19 cases.

those who insist children are asymptomatic: where is the discussion on how to keep the adults and other students informed, safe, and healthy while teaching and learning in a possible infected environment?

those contributing more than $200 million for election challenge legal expenditures but didnt read the fine print only to discover that less than 5% of that was actually used for that purpose.

the federal elected official for his art of the deal trade deficit of more than $100 billion dollars than when he took office in 2016.

opinionated, negative people.

the federal elected official who right before our eyes with the tacit approval of his political party is trying to steal the election.

the leadership of the political party who are not standing up to say the federal elected officials words are untrue.

city elected officials who keep spending money on flower pots and benches.

the federal elected official supporters who are still drinking his Kool-aid.

Tony Beach, from John, Leta, Joyce and Donna.

ANOTHER beautiful morning

Original post:
Around Town December 17 - The Republic

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University; Amisha Shah, Purdue University, and Kristofer P. Isaacson, Purdue University

(THE CONVERSATION) When wildfires swept through the hills near Santa Cruz, California, in 2020, they released toxic chemicals into the water supplies of at least two communities. One sample found benzene, a carcinogen, at 40 times the states drinking water standard.

Our testing has now confirmed a source of these chemicals, and its clear that wildfires arent the only blazes that put drinking water systems at risk.

In a new study, we heated plastic water pipes commonly used in buildings and water systems to test how they would respond to nearby fires.

The results, released Dec. 14, show how easily wildfires could trigger widespread drinking water contamination. They also show the risks when only part of a building catches fire and the rest remains in use. In some of our tests, heat exposure caused more than 100 chemicals to leach from the damaged plastics.

As environmentalengineers, we advise communities on drinking water safety and disaster recovery. The western U.S.s extreme wildfire seasons are putting more communities at risk in ways they might not realize. Just this year, more than 52,000 fires destroyed more than 17,000 structures many of them homes connected to water systems. Heat-damaged plastic pipes can continue to leach chemicals into water over time, and ridding a water system of the contamination can take months and millions of dollars.

A baffling source of contamination

The cause of drinking water contamination after wildfires has baffled authorities since it was discovered in 2017.

After the 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2018 Camp Fire, chemicals were found in buried water distribution networks, some at levels comparable to hazardous waste. Contamination was not in the water treatment plants or drinking water sources. Some homeowners found drinking water contamination in their plumbing.

Tests revealed volatile organic compounds had reached levels that posed immediate health risks in some areas, including benzene levels that exceeded the EPA hazardous waste threshold of 500 parts per billion. Benzene was found at a level 8,000 times the federal drinking water limit and 200 times the level that causes immediate health effects. Those effects can include dizziness, headaches, skin and throat irritation and even unconsciousness, among other risks.

This year, wildfires triggered drinking water contamination in at least two moreCalifornia drinking water systems, and testing is still underway in other communities.

The problem with plastics

Plastics are ubiquitous in drinking water systems. They are often less expensive to install than metal alternatives, which hold up against high heat but are vulnerable to corrosion.

Today, water pipes under the street and those that deliver water to customers water meters are increasingly made of plastic. Pipes that transport the drinking water from the meter to the building are often plastic. Water meters also sometimes contain plastics. Private wells can have plastic well casings as well as buried plastic pipes that deliver well water to plastic storage tanks and buildings.

Pipes inside buildings that carry hot and cold water to faucets can also be plastic, as can faucet connectors, water heater dip tubes, refrigerator and ice maker tubing.

To determine if plastic pipes could be responsible for drinking water contamination after wildfires, we exposed commonly available plastic pipes to heat. The temperatures were similar to the heat from a wildfire that radiates toward buildings but isnt enough to cause the pipes to catch fire.

We tested several popular plastic drinking water pipes, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC).

Benzene and other chemicals were generated inside the plastic pipes just by heating. After the plastics cooled, these chemicals then leached into the water. It happened at temperatures as low as 392 degrees Fahrenheit. Fires can exceed 1,400 degrees.

While researchers previously discovered that plastics could release benzene and other chemicals into the air during heating, this new study shows heat-damaged plastics can directly leach dozens of toxic chemicals into water.

