MHN Properties

Brush Collection

2012-02-24T12:19:00.001-08:00

San Antonio has started its spring brush pick-up. To help everyone prepare for spring yard maintenance and avoid fines, here is a collection of brush collection policies in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

For San Antonio Residents:
Spring Brush collection in San Antonio has started. You can check which month you'll have brush collection by checking this map or putting your address into this online form. During the month of your pick-up, you will receive a notice on your door. Be forewarned! You may only have a day or two to get your brush ready!

Even though "brush" sounds like it might include leaves, it does not. Bagged leaves will not be picked up with the brush. However, you do get two free leave pick ups a year and you can call 3-1-1 to schedule a pick up.

Here are other brush guidelines from San Antonio's Solid Waste Management Website:

Limit your brush pile to eight (8) cubic yards. See image of 8 cu. yd. pile.
Brush must be placed within eight (8) feet of the curb.
Do not place brush piles in front of parked cars, near fences, trees, mailboxes, beneath overhead wires, low-hanging tree limbs, or on top of water meters.
Brush must be set out no later than 7:00 a.m. on the first day of your scheduled collection week.
Do not place material at the curb after crews have passed by your house. (They might fine you if you do)

If you missed your brush pick up, you can arrange for an out-of-cycle pick up by calling 3-1-1 (from a cell phone or landline) or 210-207-6000 (from google voice or other computer voice over program or any phone). Also call this number to schedule one of your two free leave pick ups.

For Alamo Heights Residents:

Brush, no longer than 3 feet long will be picked up on your regular garbage collection days. If you have larger items, you can cut them down and spread out their pick up or call 210-882-1218 to arrange a special pick up.

For Cibolo Residents:
Residents of Cibolo have several options for brush pick-up.

The first, is that limbs and such can be picked up with the monthly bulk trash pick up. You must call City Hall at 210-658-9900 by Monday to arrange for the next Wednesday pick up.

Second option is the biannual Clean Up Days, which are usually in March and November. Contact City Hall for more details about Clean Up Days as they approach.

The third option is giving your tree limbs to the city chipper. Pickup will be on the first Tuesday of the month for all those north of Borgfield and the last Tuesday of the month for those South of Borgfield. Pick-up will be limited to one trailer load, 10ft long, and no more than 6ft high and 4feet wide, per household. Limb diameter must be 6" or less. This is for tree branches only. No bush trimmings will be picked up. If you hire someone to trim your trees, you must have them haul the trimmings to a commercial disposal site. You must call City Hall by noon, Monday to get on the list for pickup.

For Converse Residents:

Converse Residents have brush pick up three times a year. To see your scheduled pick-up days, you can go to the city's brush pick-up website or check the online map.

If you wish to schedule a brush pick-up out of cycle, you may do so for a service charge of $50 per pick-up. If you are over 65 and registered for an exemption with the Water Billing Department, this service charge can be waived. For pick-up please call 210-658-1965.

A note on eligibility: If you do not receive a City of Converse water / garbage bill, then you are not within Converse city limits. Residents in North Hampton, Dover, Meadow Brook, and Spring Meadows subdivisions are not within Converse city limits, with the exception of the houses on Nature Trail in the front of the Dover subdivision.

For Schertz Residents:

Schertz residents can put out tree and bush trimmings on their regular trash day. Limbs and cuttings must be cut down to 4 foot long pieces or smaller and bundled. The bundles must not weigh more than 50 pounds. Leaves from the yard may be bagged in regular trash bags and put out with the trash. If you have many bags (over 3), space them out between different trash pick up days.

If you have major brush pick up, you can call the City of Schertz at 210-619-1100 and schedule a chipper to come by. Limbs are chipped on Fridays. The fee is $25 per 30 minutes of chipping, which is enough for most customers. Limbs for chipping should still be bundled and be no more than 4 feet long.

For Selma Residents:

Selma residents can put their brush out with the trash. Leaves need to be put into the trash can and limbs need to be cut down to 3 feet or less. If any questions, dial Selma City Hall at 210-651-6661 ext 4.

