Your weekly guide to the events and happenings in and around Boyertown, PA

What to do? Where to go? Here is your one stop list of community events, music, arts, food, business specials, and historic events for Boyertown and beyond…

As a Boyertown graduate, a real estate agent at Glocker Realty, and also a proud member of Building a Better Boyertown, I have had the joy of watching our little town grow. I enjoy having any part in helping our community to move forward. I hope this weekly blog will help shine a light on all the great things happening in and around Boyertown, PA

Here is what’s going down during the week of 1/13/2022 – 1/19/2022

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FREEZING TEMPS!

With a blast of record cold temperatures coming again this weekend, followed by a potential winter storm, it will be a good idea to make sure you and your home are protected from Old Man Winter. I am sure you would rather be snuggled up your warm home without a care in the world during the cold blast then to be frantically calling contractors or insurance companies. Let’s take a quick check of your home now, to prevent what could be a disastrous outcome in your future if you don’t. Here is a list of items that could help ensure that you and your family enjoy a calm, warm, and safe home this winter season…

1 – Guard Your Water Pipes

To keep outdoor plumbing fixtures from freezing, disconnect and store any garden hoses, shut off the water to your outdoor faucets. If you DON’T have a frost-free hose bib, then you will need to drain the lines and insulate the hose bibs.

If any of your indoor plumbing pipes run through exterior walls, be sure to monitor them in the winter and make sure wall insulation is up to recommended standards. If they are NOT adequately insulated, set both the hot and cold faucets to a slow drip whenever temperatures dip well below freezing. Also, consider leaving cabinet doors open so your pipes can be warmed from the room air.

2 – Keep the Cold Out and the Warm In

Even small holes where cable wires or phone lines enter your home can be an entry point for freezing air or where indoor heat can escape. Purchase a can of foam insulation to seal them up. Use weather stripping or caulking to remedy any cracks around your doors and windows as well.

keep your house warmer by making sure your home has adequate insulation in the crawl space, attic, garage, and insulate any exposed pipes in an unconditioned space.

3 – Keep the Water Shutoff Accessible

Should a water line ever freeze and burst, you will need to shut off the home’s water supply immediately. First things first, make sure everyone in your house knows where the shut off valve is located and how to use it. If you have stuff blocking access to the main water shut valve off, rearrange your basement or garage so that it will be easily accessible in the event of a plumbing emergency. Then, make sure the shut-off valve is in good working order.

4 – Make Sure Your Heat Stays Working

When the temperatures drop, the heating fuel companies and HVAC contractors get very busy. You don’t want to have to call them for an emergency. If you heat with propane or fuel oil, make sure the tank is full. If you heat with wood or coal, have plenty of fuel on hand. Have your furnace inspected before the cold weather arrives. Have your fireplaces, and chimneys inspected before using, and have them cleaned if needed. *Keep your thermostat running continuously by replacing the batteries or having spare batteries on hand.

5 – Keep Garage Doors Closed

If your garage is attached to your home, minimize the time your garage door is open. This will help to keep cold air out of your house and protect plumbing fixtures in your garage and pipes in the shared walls between the house and garage.

6 – Clean Gutters

Full gutters increase your chance of having ice form on your roof (called ice damming). This can cause damage to your roof and water to infiltrate the interior of your home. Keeping your gutters free of debris can save you from a big headache and a costly misfortune.

Another cause of ice damming is poor or no attic ventilation. Inspect your attic to make sure there’s no insulation blocking your soffits or attic vents. The free flow of air in your attic will prevent warm air from melting the snow on the roof, where it can run down to refreeze at the roof edges.

7 – Be Ready for a Power Outage

Freezing temperatures and ice can cause havoc on transformers and power lines. Make sure you have a backup plan if the power goes out for an extended period of time. A portable generator can come in handy when the power go out. but take precautions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when using. Have a backup (non-electric) heat source such as a propane or kerosene heater, or wood burning fireplace. Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working and it wouldn’t be a bad Idea to have a fire extinguisher on hand for emergencies.

