Rain Rain Go Away!

OK, enough is enough already. This weather is beyond ridiculous. I don’t remember the last time we had so much rain! I think we are at double the amount for the month and we still have a week to go. I’m sitting at the dining room table watching more of the most incredible looking rain clouds heading in this direction. Oh well. I did want to remind you to make sure you clear any standing water around your home. I know whatever it is will probably fill up again but don’t wait. There’s enough to worry about with swine flu, we don’t need to worry about the mosquitoes and West Nile. Also remember to watch for ticks on both you and any pets. Traipsing around the yard can be a bit of an obstacle course. I have my own private pond where one never existed. Before this all started, all I had to do was dig down about a foot and the hole would start filling with water. Now, the ground is so saturated that I’m surprised we haven’t gone sliding into the bay across the street! I’m one step away from being a houseboat with all this water!

UPDATE: I just looked through newsday.com and about half an hour ago an article was posted which refers exactly to what I was saying. But here's the rub.....a fine for the homeowner who doesn't clear standing water...... here''s the link to the article.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-linile2412911478jun23,0,1405065.story

Reverse Thinking

It's finally here......summer. We're pulling out the grills and barbeques, cleaning off the patio furniture, sprucing up the yard and getting ready for some fun.

You know what else it's time for? It's time to start working on your heating system. Yes, that's right, your heating system. Now I know you're wondering what I'm talking about but believe me, now it the time to start. Think about it for a minute. That system ran its heart out keeping you warm all winter long. The inside got dirty (you oil people out there know what I mean!) and all you did was shut off the unit when it started to warm up outside. You don't put clothes away when they are dirty. You don't put tools away when they are dirty. The same thing goes for your heating system. It needs to be worked on every year to keep it performing properly and cost effectively.


Prices for heating parts are lower, now, in the summer months (and air conditioning parts are cheaper in winter). Every year around this time, I tear apart my own oil-fired system and clean it up, change the filters, flush the lines and perform all the other preventive maintenance necessary. Since I have a gas water heater, I only have to run the heat for about 4 months. That also means cleaning out the chimney every other year. For those of you who have to run the burner year round, clean that chimney once a year. But by taking the proper care of my oil burner I spent less than $600 last winter to heat my home. And my 100 year old home is drafty! The south shore of Long Island can get really cold and windy. Sometimes we can even see the curtains move in the breeze.


Besides, when the wife flips that switch to the on position that first really chilly day come September, you want your heating system to work so she's warm and comfortable, not annoyed at you because you didn't have the unit checked.