For Universal City Residents:
Residents of Universal City can put a limited amount of brush out with their regular garbage. Waste Management will pick up 3 bundles per service day. Each bundle must be cut down to 3 feet or less and be tied with rope or string.

Alternatively, Universal City offers a chipper service. To arrange for a chipper for your yard waste, please call the city at 210-658-5364. The first 30 minutes of chipping are free.

Waste Management is the provider for brush pick-up (along with garbage and bulk trash). If you missed a service or have a concern, contact Waste Management Customer Service at 210-368-5000. If you need additional assistance, contact Albert Perez at 210-619-7756 or email him at aperez3@wm.com. If you still need further assistance after contacting Waste Management, please call Universal City Water Department at 210-659-0333 and select option #8.

Top Service for Our Owners: VIDEO TOURS!

2012-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

We provide top quality service to our owners, and our tenants. Primarily, this blog is to provide a resource for our tenants (and is good for home owners as well!) as to how to best maintain their home, troubleshoot common problems and be a helpful resource for residents in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

What you might not know, is the work that goes into a house to get it ready for a tenant to move in. This video shows the condition we received the house (it was being cared for by a different property manager) and repairs made to get it into MHN condition.

We plan on making more videos for our youtube channel to create virtual tours of our homes for prospective tenants and also for our owners.

Here's the first one:

Write a comment and let us know what you think!

How to Properly Dispose of Bulky Items

2012-01-24T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some helpful links and information for disposing of bulky items that do not fit in your trash can. It is important to note that San Antonio and most of the cities in Bexar County make a distinction between bulky trash and brush (tree limbs, leaves, grass cuttings, etc.) and collect those items separately. Mixing brush and bulky items can lead to fines.

For San Antonio Residents:
San Antonio offers one free bulky pick up day per year. To find out which month you have a bulk trash pick-up you can enter your address here. During that month, you'll receive a notice at your home to the exact day of the pick-up. Make sure your items are on the curb before 7am of that day.

San Antonio also offers a FREE day to take your bulky trash (and at some places, brush) to certain pick up spots across the city. If you can get it to one of the locations and bring picture ID and CPS bill, you can dump it FREE. The next Free Landfill Day is February 4, 2012. You can get all the details on future days and exact sites here.

If your bulky "trash" is still good and usable, like a couch you no longer want, consider donating it. San Antonio provides a list of organizations to donate to that will pick it up for you. This is a win-win deal: You don't have to pay to have it removed, there is less in our landfills and your trash gets to do some good for others!

If you missed your bulk item pick up, you can arrange for an out-of-cycle pick up by calling 3-1-1 (from a cell phone or landline) or 210-207-6000 (from google voice or other computer voice over program or any phone). You'll need to place your items to be picked up by the curb for an estimate. You then pay the fee before the city will pick up your bulky trash. They charge $50 for the first 4 cubic yards and $25 for every additional 4 cubic yards.

For Alamo Heights Residents:

If you have furniture, appliances or other items too large for the regular trash pickup, call 210-882-1518 and schedule a special pickup. There is no additional fee associated with a bulk pick-up nor is there a limited number of bulk pick-ups Alamo Heights residents can request.

For Cibolo Residents:
Cibolo provides one free bulk pick up a month for its residents. The bulk pick-up truck comes every week to the requested homes. Call City Hall (210) 658-9900 by Monday to arrange for the pick-up (on Wednesday). Limbs and boards must be bundled in bundles of no more than 6 feet long and no more than 50 pounds. Items must be limited to no more than a pickup load. Items must be out by 7am.

For Converse Residents:
The City of Converse contracts for a monthly bulk item pick-up of over-sized or heavy (65 pounds or more) items such as used furniture, appliances, lumber, and such materials for residential customers.
Bulk items may not contain hazardous (HAZMAT) materials, such as liquids of any kind, tires, paints, corrosives, fertilizers, batteries, or any appliances containing refrigerants. Appliances that contained Freon must be tagged for Freon removal from a licensed technician before they are picked up.

