An Unexpected Side Effect

I came across a topic that is very interesting to me and one I bet you have not thought about. With the issuance of the stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders that the Coronavirus Pandemic forced us into suddenly everyone was in their homes 24-7.

Before all of this, most of the nation was working outside the home in office buildings, restaurants, factories basically places that were built to handle a large number of employees and people. The average employee spent about 8.5 hours in these various buildings. It seems that only about 4.9 percent of the nation worked entirely from home before COVID-19 hit.

So, send everyone home for that 8.5 hours a day, and guess what? As a result, water heaters washing machines, bathrooms, dishwashers, plumbing, sinks, and faucets are being used a lot more. So, with these items taking on all this additional wear, they are wearing out faster than they normally would if you were outside the home working for 8.5 hours a day. Because how easy is it to get up and go put on a load of laundry or run the dishwasher when you are right there?

Bet you did not think about this right? The Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense data indicates that the average American uses 69.3 gallons of water in the home each day. Most of it by toilets, washers, and showers. Well, their data also shows that 1 in 15 policyholders experience a non-weather water claim during the standard five-year policy life expectancy. This equivalates to 20 percent of U.S. property insurance losses. Things like appliance leaks, water heaters, plumbing, and pipe failures, fixture leaks, and ruptured connecting hoses.

So, now that I have made you aware of possible non-weather related water issues, you may want to take a good look around your house at the items mentioned above just to make sure they are in good working order. Also, think about putting yourself and/or your family on a schedule of use. Schedule water use, except toilets of course, for the time period when you would have normally been home before COVID-19. This would bring use back down so that maybe those appliances, faucets, pipes, and other things that run water through them will not wear out so fast.

Take Advantage of these Summer Favs!

Pacific Northwest states are beginning to fill up produce sections around the U.S. with delectable sweet cherries. Growers got off to a rocky start with early spring frosts and late spring rains that delayed the crop but has now turned out some bigger and sweeter fruit. Here is how to enjoy them now.

• Fresh. On the go – a portable fruit perfect for hiking, picnics, barbeques, road trips, or toppings.
• Baked. In pies, crumbles, cobblers, and bars. With a higher sugar content, bakers can cut down on added sugar.
• Cook. How about enhancing your cooking by creating a sweet cherry sauce, or for light appetizers or in salads.
• Freeze. Freezing is easy and allows you to enjoy them all summer.
• Preserved. Can or preserve cherries so you can have them in the winter.
• Drying. Use a food dehydrator and dry some cherries to make your own trail mix, add to salads, or for baking.

The cherries only last until August. So stock up and enjoy it!

Victoria Cottle is a Realtor? in the Greenville South Carolina area and if you, a friend, or a family member need assistance with selling or buying a home I can help. Referrals and people needing relocation assistance are welcome! Search Single Family homes in Greenville. Search Condos and Townhomes in Greenville.

Please contact Victoria Cottle by email [email protected] or call (864) 275-3953 for your real estate needs in the Upstate of South Carolina!