[Youre too busy to read everything. We get it. Thats why weve got a weekly newsletter. Sign up for good Sunday reading. ]

What to do about contamination

A community can stop water contamination from spreading if damaged pipes can be quickly isolated. Without isolation, the contaminated water may move to other parts of the water system, across town or within a building, causing further contamination.

During the CZU Lightning Complex Fire near Santa Cruz, one water utility had water distribution system valves that seemed to have contained the benzene-contaminated water.

Rinsing heat-damaged pipes wont always remove the contamination. While helping Paradise, California, recover from the 2018 Camp Fire disaster, we and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that some plastic pipes would have required more than 100 days of nonstop water rinsing to be safe for use. Instead, officials decided to replace the pipes.

Even if a home is undamaged, we recommend testing the water in private wells and service lines if fire was on the property. If contamination is found, we recommend finding and removing the heat-damaged plastic contamination sources. Some plastics can slowly leach chemicals like benzene over time, and this could go on for months to years, depending on the scale of contamination and water use. Boiling the water doesnt help and can release benzene into the air.

Avoiding widespread contamination

Communities can take steps to avoid contaminated drinking water in the event of a fire. Water companies can install network isolation valves and backflow prevention devices, to prevent contaminated water moving from a damaged building into the utility pipe network.

Insurance companies can use pricing to encourage property owners and cities to install fire-resistant metal pipes instead of plastic. Rules for keeping vegetation away from meter boxes and buildings can also lessen the chance heat reaches plastic water system components.

Homeowners and communities rebuilding after fires now have more information about the risks as they consider whether to use plastic pipes. Some, like the town of Paradise, have chosen to rebuild with plastic and accept the risks. In 2020, the city had another wildfire scare and residents were forced to evacuate again.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/plastic-pipes-are-polluting-drinking-water-systems-after-wildfires-its-a-risk-in-urban-fires-too-150923.

Continue reading here:
Plastic pipes are polluting drinking water systems after wildfires it's a risk in urban fires, too - Alton Telegraph

Now that I had already installed gigabit pro and generated the first bill, it was time to finally migrate from Verizon to Xfinity Mobile because:

The key thing to remember here is that I waited for the Xfinity Gigabit Pro to be fully installed before starting the process.

What I liked:

This finishes the initial part which was straightforward. Now comes the porting part which is not easy. I had to chat with Verizon to get that part going. Here is how it went:

One PIN is good enough for all lines

The PIN can be generated from either phone if it expires

It is ok if one number is ported first and I generate the PIN again after a few weeks to port over the next number from the next phone

Remember that if you leave Xfinity Internet, they will add a $20 to your monthly bill. I wont because I have Xfinity Gigabit Pro

Even removing the two Apple watches from the plan, my Verizon bill is:

~ $85 per month for 5 gb on Verizon

With Xfinity Mobile I will be paying ~ $15 per month for 1 gb internet (even that we dont use now at home). With $250 paid over 24 months for a 128gb iPhone 12, the bill comes to:

~ $42 per month with 1 new phone for 1 gb on Xfinity Mobile

We use around 8 gb per month (that is the max we have ever used no matter how much we have tried to use because we are not crazy enough to stream audio or video on cellular) when we go back to work, so that would be $60 per month (shared). So total with the phone at that time would be $60 + $24 = $84

~ $84 per month with 1 new phone for 10 gb on Xfinity Mobile

If one more person joins the plan later, with a new phone, we would still use under 10 gb (I know how much we use), so it would still be:

~ $108 per month, with 2 new phones for 10 gb on Xfinity Mobile

Only one of us use cellular data a lot, if that person moves to unlimited at $45 per month for that line and the other person uses 3 gb per month at $30 per month, that would be $45 + $30 + $24 = $99 per month

~ $99 per month with 1 new phone for 3 gb per month on one line, unlimited on other line on Xfinity Mobile

To be continued

Read the rest here:
How to migrate your iPhone and Apple Watch to Xfinity Mobile from Verizon after getting Xfinity - Medium