To schedule a pick-up, call (210) 658-1965. You may also request services online. To be included in the current month's bulk pick-up list, notification must be made no later than by 12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the third Monday of the month. Items will be picked up sometime between Monday at 7:00 am and Friday at 5:00 pm of the third or fourth week of that month. Place your bulk items at the curb and ensure the materials do not cover your water meter or lie directly under power lines.

For Schertz Residents:

Schertz residents need to call Bexar Waste (210-566-5454) directly to schedule a bulk garbage pick-up. You will need to put the bulk items curbside to be evaluated. Then you will need to pay the charge (which starts at $25) before Bexar Waste will pick up the bulky items.

For Selma Residents:
Selma has a twice annual (spring and fall) clean-up. During their clean-up, there are dumpsters in a couple of locations. The next clean up will be in April. Exact dates are announced in the Selma newsletter received by all Selma residents. For elderly individuals needing extra help, call Mary Lou at 210-651-6661. If you want Bexar Waste to pick it up directly from your house for a fee (starting at $25), call them directly at 210-566-5454.

For Universal City Residents:

Universal City picks up bulky trash items on the second pick up of the week. However, there may be some items that require you to take safety precautions before they will be picked up (i.e., refrigerators). Please contact Waste Management Customer Service at (210)368-5000 for more information.

Troubleshooting Electrical Problems at Home

2012-01-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you plug in an electric device and it doesn't work? Simple troubleshooting can help solve the problem yourself and avoid a fee or bill.

1. Is it the outlet or the device?

Take your device and plug it into an outlet that is currently working. If it doesn't work, it's the device, not the outlet. However, if the device does work when plugged in elsewhere, the original outlet has an issue.

2. Have you checked the breakers? (Is the outlet 110V or 220V?)

Breakers are designed to protect your home from an electrical fire. Your home most likely has two breaker boxes. One is located inside your home, usually in the garage, and is for 110V outlets. These include most outlets and appliances in your home. The other breaker box is 220V and is located outside of your home. This is for larger appliances, such as your clothes dryer, and also your main circuit breaker for the home. To check your breakers, turn them all to the off position then reset the main breaker to your home by flipping it twice and leaving it on the on position. Return to your indoor breaker panel and turn all the breakers back on. For a helpful visual aide, please watch the following short video produced by a Florida electric company.

3. Is the GFI plug tripped?

GFI plugs are put into a home to protect you from electric shock. A tripped GFI plug can cause other outlets near it to stop working as well. It is helpful to know where all the GFI plugs in your house are located. They are usually located in the kitchen, bathroom or garage. Sometimes they can be located in a closet near one of those rooms. To check if it is indeed a tripped GFI plug, unplug all the devices in the GFI plug and outlets near it. Reset the GFI plug by pushing the "reset" button on the GFI plug. Test the outlet again to see if it is now working. To see how GFI outlets work and how to test and reset them, you can watch the informational video below:

If the outlet is still not functioning after completing the three previous steps, it's time to call MHN Properties (if you're our tenant) or an electrician.

Reminder for MHN tenants: If an electrician or MHN employee goes to your property and can fix or restore electrical flow to the outlet by checking the GFI plug or breakers, you will pay the trip charge.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T07:32:00.000-08:00

We at MHN Properties wish you and your family a wonderful and safe holiday season.

In order to insure your safety (and joy!) this season,we at MHN have a few suggestions for you.

If you have a live Christmas tree, keep it watered. Dry trees are a dangerous fire hazard.
Use LED lights. They're more energy efficient and will save you money on your electric bill. CPS explains how you can save $25 a month.
Be a safe in busy parking lots. Hide all your purchases in your trunk, don't walk through parking lots with lots of bags or while talking on your cell phone. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Be extremely cautious on the roads and leave extra space between you and other drivers.
Take advantage of reduced prices after Christmas to stock up on decorations and cards for next year.

Merry Christmas!

Please ensure that you have removed your holiday decorations by February 1st.

