The Preserve at Fir Road

01/17/2025

01/16/2025

A little winter cheer to brighten your day.

01/16/2025

DANGEROUS COLD NEXT WEEK: While we get to enjoy a brief thaw late week, the focus of this forecast is on the brutal cold heading our way. This has the potential to be the coldest in several years, with double digit sub-zero temperatures and wind chills near -30°. Absolutely plan ahead if you have livestock, elderly family members and/or an older home that will require some attention with these temperatures. Exposed skin can get frostbite in about 5 minutes.

We've seen these temperatures before (and will see them again!), but it's important when air temperatures drop this low to be vigilant about making sure you are bundled up. Goal is to not have exposed skin in the elements for a prolonged period of time (THIS INCLUDES PETS!!!!!!). The coldest temperatures will be south of US-6 away from lake effect clouds (Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton, Pulaski, etc). Clear skies at night + snow on ground = plummeting temperatures.

POSITIVES OF THE COLD: Lake ice (both inland & Lake MI) will rapidly increase during this period. This is great news for our lakes. Also, we are in need of a deep freeze like this for the soil (pollen, bugs, etc). A true Indiana/Michigan winter in the temperature department... although we are still in the hole for snow! 🙂

I'll be all over this & the snow possibilities for you, and of course will have the latest on the Matt Rudkin WX app for your hometown. Chat soon.

01/10/2025

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!
The snow and cold temperatures have arrived. Just a couple of safety tips to keep everyone safe during the winter months.
1. As the colder months approach, some people wonder if they can use their oven as a source of heat for their home. It's tempting to think that an appliance designed to generate heat could double as a makeshift heater during chilly days. While this idea may seem practical on the surface, there are several reasons why it's not recommended. While turning on your oven for a quick burst of warmth might be tempting, it is important to know that using an oven to heat your apartment is very dangerous and a FIRE HAZARD. Please do not use your oven as a heating source.
2. When temperatures or windchills are below 30 degrees, feel free to set your thermostat to the EM HEAT setting. How Does EM Heat Work in a Heat Pumps? Emergency heat (EM) in a heat pump system is the backup heating method. Typically, when a heat pump is in heating mode, it pulls in heat from the outside. However, when the temperature drops the outdoor air is too cold to draw in heat, and the heat pump efficiency drops. That's when emergency heat kicks in, allowing the heat pump to continue operating as it should. Heat pump EM usually comes from electric resistance heat strips - small heating coils located in the air handler of the indoor unit in the heat pump. Once activated, heat is generated and blown into the indoor space by the heat pump fan system, raising the indoor temperature. EM heat is often activated automatically.
3. Please do not extend your vehicle over the sidewalk to allow for proper snow removal.
The safety and welfare of our residents is a top priority year-round, but winter is a time to be especially cautious. Walking safely like a penguin will help prevent slips or falls when walking on ice or snow. Also, wear appropriate footwear with a slip-resistant sole. Use special care when entering and existing your homes and vehicles. Walk on designed walkways and always look ahead when you walk. Taking short steps and shuffling your feet will help with stability. Our staff applied ice melt/sand to our walks this morning and again this afternoon, making our walks safe for all to use. Please report any areas that you may feel are unsafe.

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01/09/2025

It’s time for a magical winter celebration like no other! Join us for our Carnival on Ice event January 18th. Enjoy your favorite carnival games while skating under the stars.

Adult - $11
Youth - $8

8:30pm-10:00pm

Tickets: https://checkout.roller.app/ironworksplaza/products/booknow #/sessions

01/06/2025

When to Use Emergency Heat on Heat Pump? Heat pumps are efficient and versatile devices that can provide heating and cooling for your home. However, they may need to work better in extremely cold weather or when they are damaged or malfunctioning. In such cases, you may need to use the emergency heat setting on your thermostat to keep your home warm and comfortable. But what is emergency heat, and when should you use it? In this blog post, we will explain emergency heat, how it works, when to use it, and how to avoid using it unnecessarily. Emergency heat, also known as auxiliary heat or backup heat, is a secondary heating source that can supplement or replace your heat pump when it cannot provide enough heat for your home. Emergency heat is usually activated by a switch or a button on your thermostat, labeled as “EM HEAT,” “AUX HEAT,” or “BACKUP HEAT.” When you turn on the emergency heat, your heat pump will stop running, and your emergency heat source will take over.

How Does Emergency Heat Work?

Emergency heat bypasses the heat pump and uses the secondary heating source to heat your home. When you turn on the emergency heat, your thermostat will signal the heat pump to shut down and the emergency heat source to turn on. The emergency heat source will heat the air and distribute it to your home through the ductwork. The emergency heat will run until you manually turn it off or the thermostat reaches the desired temperature.

Emergency heat can be used in two ways: manually or automatically.

Manual emergency heat is when you turn it on yourself by pressing the switch or button on your thermostat. You may do this when your heat pump is malfunctioning or you want to warm up quickly. However, you should only use it in emergencies, such as when your heat pump is broken or frozen and you need heat until a technician can fix it. You should refrain from using it regularly, as it can waste energy and money and damage your system.

Automatic emergency heat is when it turns on by itself, without you pressing the switch or button on your thermostat. This may happen when the outside temperature is too low for your heat pump to work efficiently or when it is defrosting. In these cases, it will turn on temporarily to help the heat pump and keep the temperature. You do not need to do anything; it will turn off automatically when the temperature rises or defrosting ends.

When to Use Emergency Heat on Heat Pump?

Emergency heat should only be used in emergency situations when your heat pump cannot provide enough heat for your home. Some of the situations, when you may need to use emergency heat are:

Freezing temperatures In a heat pump, outside air is transferred to the interior. However, there isn’t enough heat for the pump to extract in below-freezing temperatures, causing it to struggle and run continuously without reaching the set temperature. This reduces efficiency and lifespan and increases energy bills. To supplement the heat pump and maintain warmth, use emergency heat when the outside temperature is below 25°F for a short period. Keep in mind that emergency heat can be costly and inefficient to run.

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01/06/2025

Rent is now late. Add your late fee when paying rent.

01/05/2025

Pay rent today to avoid the late fee.

01/04/2025

Just a little reminder all rent payments must be placed in the rent drop box by Sunday January 5th to avoid a late fee charge. Late fees will be charged on Monday, January 6th,2025. Enjoy your Saturday.