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Romantic Plans for this Valentine's Day?

Reader's Digest lists where The Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Restaurants are in Every State.
Ranked #1 for Valentine's in NEW JERSEY: Stone Harbor’s Sax at the Reeds

Couples don’t need to wait until the summer for a reason to visit the Jersey Shore. Stone Harbor’s Sax at the Reeds offers a prix-fixe dinner from February 14 to 16 with a wine pairing. Reservations typically fill quickly. Starters include steamed mussels, a beefsteak tomato salad, and braised pork belly, and guests can select entrées such as white miso–roasted salmon and grilled Amish chicken. 
Don't live in New Jersey? Here are the other states Top Ranked restaurants: 
Click here: Reader's Digest - Find Your State


Best PIZZA in South Jersey
Click here: SouthJersey.com

SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO WINTERIZE YOUR HOME...

INSULTATING PIPES

CLEANING GUTTERS

LANDSCAPING 

AND MORE...

INSULATING PIPES THIS WINTER

Any exposed pipe that runs along a wall or is in an unheated area (a basement or a crawl space, for example) is a potential hazard. The water inside can freeze and cause the pipe to burst when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. "It's easy to protect them with pipe insulation. Get it at the hardware store—it looks like a giant piece of spaghetti with a slit," says Lou Manfredini, the host of HouseSmarts. "Cut it to fit the length of the pipe, wrap it around, then secure with duct tape if needed."
CLICK HERE FOR A QUICK HOW TO VIDEO



Cleaning the Gutters Before they Freeze!

If they're clogged with leaves, the debris can freeze into a big, icy mass, which could get under shingles and damage the roof. Get a tall ladder and work gloves, and scoop out the debris so water can drain. "Make sure you're comfortable on a ladder and have a buddy with you to help support it," says Vince Capriotti. A leaf blower can speed things up, but you may still need to use your hands to finish the job. Prefer to call in a handyman? The service typically takes about two hours.

Click the picture above to watch a
HOW TO
Clean Gutters Video

Featured YouTube Video from Home Depot's How To Series

Click here for a step by step How to Clean Gutters by RealSimple.com

Prefer to use a Handyman? Click here for a Handyman near you!
Let's talk trees...
INSPECTING TREE BRANCHES DURING THE DORMANT SEASON
 
Click Here for Benefits of Tree Pruning During
Dormant Season from The Davey Tree Expert Company
Scan your property for branches growing over the house, garage, driveway, or power lines. During a storm, those could come down and cause major damage. Branches rubbing together can also lead to breakage. Look for signs of dead limbs, too: dead leaves that remain attached after the rest of the tree has shed, many smooth areas that are missing bark, or spots where mushrooms have sprouted. If you see anything suspicious, call an arborist for an evaluation.
 
 
Tree Services in South Jersey - Click Here 
Don't forget to... 
CUT BACK THE PERENNIALS
 

Click Here to Learn How to Prune Perennial Plants

For Winter from YouTuber MIgardener

 

HomeGuides.com provides a step by step guide on

How to Winterize Flowering Perennials 

It's fine to keep some intact. Those with a pretty shape (coneflowers, ornamental grass) look nice even in winter. But most deciduous perennials—plants that shed their leaves annually (like asters, irises, and lilies)—do best with an aggressive trim, says Erynn Capriotti. Horn, a landscape architect in Washington, D.C. Using clippers or a hedge trimmer, cut plants to two to three inches above the ground. Not only does this make your garden look tidier but it also eliminates potential homes for harmful insects, who like to hide out, then surface during spring growth.

MULCHING FLOWER BEDS 

Sometime before the coldest winter temps hit, add a layer of hardwood mulch to all your flower beds. "Mulching at this time of year helps regulate changes in soil temperature," says Erynn. The mulch acts as insulation, buffering the plants from brutally low temperatures to come. Without it, roots are vulnerable to significant damage and the plants could die.
How to prepare flower beds for winter, keep moisture in and weeds out using mulch. Watch a HOW TO video from YouTuber Growing Wisdom - Click Here
GardeningKnowHow.com has more Tips On Mulching Plants In Winter - Click Here

DRAINING SPRINKLERS

If you have an outdoor sprinkler system, it's smart to remove any residual water before the first freeze so it doesn't expand and crack the pipes. Your best bet is to hire an irrigation contractor to blow out the water using compressed air. If you prefer to give it a shot yourself, consult the manufacturer's website. (Directions vary by system). Generally the process involves shutting off the water source, then opening the drain valves located at the lowest part of the irrigation system (usually in the basement) to allow water to drain.

sprinklers
blowout sprinkler
professional
sprinklers
BLOCK DRAFTS AND SAVE $$$
Hold a lit candle along each windowsill and baseboard. See it flicker? That signals a draft—and for each draft that you eliminate, you can increase your home's energy-efficiency, says Vince Capriotti. For baseboards, clean and dry the area with a paper towel. Then, using white or clear paintable caulking, fill in gaps between the trim and the floor with an even bead. Smooth with a wet finger, then remove the excess with a damp cloth. To seal drafty windows and doors, use weather stripping (around the frame) or window-film kits (over the glass; both available at hardware stores). 
 
 
Watch this video from YouTuber Everyday Workbench for
3 Ways to Solve Drafts
 
 
Easy fixes for Drafty Windows: Click Here 
HAVE YOUR FURNACE SERVICED
At the beginning of winter, hire an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) contractor to make sure your furnace or boiler is operating safely and efficiently. "The pro will pull apart the burners, inspect all the contacts and sensors, and replace the filter," says Erynn. To keep the appliance running well, inspect the filter monthly (it slides in), and replace it when it turns brown or black. Stick with a pleated version, which has more particle-trapping surface area than a flat filter.
 
Watch this video from YouTuber Any Hour Services on 7 Steps to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter 
 
Hire a HVAC Contractor near you: Click Here 



DOES MY FIREPLACE NEED CLEANING?

If you use a wood-burning fireplace more than six times a year, you should have it professionally cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep annually, because built-up creosote and soot can ignite, says Paul Sullivan of the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers. If you almost never use your fireplace or have a gas one (cleaner-burning than wood), an inspection every three years is sufficient.
Watch this video from YouTuber MrFixIt DIY on
How to Clean Your Chimney & Why You Should! | A DIY Guide

Need a Chimney Sweeper? Click here for professionals near you! 

Prevent Door Locks from Freezing

If you've ever had this problem or you live in a super-cold climate, spray a little powdered-graphite lubricant into each door lock (where the key goes), then turn the key in the lock. The powder (sold at hardware stores) lubricates the pins inside the lock to prevent sticking. Do this once a season.
Powdered-Graphite Lubricant Sold at LOWES or AMAZON <--Click here

Click here to read more: How to Prevent a Lock From Freezing from Hunker.com
Click here to watch a Video from Technical Tuesday to see how to unfreeze an already frozen door lock! 

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