Prior to the storm, please take the following precautions:

• Have a battery-operated radio on hand so you can keep updated on the most current conditions.
• Clear off your balcony.
• Place rolled up towels at the bottom of exterior doors and windows to limit wind-born rain intrusion.
• Purchase enough food and other provisions to last for at least 2-3 days. An ice chest filled with ice is a good idea in the event power is lost for an extended period of time.
• Especially in ground floor units, remove computers, televisions, and other valuable items off of the floor. In all units, remove these items from the vicinity of exterior doors and windows.
• Make sure your renters insurance policy is paid and up to date. Take a written inventory of your valuable possessions, and take pictures of them. If you do not have renters insurance, it is unlikely you will be able to purchase it until after the storm passes.

During the storm:

• Continue to stay updated on current and expected weather conditions.
• Stay indoors! Even if the rain lets up and you must go outside, exercise extreme caution. Do not wade into deep water as hidden hazards may be present.
• If power is lost during the storm, make sure all burners on your stove are in the ‘off’ position prior to restoration of service.

After the storm:

• Use extreme caution while walking outdoors.
• Wipe up as much water as you can that has seeped in under doors and windows.
• Notify the office as soon as possible if you have water intrusion in your unit.
• Notify your insurance carrier in the event you have sustained damage.
• The office staff will begin clean up as soon as it is safe to do so.

The post Hurricane Preparation Guide appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

• All persons sunbathing on the pool deck and/or swimming in the pool MUST wear proper swim attire at all times. Swimwear must be made from Lycra, Nylon or non-absorbent materials designed for swimming.
   
• All infants/toddlers, that require a diaper, must wear swimmer diapers AND swimwear in the pool at all times.
   
• Swimmers/Sunbathers can wear clean cotton t-shirts and sarongs on the pool deck, however they must keep their proper swim attire on underneath.
   
• The following attire is NOT allowed/permitted inside the pool:
  • Street clothes
  • Brazil/French-Cut Swimwear
  • Thong style and/or revealing Swimwear
  • Cut-off jeans, jeans, skirts or shorts 

On behalf of the entire staff at Brentmoor, we thank you for your cooperation and hope you a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

The post Current Swim Attire Requirements for Pool/Pool Area appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

The staff at Brentmoor Apartment Homes want to keep all our residents informed and updated through our monthly newsletters and email blasts. Some tidbits of information that may be helpful to know:

LOCKED OUT?

If you get locked out of your apartment, and the office is closed, please call a locksmith. Lock outs are not considered a maintenance emergency.

QUIET HOURS

Quiet hours in the community is from 10:00pm – 9:00am. If your neighbors are being disruptive during after hours, please call the Raleigh Police Departments at (919) 996-3335. 

SLOW DOWN! 

Speed limit is 10 MPH in the community. Please abide by the posted speed limit for your safety and the safety of others. 

LEASE RENEWALS

During lease renewal time, you will receive two different rent prorates for the month: the month your current lease expires and your new lease begins. Please call the office for your rent amount on your renewal month.

CIGARETTE BUTT DISPOSAL 

Throw all cigarette butts  away in the appropriate receptables. Cigarette butts is not only unslightly and created a potential fire hazard, we also fine for this activity.
 

HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN 

Per your lease agreement, residents are responsible for good housekieeping inside your apartment as well as where your foot treads on the commen areas of the property. Please help in keeping Brentmoor clean by not littering and picking up after your pet! 

We hope that you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (919) 431-9898. 

The post Tidbits of Info appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

The reality is, most people simply forget about cleaning their dryer vents, while some do not even know where they are located! While you may never give your dryer vents a second thought, it is important to clean and maintain these vents on a regular basis. Lint and other debris can building in your dryer vents, reducing air flow to the dryer, backing up dryer exhaust gases and, in turn, create a fire hazard in your home. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fires are sparked every year by clothes dryers.

Signs Your Dryer Vent Needs to be Cleaned

Most noticable sign that you may have a clog in your dryer vent is when your dryer stops drying your clothes in one cycle. If the heat and moisure can't escape through the vent, the dryer keeps working, in attempt to dry them. As your dryer works harder and heat continues to build up in the drum, this can lead to a dryer vent fire. Other signs include:

• Drying time is in excess of 35-40 minutes
• Musty odor in clothing following the drying cycle
• Clothes are unusually hot to the touch upon removing from the drum.
• Dryer vent hood flap does not properly open as it is designed.
• Debris is noticed within the ourside of the dryer vent opening.
• Excessive heat is noticed in the room while dryer during operation.
• Large amounts of lint accumulate in lint trap during operation.
• Visable sign of lint and debris is noticed around the lint filter.
• Excessive odor from dryer sheets used during operation.

Cleaning Your Vents

There are several DIY articles online that show you how to clean out your vents. Before you do anything make sure the dryer is unplugged! If you are not comfortable in doing so, it is always best to leave it to the professionals and contact a local appliance specialist.

If it's been a while since you've last cleaned your dryer vents, please take a moment and clean them our today!
view source

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Case in point, have you ever accidentally dropped a spoon down there? Not a pretty sight. A garbage disposal has a powerful motor and blade, however, there are certain things that you SHOULD NOT put down the disposal, and we don't mean obvious things like utensils or most importantly your fingers!