Cooking is part of many holiday plans. But be aware that the State Fire Marshal's Office is seeing an increase in kitchen-related fires.Kitchen fires, along with fires related to home heating, are the most common types of calls the Morgan City Fire Department responds to at this time of year.The most important thing a homeowner can do is have a smoke detector, Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said Wednesday.Cockerham said unattended cooking is something that is common in fire calls they respond to, with people saying they were just gone simply for a few minutes.Thats all it takes sometimes, he said, noting that leaving something unattended on the stove for five minutes or forgetting it in the oven can lead to a fire. It may seem like five minutes, but its probably longer than five minutes.The State Fire Marshals Office urges people not to leave the home when cooking and not to leave the kitchen when cooking using a stove.Along with those steps comes the smoke detector.Smoke detectors save countless, countless lives, Cockerham said. Thats one of the best things anybody can have.As of Dec. 11, State Fire Marshal Chief H. Butch Browning reported that 70 people statewide had died this year due to fires.While that is currently less than the fatality counts of the past few years, its too many, and we dont want to see anymore, Browning said in a recent news release.For those unable to install a smoke detector due to disability, etc., the State Fire Marshals Office has the Operation Save-A-Life program, which works with local fire departments and district to install smoke alarms for free.Cockerham said his department can install those locally if Morgan City residents need them.To register online with the State Fire Marshals Office for the program, visit http://www.lasfm.org.As for heating, Cockerham said a pre-winter checkup on heaters is a good idea.Its always good to have your heater checked out before winter time gets here just as a safety precaution to see if its burning right, to see if its not full of dust, he said.Another crucial element for safety is a carbon monoxide detector, Cockerham said.We get several calls a year with carbon monoxide, the chief said. People having detectors and they work, and sometimes you dont even realize that youre breathing that stuff.Fire extinguishers also are good to have in a home, the chief said.As for Christmas decorations, Cockerham says they should be checked to ensure wiring doesnt have any frays. While he said power strips can be used, Cockerham recommended only using one that is both heavy duty and is approved by Underwriters Laboratories.Not one of these small ones that you buy, and theyre cheap, he said.However, Cockerham said do not overload the strip.He also said that its never a good idea to leave Christmas decorations on overnight and to make sure you water your Christmas tree daily if it is live.If you keep water in it, keep constant moisture in it, its less likely to catch a fire if something does happen, Cockerham said. That dont mean it wont, but its just less likely.If residents do have smoke in their house, however, Cockerham urged them to evacuate everyone and call the fire department to handle the situation.It may be a light fixture. It may still be something minor, but if you dont know where its at, then the best thing on the safety side is to get out of the house, he said.

The rest is here:
Staying safe at home: Winter increases the need to practice home fire safety - StMaryNow.com

In 2015, I married Will. In 2019, we finally took our honeymoon. It wasnt the result of four years of planning. Rather, after letting life get in the way for too long, I found a crazy deal on flights to London and booked them. I didnt consult Will, but I knew from his endearingly deep appreciation for grime music, Cockney rhyming slang, and Guy Ritchie movies, itd be a trip of a lifetime for him. Carried away with the excitement of surprising Will, I concocted a plan where Id take him to the airport under the guise of a trip to Chicago. Then, once we arrived at the airport Id declare we were headed to London!

After I realized that was insane, we talked and decided to make it a honeymoon of Wills design, since I normally plan everything. He wanted to drive around and visit mountain bike trails. Though Im supremely confident on pavementin another life I was a messenger, and in a normal year I race Pro/1/2 fieldsdirt, and the obstacles that come with it, was a new challenge for me. But wed recently both started mountain biking, and I was excited to try out my skills in a new place with my ride partner for life. We also booked a camper van to fulfill our desire to try van lifeand combine the travel and accommodation costs. Will picked the destinations and I planned the route. Wed make our way across the south of England to visit the U.K.s Whistler, BikePark Wales, hitting quaint towns with trails along the way.

Im still not sure if I should be annoyed or honored that he thinks so highly of me.