Don't Allow Freezing Weather to Burst Your Pipes

2011-12-05T13:48:00.001-08:00

**Freezing Weather Warning**

Weather Forecast for San Antonio, December 5-9
From www.weather.com

**Freezing Weather Warning**

When many people hear "freezing weather" their minds might dash off to cozy blankets, warm fires and hot cocoa. However, responsible tenants and home owners will not only be thinking about keeping the occupants of the house warm and healthy, but also keeping the house itself warm and "healthy".

No, we don't mean just turning up the heat and crawling under the covers.

Water pipes run inside and outside of your home and are susceptible to freezing (and then bursting) when the temperatures drop down to freezing or below.

How do you prevent the costly damage caused by a bursted water pipe?

Maintain heat at a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit in order to protect the property.
Exterior faucets and exposed water lines must be adequately protected by wrapping, insulating or covering.
Allow inside and outside faucets to slowly drip. Drip both HOT and COLD water.
Open cabinet doors to expose plumbing fixtures so that these spaces will be heated.

For those of you who appreciate a visual explanation, State Farm posted a helpful video showing the four steps listed above. *Note to MHN Tenants: Please do not caulk any part of your home.*

What if a pipe does burst?

In the event of a pipe bursting, it is considered an EMERGENCY.

1. Shut off the main water valve to the house. Most homes have it in their front yard. Lift green cover to find the valve in the ground. Below is a (somewhat silly) video showing the step by step process of turning off the main water valve.

2. Clean up as much water as you can. Standing water can cause considerable damage to a house.

3. MHN Property Tenants: Call the MHN Property emergency number.

Remember: You are responsible for taking all of the steps above to prevent damage to the house you are renting. Failure to prevent damage means that you, the tenant, are financially responsible for the resulting damage.

Avoid a Huge Plumber Bill: Garbage Disposal Tips

2011-11-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Turkey Day is full of family, friends, food, football and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Unfortunately, this day is also a busy, busy day for plumbers. And Thanksgiving Day plumber prices are not cheep!

For optimal operation, follow these steps:

Turn cold water on to full flow.
Push food refuse through the splash guard into the disposal. Do not stuff. A mixed load of hard and soft waste works best.
Flip starting switch to "on" and let the disposal operate until the grinding sound diminishes and becomes a humming sound.
Turn switch off.
Run cold water for a few moments longer.

To avoid inviting a plumber over to have a date with your kitchen sink, follow these few helpful hints:

POTATO PEELS are not your garbage disposal's friend. When cut up and mixed with water, they act like glue in your pipes.
GREASE should never be allowed to enter your sink drain. Instead, pour the grease into an empty can (corn, peas, cranberry, etc) and let it cool and solidify. Then throw the can of grease out with the trash.
BREAD, PASTA, RICE or anything that EXPANDS in water will stop up your pipes.
EGG SHELLS, BANANA PEELS, CORN HUSKS, PLASTIC and basically anything you wouldn't eat. If you can't chew it, neither can your garbage disposal.
USE THE TRASHCAN as much as possible. Don't try to put all your uneaten food down the garbage disposal.

If something does go wrong with your garbage disposal, you could still avoid an expensive plumber bill by trying these few steps:

Reset the safety overload, wait three or four minutes for the motor to cool and then push the button at the bottom of the motor.
Use an Allen wrench to reset the disposal.
If these two steps fail, MHN Properties tenants should call the emergency number.
If you're not a MHN Properties tenant, it's time to call the plumber.
Do not run your dishwasher while your garbage disposal is clogged up. They are connected and a clogged disposal could mean a flooded dishwasher.
Do not ever stick your fingers in an operating garbage disposal.

For those of you who appreciate pictures, here is a helpful video that talks you through the previous steps:

How do you clean a garbage disposal?

The garbage disposal is self-cleaning. Add baking soda or a lemon or orange rind to help reduce odors.

Do not use caustic drain cleaners at any time.

We at MHN Properties wish you a wonderful, safe and plumber-bill free Thanksgiving!