Many vegetables are too stringy or fibrous to go down the disposal, getting caught in the motor and leading to a clogged drain and you may be surprised which basic, everyday veggies you're not supposed to be throwing in the disposal. Additionally, certain starchy leftover foods should never go down the disposal because they can swell and clog the drain. 

Items NOT to be put down the garbage disposal:

• Grease or oil (grease and oil congeals into a big mass that clogs the pipes)
• Vegetable peels (such as onion skin, artichoke, potatoes, pea pods)
• Pasta products (pasta expands in the pipes, even after its been shredded)
• Rice Products (just like pasta, rice expands)
• Stringy veggies (such as corn husks, asparagus)
• Coffee grounds
• Pits / Seeds
• Lettuce
• Bones/Shells (items such as shrimp shells are tough and don't leave a pleasant scent)
• Glass
• Coins
• Screws
• Silverware 
• Garbage (cigarette butts / paper products)
• Anything in bulk

ICE
Although it may sounds terrible in the garbage disposal, but it won't hurt it! Some think it cleans the inside of the garbage disposal, but we don't think it does much by itself. You can, however, add some things to it to help clean your disposal. If you add eggshells or rock salt the ice beats them around the surface on the inside while the sharp edges on the eggshells or rock salt will scrape stuff off. There are people who say ice sharpens the blades in the garbage disposal. The parts in the garbage disposal can't be sharpened by putting something in it. Cleaning the garbage disposal will help it run more efficiently, but putting things in it will not sharpen it. Only small amounts of table scraps should go into the disposal!

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

• When using your disposal, always run your disposal with COLD water.
• Run the disposal a couple of minutes with the COLD water running to prevent clogging
• If you are shoving something in the disposal, its probably too big. 
• Make Homemade Garbage Disposal Refreshers
• Replace cover or sink strainer in garbage disposal when not in use to prevent unwanted objects from falling in

The old adage of “less is more” definitely applies to the garbage disposal!

The post Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts! appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

• No one under 16 is permitted to use fitness equipment
• Young Children in the Playroom must be accompanied by an adult in the Fitness Center
• Keep the Playroom clean for others to enjoy
• Do not give entrance to those without a key to avoid nonresidents from using the facility

The post Summer Fitness Center Hours appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

• Recycling bins are NOT for household trash, they are intended for recyclable items ONLY. All other trash items are to be disposed of in the compactor.
• Do NOT place large unwanted items, such as  furniture, mattresses, bed frames, tables, appliances, etc…  at/in/around the compactor area. Residents are responsible for disposing of your own bulk items. Please call 'McJunk' for removal services. (919) 850-4377.
• As per your lease agreement: Vehicles must be parked correctly in designated parking spaces. We do NOT permit/allow cars-trucks-trailers-boats-moving trucks to be parked horizontally in any parking spaces. Vehicles parked horizontally are subject to be towed/removed at the Owner’s Expense.
• We allow our movies to be checked out and enjoyed for 3 days! However, if movies are NOT returned by day 4, your account will be charged a $10.00 replacement fee.
• DO NOT hang bird feeders on your patio / balcony railings / ceilings. Not only is bird seed messy to yourself and adjoining neighbors, below and beside you, it also attracts uninvited insects!
• The Community Speed Limit is 10 MPH. Be aware of children, pets and other vehicles when driving through our community and access gates!
• Please refrain from leaving toys, bicycles, or personal property in common areas, when not in actual use.
• Please conduct your activities in and around the premises so you do not interfere with the rights, comforts or conveniences of fellow residents.

We appreciate our residents choosing our community as their home and want everyone to feel comfortable to voice their concerns as well as know that anything you share will be kept with the highest level of confidence. As always, for questions or concerns, feel free to stop by, email or call us.

The post Tidbits and Reminders appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.

It's that time of year again. Temperatures are staying below freezing and are creating potential hazardous driving conditions across North Carolina. Please continue to use extreme caution when you are walking outdoors or driving on the roads. Here are a few tips to keep warm during this winter weather:

1. Roll blankets/towels and place them under doors/windows to block drafts.
2. Put on a sweater.
3. Insulate the windows by hanging a clear vinyl shower curtain behind the drapes. We did this in one room with three exposed walls, and it really helped to stabilize the temperature.
4. Bake or cook something.
5. Put down a carpet or rug to prevent heat loss through the floors.
6. Close air vents to unused spaces.
7. Make sure the damper is closed on your fireplace when it's not in use.
8. Keep closet and cabinet doors closed (except for cabinets with pipes during a freeze warning).
9. Purchase a humidifier. Humidifiers add extra moisure to the air and make you feel warmer.
10. Cuddle up under quilts.
11. Use a space heater, carefully. Never leave them unattended.
12. Put an electric blanket on your bed. Turn them off when they're not in use.
13. Drink something warm to raise your core temperature. Cocoa Recipe.
14. Switch the ceiling fans to turn in reverse (clockwise). Because heat rises, it will force the heat back down along the walls.
15. Cozy up with a hot water bottle. Buy online.
16. Apply weather stripping to doors or windows. Buy online.
17. Soak in a hot bath.
18. Wear wooly socks.

Be safe and stay warm, everyone!

The post Let’s Stay Warm this Winter! appeared first on Brentmoor Apartments Blog.