We landed in London, picked up Bonny the Van, an adorable Citron Relay complete with a bed, kitchen, and well-secured succulents, then unpacked our bikes and immediately broke them. Short on sleep and low on food, I had the bright idea to shorten my dropper post cable before we started our journey. Will followed my lead, and we were so distracted by how sick our bikes were going to look with more aesthetically pleasing cable lengths that we didnt notice we hadnt eaten a single thing all day. With our brains short-circuiting from fatigue and hunger, we both botched what should have been very simple jobs. I cut my cable too short, and Will removed both his cable and housing to a point where he was unable to reinstall either. We surrendered, decided to figure it out after wed eaten, loaded up Bonny, and started the journey west.

Courtesy Ayesha McGowan

After a first stop at Stonehengemy one request for the tripwe made our way to the nearby Croft Mountain Bike Trail in Swindon and parked for the night. Will was adamant about not riding until he had a functioning dropper post. With a shrug, I put on a headlamp and took my first-ever night ride alone. Riding at night wasnt nearly as terrifying as Id always imagined. I love the peace of night rides on the road, but the fear of sharp rocks, pointy sticks, and hungry predators swirled as I approached the wooded trails. (I figure in the daytime, at least Ill see them coming.) Something did actually leap out at merepeatedlyand even if it was consistently my own shadow from the headlamp, I remained convinced there was a large animal pouncing out of every corner. At least the adrenaline rush was a lot of fun.

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Croft was reminiscent of our local trails, South Rockdale Park in Conyers, Georgia. They were flowy and relatively flat, nothing too steep in either direction. The mild jumps, occasional roots, and (barely) elevated bridges were within my ability, but also near my limit. I got back to the van, feeling exhilarated and confident. Maybe this whole trip would be a little easier than I expected.

The next day we hunted for a bike shop to fix our mess. At our first stop I found a new dropper post cable I could install. But Will needed his bottom bracket removed, and shop after shop informed us that they were too swamped to fix his bike today, tomorrow, or anytime during our trip. We even took our chances on a Google listing that turned out to be a friendly and confused guy named Phil fixing bikes out of his home. He took the bike in only to bring it back outside minutes later to explain this was beyond his ability. The situation was too ridiculous to get angry. Wed let jet lag and empty stomachs nearly derail our honeymoon.

Will and I complement each other in that rarely does one thing stress us both out. Really, Will only gets anxious over running out of gasI can live on E. I was annoyed at his insistence on a working dropper post, but as the problem-solver and usually anxious one of us, I kept making calls and googling shops. Meanwhile, with a full tank in Bonny, Will was unfazed. Wed simply either bike the U.K.s greatest trails or have a different trip.

Finally, the Swindon Cycles Superstore lived up to its name, took mercy on our pathetic souls, and got Will up and riding the next day. It meant wed have to change our plans a bit, but wed get to ride bikes!

Courtesy Ayesha McGowan

After a few loops around Croft, we loaded up the van and headed west to our next stop, Woodchester Cycle Trails. We were expecting something at least on par with Croft. We found a not-quite-400-meter pump track.

It turned out to be exactly what I neededa chance to nail my fundamental skills and receive an impromptu pep talk. A local boy around 9 or 10 years old took a break from practicing his pumps and jumps to admire our bikes, tell me I looked like a pro, and ask every question that popped into his head: Where are you from? What do you do? We bonded over our lack of confidence and rode together, pushing each other a little bit more every lap.

What he and friends that joined later lacked in technical pointers, they made up for with cheerleading. I can handle a bike, but Im still scared of demolishing myself off a jump. The kids insisted on teaching Will and me how to jump off a berm. And while their advice was no, go faster! it eventually stuck and I was getting both tires in the air.

Courtesy Ayesha McGowan

I still didnt understand Wills insistence on an operational dropper post. The trails we rode back home were all doable without one, and Croft was no different. But I trusted him.

The next day we reached BikePark Wales. I was in shock. Id never experienced anything like it. Even just the prep to ridesigning waivers, buying lift tickets, and attempting to wrap my mind around the billboard of a trail mapwas overwhelming. I followed Will onto the shuttle van, dazed. That trail map clued me in that this was a place where you follow gravity, like when Ive gone snowboarding, but I was still processing what Id signed up for. As the van ride kept going up, around a turn, and up again, I became aware of a few more details that werent like the mountain biking I was used to. As I glanced around at the other riders in the van, I noticed they were staring at us. We already stuck out like sore thumbs as Black cyclists in rural U.K., but I also saw a lot of full-face helmets and all sorts of padding. There I was in my road-racing kitmy only protective gear was a helmet and glasses.

