Outside

• Shut off water at the source (hoses, sprinklers, etc). There is a valve in the basement. Drain the line by leaving the outside tap turned on after the indoor one has been turned off.
• Remove any hoses or sprinklers from outside taps.
• Store any outdoor furniture in one comer of your patio, potentially covered with a tarp.
• If you have an air conditioner, make sure you turn the breaker off to the air conditioner and consider placing a cover or tarp over it to prevent motor freeze.

Windows

• Please keep any windows closed during cold temperatures to prevent plumbing and heating fixtures from freezing. An open window can lead to a burst pipe when it is below 0 degrees outside.
• Please do not use your patio for storage purposes, this includes summer tires.

Furnaces

• Change your furnace filters in in your furnance. Furnace filters need to be changed every three months to allow the furnace to function properly and ensure your home is heated efficiently.

Vehicles and Parking Areas

• All vehicles must have a valid license plate and be in running condition. Any vehicles parked in visitor parking for an overnight stay without being registered at CondoBoard@chaparral-estates.com, will be tagged and towed at the expense of the owner.
• All units have two designated parking stalls. If you have more than two vehicles, please park the additional vehicles on the street. Visitor parking is reserved for visitors and other residents.
• Do not leave your vehicle running and unlocked with the keys inside even if it is for a short period of time.

Smoke Detectors

• Never shut off the breaker for your smoke detector for any reason. If your smoke detector is battery operated, do not remove the batteries. Removing or altering fire and safety equipment is a serious risk to you and your neighbours.
• Do not remove, cover, or alter your smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector.
• Test your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector every 30 days. If you find that one or both are not functioning properly, immediately have it repaired or replaced.

Pets

• If you have a pet(s), please keep your pet on a leash at all times when it is outside your unit.
• Always clean up after your pet to prevent any contamination or odor. Even in the wintertime pet refuse needs to be removed from patios and disposed of in the garbage bins.

Holiday Safety

• Christmas trees and other decorations should be kept away from heat sources including vents, lamps, candles, heaters and more.
• If you have a real Christmas tree, please water it regularly as a dry Christmas tree is a fire hazard.
• Christmas lights should be turned off when you are not home or asleep as they can pose a fire hazard.
• Candles are a fire hazard. If you do use candles, please keep them away from flammable objects such as curtains, bedding, and Christmas trees.
• Poinsettias are harmful if ingested. Please take care when leaving the plants unattended around children and pets.

• Vinegar. White vinegar cuts through odors naturally. Try wiping down furniture, washable walls, floors, etc. with white vinegar. Also, try placing several bowls of vinegar around the room leaving them there for several days. If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, try mixing a bit of lavender oil into the bowls to help cut the odor of the vinegar. 

• Baking Soda. Baking soda is another natural odor-absorber. Try sprinkling liberal amounts of baking soda over furniture, floors, etc. Leave a few bowls of baking soda around the room for several days to help absorb the odors. 

• Febreeze. Febreeze, a popular odorreducing product sold in many stores, uses a chemical compound called cyclodextrin, a sugar-like substance that absorbs odors. Spraying the areas with Febreze may help to reduce the smoke odor. 

• Activated Charcoal. This product, often used as a detoxifying agent, is also a natural odor absorbent. Placing bowls of activated charcoal (powdered form) around your room may help to absorb the smoke odors. 

• Ozone Generators. There are products on the market known as ozone generators that may help in reducing or even eliminating smoke odor from your house. Remember, though, that these expensive products, while effective in reducing the odor, will not eliminate it completely if the odor has permeated the carpets, draperies, furnishings, etc.