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HOME JANUARY 2020 2 Distributed by: ©2018 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 9 ■ Number 1 ■ January 2020 Heating From Page 1 the furnace." To help warm air circulate more effi- ciently, homeowners should check to make sure heating vents are open and not obstructed by furniture or other items. "You want to have a good air flow in your house," Herro said. He believes that, for homeowners with gas furnaces, having carbon monoxide detectors near living spaces such as a bed- room or hallway is essential. Many heat- ing and cooling professionals, such as those at On Time, will install detectors for homeowners at a reasonable cost. "Safety is our number-one priority," Herro said. Seider said that, to avoid furnace shut- downs with high-efficiency furnaces, snow and ice should be removed from exterior pipes. "If there is a snow storm, it wouldn't hurt to bundle up and walk outside to make sure the intake and exhaust pipes are clear of any snow or debris," he said. Herro added that it's a good idea to thoroughly check the pipes for snow and ice, even if looks can be deceiving. "Sometimes, you have to stick your hand in there and double-check," he said. Fox said that a furnace's life can be pro- longed and expensive repairs can be avoided through a combination of simple steps and professional maintenance. "The Boy Scout motto is great advice — be prepared," he concluded. For the Air Conditioning Contractors of America task list on heating and cooling systems maintenance, visit www.acca.org. The winter season brings plenty of joy and beauty, but it can also wreak havoc on your outdoor plants and landscaping. Some of this damage is unavoidable, depending on where you live; the snow, wind and frigid temperatures are bound to affect your plants. However, there are some tips and trick to help your plants avoid the hazards of winter. Branches breaking or bending After a heavy snowfall, you may notice branches falling off your trees or bending under the weight of the snow. If the snow is fluffy and easy to move, you may carefully brush the snow off the bending branches with a broom or other tool. Do not attempt to brush the weight off branches from an ice storm to avoid further damage. Try to avoid blowing or shoveling snow onto landscaping plants. Leaf scorch Applying de-icing salt is an effective way to protect walkways and roads. But, be care- ful not to expose plants to salt as this will turn needles brown or damage the edges of leaves. Plants with salt damage should be watered thoroughly in spring. Sunscald Most common among young trees with thin bark is sunscald, the result of unsea- sonably warm winter temps followed by a return to freezing temps. As trees are dor- mant during cold weather, a brief warm spell causes them to wake up, causing their bark to rapidly expand and contract. Wrap- ping vulnerable trees with reflective white tree guards or burlap can help. Winter burn Hazardous winter weather conditions can cause evergreen trees to have brown patch- es of needles, the result of winter burn. Unusually warm fall temperatures, drastic temperature drops and an inadequate root system can contribute to winter burn. If the entire tree turns brown, the tree is not likely to recover, but pruning the affected areas in spring may help spring new buds and branches. Frost heave Typically as a result of late planting, repeated freezing and thawing tempera- tures may potentially damage or even kill some plants. To prevent frost heave, apply mulch to recently planted perennial plants to prepare for a hard frost. It's best to avoid planting perennials after September as planting will not give the plants enough time to develop a strong root system before temperatures dip below freezing. Managing winter damage You can help keep your heating bill down by actually checking that your thermostat is at the right setting. Make sure it's on the heat setting, that you have fresh batteries and that programmable thermostats aren't overriding the desired setting.

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