It was only once we reached the dirt lot at the top that I fully realized the dire situation Id gotten myself into: We were at a downhill bike park and there were no beginner trails. I could have done a bit more research beforehand, but I was trying this new thing where I wasnt in control of everything. I trusted Will. But Will trusted back a little too much, like that I knew where we were going and that Id made the conscious decision to throw myself down a gravity trail with almost no protective gear. Even he had knee pads. Im still not sure if I should be annoyed or honored that he thinks so highly of me.

My roadie mentality told me that rocks, gravel, and roots were obstacles to be avoided at all costs. I had to relax and let my mountain bike deliberately roll over them.

We settled on the easiest-looking intermediate trail, and I did my best to follow Wills lines. Whenever it seemed like too much, I took it slow. I dont have the ego to get myself hurt when I have no idea what Im doing. The downhill features, the berms, rock gardens, and jumps, mimicked those of the trails Id done before, now just bigger and faster. I remembered to breathe, look where I wanted to go, pedal through the berms, and trust my bike. My roadie mentality told me that rocks, gravel, and roots were obstacles to be avoided at all costs. I had to relax and let my mountain bike deliberately roll over them. Wills insistence on a dropper post was making more and more sense. And now on the steepest trail Id ever ridden, I learned that going downhill made it even easier to roll over things. As the adrenaline started to build, I allowed myself to ease off the brakes enough to pick up speed.

I reached the bottom, put my heart back into my chest, and promptly made my way to the gear shop, where I scooped up the first elbow and knee pads that fit from the bargain box. I knew I had more runs in me.

I never imagined my honeymoon would be a weeklong intensive mountain bike training camp. I learned so much in just a few days and walked away with way more experience, confidence, and vocabularyand not just bike park. Our adventure of errors also built more trust in our relationship. Despite feeling very unprepared for BikePark Walesand wishing Will had encouraged me to bring protective gearIll admit that Will was right to feel that I was capable of the challenge. It was definitely not the trip I would have planned for myself, but it gave me a new appreciation for the U.K., van life, mountain bikes, and going with the flow. But Will is also never again allowed to plan anything sight unseen. I will ask all the questions.

Courtesy Ayesha McGowan

HOW TO TRY #VANLIFE

With no established Airbnb of camper vans, city-specific rentals are common. But the largest renter in North America is Escape Campervans, with fleets in 13 cities starting at $40 per day. Mileage, and gear like bedding and a kitchen kit, cost extra.

Wed done our fair share of camping and can get creative. We started a system of peeing in empty pasta sauce jars, but because we werent exactly in the backcountry, we made friends with the bathrooms at 24-hour supermarkets.

Bonny had a water heater for warm showers and it was glorious, but thats not standard. If your van lacks a shower, there are three options: buy a solar shower plus pop-up shower tent; park at a campground, like KOA, with amenities; or get a national gym membership, such as Planet Fitness.

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Original post:
I Thought I Knew My Spouse. Then We Honeymooned at a Bike Park - Bicycling

The Maine Emergency Management Agency staff and partner agencies are monitoring the latest storm that is moving heavy snow into Maine overnight along with cold temperatures.

Citizens will wake up Thursday to various amounts of snow across the state and hazardous weather conditions. A winter storm warning remains in effect from 10 p.m. this evening to 4 p.m. Thursday. Concerns include travel, possible power outages and below freezing temperatures.

The State EOC will be active while continuing to assist with COVID-19 fulfilment efforts. Most county Emergency Management Agencies are activated now.

Those in danger of running out of heating fuel should contact their fuel company as soon as possible and be sure to clear a path to the fuel pipes and tank to expedite the delivery process. Lowering the temperature in your home can help conserve fuel, but the temperature should not be set below 55 degrees to avoid pipes from freezing.

To prevent frozen pipes:

- Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing, typically those near outer walls, in crawl spaces or in the attic. Use insulation made especially for this purpose.