8 – Prepare for Vacation

When you leave your home for extended periods during the winter, consider shutting off the water to your house and draining your plumbing system, so you won’t have to worry about freezing pipes or other plumbing failures while you’re gone.

There are also a variety of freeze alarms you can purchase for your home, which can monitor the temperature in your home and send you a text message or email alerting you if temperatures fall to a dangerous level. If you are a “snowbird” that leaves your northern home for a warmer climate in the winter, such a monitor is indispensable insurance.

And speaking of insurance, make sure your homeowner’s policy is up to date and has good coverage for the type of damage that can be incurred by freezing temperatures.

9 – Protect Your Cars Too

Be sure your cars are ready for a deep freeze at the same time you are protecting your home. Check the vehicles antifreeze levels, add if needed, then run the engine to circulate the new antifreeze through the radiator and engine block. Add freeze-resistant windshield wiper fluid, and spray to circulate it in lines. Check air pressure in tires since cold weather causes the pressure to lower. Gas up!

10 – Unfreeze the Pipes

If you do have a pipe freeze, here is how to remedy the situation:

Keep the faucet open because as you treat the pipe and the freeze starts to melt, water will start to flow. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
Apply heat to the section of the pipe by using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (though try and keep it away from flammable materials). You can also use a towel that has been soaked in hot water.
Apply the heat until full water pressure is back.
If the frozen area is not accessible, call a plumber.
If one pipe freezes, it’s possible others have as well. So be sure to check all pipes.
Stop it from happening again (see item #1 of this article)

THE BOYERTOWN OPERA HOUSE FIRE 1/13/1908 – a tragidy that took 171 lives and forever etched it’s mark in history. It even brought on saftey laws that we use today. The documentary below is an excellent account of the dreadful incident:

**To donate directly go to: Team Purple S.O.Y.**

LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK at your community each week on “The Cast at Glocker”! Matt Green & Jeff Frederick interview local entrepreneurs and those involved in helping the Boyertown area communities. You can catch us every Wednesday at 6pm as we livestream at the Glocker Realty & Insurance Facebook and YouTube pages. Join us live, comment, post questions, and be part of the conversation!

This week two Boyertown area stundent, Paige Lacobacci & Gabi Martin, came in to talk about their fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Students of the Year” campaign. We also had on Realtors Robin Lawhorn and Megan Cooper. We learned about their path to becoming real estate agents.

If you would like to help Paige & Gabi with their cause, please donate here: Team Purple S.O.Y.

EVENTS LIST

MONDAY 1/17/2022

Sing 2 (movie) – The State Theatre, Boyertown

TUESDAY 1/18/2022

Trivia Tuesday – Doc’s Irish Pub, Gilbertsville 8pm
Sing 2 (movie) – The State Theatre, Boyertown

WEDNESDAY 1/19/2022

Q&A with Kendra and Autumn (facebook live) – Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles 2-2:15pm
The Cast at Glocker @ Barn Fresh Vintage Market (facebook live) – Glocker Realty & Insurance 6-7pm
Sing 2 (movie) – The State Theatre, Boyertown

“One kind word can warm three winter months.” – Japanese proverb

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Have this event blog sent directly to your email each week!

If you would like your event posted email me at jeff@glocker.com

For real estate assistance contact Jeff Frederick at jeff@glocker.com or call/text at 610-766-2028.

What’s Going Down in Boyertown? (prevent home freeze)

Your weekly guide to the events and happenings in and around Boyertown, PA

Here is what’s going down during the week of 1/13/2022 – 1/19/2022

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FREEZING TEMPS!

EVENTS LIST

THURSDAY 1/13/2022

FRIDAY 1/14/2022

SATURDAY 1/15/2022

SUNDAY 1/16/2022

MONDAY 1/17/2022

TUESDAY 1/18/2022

WEDNESDAY 1/19/2022

“One kind word can warm three winter months.” – Japanese proverb

Have this event blog sent directly to your email each week!

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