Tips for Property Owners and Renters
To help you become more aware of these problems and how to avoid them, we offer the following “Dos, Don’ts, and How-tos”.
The temperature inside an unoccupied home will approach the mean, outdoor temperature. This will be below freezing many days of the winter. The water pipes, traps, tanks, etc., within a home must be protected from freezing. Do this by draining the home as follows:
- Turn water heater OFF at breaker box (if electric).
- CLOSE main water valve into the house.
- OPEN outside drains and water heater drain.
- OPEN all water faucets in the home to prevent a vacuum and allow complete drainage.
- Add a small amount of anti-freeze to every drain trap, toilet bowl and tank, washing machine traps, etc., in the home.
When opening your home the procedure is reversed:
- CLOSE outside drains and water heaters drains.
- OPEN main water valve, allowing water into pipes.
- CLOSE cold water faucets, leave hot water faucets OPEN. As water heater fills with water, air will come out of faucets. When hot water faucet runs full, close faucets.
- Turn water heater ON.
A water heater element left on, or turned on, in an empty water heater will burn out in very short order. Not closing the main water valve into your home, and draining the pipes, can result in extensive damage. The total cost of repairs to a home damaged by leaking water can well be in excess of $30,000.
Leaving a faucet or faucets slightly open to prevent freezing DOES NOT WORK and is against the District Water Conservation Plan adopted in June 2008. The ordinance provides, among other things, that where water is wasted or used negligently on a homeowner’s premises, the District may discontinue service. In addition, in emergency situations, the representatives of the District my ingress and egress a homeowner’s premise for any purpose connected with maintaining water service. All cost of repair work of privately owned property performed by the District are the responsibility of the homeowner. Leaving taps running is also an inexcusable waste of precious water as well as electricity to pump it. Some homeowners have adopted the policy of leaving the heat on in an unoccupied home to prevent freezing. This method can be expected to work as long as there are no prolonged power outages. If you elect to follow this method, you still must close the water supply to your property if the cabin will be unoccupied for 24 hours or more.
Winter time parking is a particular problem. Create off-street parking for yourself when you can. Even better, pave it and arrange for snow removal. Otherwise ALWAYS park in the indicated areas only. Please note the No Parking Signs. Cars in violation will be cited by the Highway Patrol or Sheriff. NEVER abandon your car, or allow your guests or renter to abandon theirs, during or after a storm. Periodically move the vehicle to freshly plowed areas. AWLAYS carry tire chains in you automobile. NEVER ignore a “chains required” sign. Whey they are required on the highway, you will seldom, if ever, be able to negotiate our hills and turns without them.
Candles, flashlights, and battery-powered items are considered necessities, as well as shovels, fire extinguishers, etc., are items that should be included in every home. Power outages and snow removal equipment breakdowns will occur in stormy weather, causing snow removal delay. A few simple steps of preparation can save a lot of anguish.
Each property owner is responsible for keeping their lot free of pine needles and debris. Cal-Fire requires lots to be cleaned 100 feet around any structure, roofs swept of needles, and spark arresters on chimney. Burn permits are required and may be obtained by Cal-Fire. Burning will usually not be allowed between June 1 and the first heavy rain or snow in the fall.
The District has fire hydrants, but fire protection is provided by the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department. All possible fire precautions should be undertaken.
All alarm systems should be properly maintained and provision made to return to normal when the alarm has been activated for any reason.
A copy of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Sierra Cedars for your property can be accessed by clicking on the CC&R’s link on the home page of this website. These CC&R’s are in actuality recorded deed restrictions. Any enforcement that becomes necessary is by Court Injunction that can be acquired by any private citizen.
In 1980, the Board of Directors of the Sierra Cedars Community Services District was appointed to be the Architectural Control Committee for the subdivision. The purpose of the Committee is to maintain a constant esthetic level on new or remodeled construction within the subdivision.