- Wrap pipes with heat tape (UL-approved).

- Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.

- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

- Let hot and cold water trickle at night from a faucet on an outside wall.

- Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to uninsulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall.

- If you plan to be away, have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or perhaps drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).

If pipes freeze:

- Make sure you and your family know how to shut off the water in case pipes burst. Stopping the flow of water can minimize the damage to your home. Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent. Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.

- Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.

Those using alternate heat sources should be sure to follow the manufacturers guidelines. Generators should not be used inside or in an enclosed space such as a porch or garage. They must be properly installed and situated at least 15 feet away from a home or business. Those using generators or alternate heat sources should also have working Carbon Monoxide detectors.

Those who must seek shelter elsewhere should have a plan in place to identify where they will go and how they will get there if they dont have transportation. Those with accessibility challenges should contact family, neighbors or emergency services to ensure their needs will be met.

- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area such as a garage to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning - Make sure tires are properly inflated and in good condition - Check windshield wiper fluid

- Ensure the vehicle is clear of all ice and snow

- Never mix radial tires with other types of tires

- Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid the gas line freezing up or running out of gas and becoming stranded

- Bring a fully-charged cell phone with roadside assistance numbers in your contacts

- If you become stranded in your vehicle, stay with the vehicle and tie a brightly-colored cloth to the antenna or use another type of distress signal

- Run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill in order to conserve gas Be sure to let someone know when and where you will be traveling and when you expect to arrive at your destination.

For additional preparedness, shelter and safety information, please visit MainePrepares.com, or visit MEMA on Facebook or Twitter. Shelter information is also available by calling 2-1-1 or contacting your local town office, fire or police department.

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Tips to avoid frozen pipes (did you turn off the valve to outside faucets?) - PenBayPilot.com

Want to spend less on hot water? Want to get more hot water from the tank to the faucet? Here are 5 Things you can do to make your water heater more efficient

5 Things to make your water heater more efficient

- Wrap your water pipes with insulation. Its easy to do you can get fitted insulation tubes at any big box hardware store.

- Set the thermostat of your water heater below 130 degrees. 130 degree water can scald you, so you wind up mixing cold water with it. So, why cook it that hot to begin with?

- Wrap your water heater in a special tank blanket. Also sold at big box stores, this can save you 10-15% on your energy bill.

- Have a re-circulating pump installed. A pump will keep hot water in the area so that when you call for it, it will be there.

- Have a certified installer install a tankless water heater. Hot water only when you call for it, for as long as you call for it your best solution.

Originally posted here:
5 Things to make your water heater more efficient - WSB Radio

Q - My wife constantly worries about our water pipes freezing during cold weather.

When do normal people worry about frozen pipes and what can help prevent them.

Frank in Alpharetta

A - Its funny how many letters I get that start with either My wife or My husband

Here is a rule of thumb for frozen pipes:

If the temperature crawls below freezing and the wind is howling for more than 6-8 hours you need to be aware that frozen pipes could occur.

One of the easiest and first things you should do is to drain and unhook your hose outside your house and store it for the winter.

As far as your house pipes go, pipes that are exposed are obviously more subject to freezing than interior pipes. If you have pipes running through your crawlspace it would be wise to wrap them in insulation.

(Insulation for pipes is available at all most all hardware stores, is inexpensive, and is very, very easy to install yourself.)

The next most vulnerable pipes are the ones in your garage (same cure) followed by pipes located in exterior walls of your home.

To help keep those pipes in your exterior walls from freezing open the cabinet doors under your sinks to allow heat from house easier access.

In very cold situations you should drip your pipes overnight. It takes running water much longer to freeze than still water. Dont forget to drip the hot water AND the cold water pipes at the same time.

Remember - hot water doesnt stay hot in the pipes very long so both are susceptible to freezing.

One other tip to consider - if your water heater is in your crawlspace or garage, really consider getting a blanket to wrap it in. Wrapping your water heater will help it work more efficiently.

One last tip - in a worst case scenario it is also good to know how to shut off the water to your house in case a frozen pipe bursts.

Learn where the cut-off valve is at the house, and at the street.

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Try to get ahead of the curve on this frosty problem - WSB Radio