How to Protect Your Well from Freezing Temperatures

Posted by I Love Murphy on

We are blessed to live in Murphy, NC. A home where we enjoy moderate temperatures throughout all four seasons. However, that does not mean that you can’t prepare for extremely cold weather! Last year, we saw temperatures dip down to 0°! Now that winter is just around the corner, you should prepare and make sure your well is protected from freezing temperatures so you can enjoy a constant water supply throughout the winter.

Supplies you should gather and/or purchase:

  • An extension cord long enough to reach from a power supply to your well
  • A good quality utility light
  • Thermo Cube Picture40 watt STANDARD bulb – NOT a fluorescent or LED (you need heat, not energy efficiency)
  • A Thermo Cube (optional – this simple device will turn the light on and off automatically as needed. It can be purchased on Amazon)
  • You can opt to buy heat strips you can wrap around your well pipes from many hardware stores. If you go this route, you may not need the above items depending on its features. Personally, I prefer the lightbulb method. It is easy to test and ensure the system is working and also keeps the ambient air temperature in the entire well house/cover warm as opposed to strips that may only keep a certain spot warm.

Heres what to do with your supplies:

  1.  Well PictureRun your extension cord to the well and then plug in your Thermo Cube FIRST, if you opt to have one.
  2. Plug in your utility light next and leave it ON.
  3. Put the light and the plug under the protection of your well cover or house.
  4. And last but not least, keep your electrical parts elevated above ground in the event water does leak. You don’t want to damage any components should that happen.

Beside here is a picture of our well at home and you can see the utility light on and operational just left and below of the center of the picture. Be sure it’s not touching anything that can catch fire. It needs to be safely secured using zip ties or something similar. Put the well cover/house back over and, voila! You’re done!

Read our page on how to cheaply winterize your home so it is protected from freezing weather and temperatures.

Also read our page on how to unwinterize your house.

Good luck and stay warm!

 Call The Poltrock Team – REMAX of Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team

Great Weather in Murphy NC

Posted by I Love Murphy on

We recently returned from vacation in Panama City Beach. Our children absolutely LOVE the beach! We then trekked the 12 hours to visit family in Fayetteville, NC. It was a long drive, and was wonderful to see them!

Thermometer PicOne thing no human could miss was the incredibly HOT and HUMID weather in both Panama City Beach and Fayetteville! At the beach, you’d break a sweat walking ten feet in the 90 degree weather with 80%+ humidity! In Fayetteville, we went to dinner one night and the thermometer read 100 degrees! No exaggeration!

When we arrived back to Murphy NC on Monday, we pulled in to 78 degree, very comfortable weather. The humidity was non-existent and the mountains, gorgeous. It’s great to be back home. Just to rub it in a little bit, I’ve included a picture of the thermometer at my house when I got up just a couple weeks ago!  😆

I truly understand why folks want to buy real estate here – there’s no better place in the world!  🙂

See the weather and climate averages for Murphy NC

The Poltrock Team – REMAX of Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com–JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team

Murphy’s Top Ten Reasons – and article in The Cherokee Scout by John Poltrock

Posted by I Love Murphy on

Here’s the most recent article I wrote for the Cherokee Scout’s magazine, Country Roads. This is one of my favorite’s and honestly, all Jessica’s idea! Enjoy! 🙂

Murphy attracts people from all over the United States. From Florida, to Alabama, to New York, to California, to Alaska, and just about every other state in the Union. Some folks show up to rent a cabin for a while and never leave. Some come for the thousands of acres of US Forest Service land. Some find themselves here for the love of downtown, for family, and hundreds of other equally important reasons.

You may know that I didn’t grow up in Murphy and that my wife was born and raised right here. I was born in Georgia and grew up near Fayetteville NC and don’t miss it in the least. When Jessica and I got married, I moved right away and can’t imagine being anywhere else. And in case you’re from here and know the history, Jessica’s family has been here several generations – she’s a Ritz and her mom is a Cook. With that said, I get to hear a lot of reasons why being in Murphy is the best place to be in the world.

I have the benefit everyday of being able to help people come to Murphy and find their personal, favorite part of being here. And because of that, I wanted to share with you some of the few reasons why folks absolutely love it here. Not just transplants, or locals, or vacationers – a little bit of everyone. Here’s what I’ve found. Enjoy!

“The people. The people of Murphy are the best people you’ll ever meet anywhere in the U.S. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a friend’s or a local bank. They treat you like a neighbor and remember your name. You’re not a number, you’re a neighbor.”

-Bill Robbins and Kathy Pasick, Bradenton, FL and Murphy, NC

“The reason I love Murphy is simple, I’ve lived in here for 71 years and I just can’t imagine living in a better place. The temperature is cooler and the people are amazing. I’m a better person for making their acquaintance and knowing them. The people are sincere, honest, hard working, good Christian people and it doesn’t get any better than that.”

-Mayor Bill Hughes, Murphy NC

“The weather. When the rest of the country is getting record breaking heat with a heat index in the triple digits, I’m sitting on my porch enjoying the comfortable temperatures and cool nights.”

-Donald and Marilyn Blane, Florida and Murphy, NC

“Its hard for me to nail down one thing because we just LOVE it here. If I had to say one thing… locale… and temperature. I absolutely love the location. Its close to us to get to and not just that, Murphy’s close to everything. Anything we need for shopping, restaurants, you name it, Murphy’s got it.”

-Tom and Chris Barnes, Byron GA and Murphy NC

“I was born and raised in Murphy, and honestly, I’ve never left because I’ve never found anywhere better than here.”

-Tony and Susie Godfrey, Murphy NC (Parker’s Drug Store)

“I love the wildlife. We see deer, turkey, and all sorts of different animals right on our land. The nature here in Murphy is spectacular and everyday we’re thankful we moved here.”

– John and Annie Faulkner, now Murphy NC residents

“Super people. No question about it. We love coming here and the value [of real estate] is amazing. We looked for homes all over the mountains and Murphy was by far the best value we saw anywhere. Top it off with great quilting, and Murphy is our half-the-year home!”

-Stanley and Monica Stein

“The peace and quiet. There’s something about Murphy that relaxes us unlike anywhere we’ve ever been. We love it and always look forward to coming in. The hardest part is leaving!”

-James and Cheryl Palmer, Chapin SC

“Family brought me to Murphy, and to this day, that keeps me here. I love the beauty and tranquility of the area – there’s nothing like it. Coming from a fast-paced corporate job in California was certainly a change of speed, and I simply can’t imagine going back to it. I’m able to slow down and genuinely enjoy life. I love this area and everything it offers and look forward to many more years here.”

– Mike Webb, Murphy NC (Duke’s Marina)

“The seasons. There’s nowhere in the entire United States that offers the perfect blend of the seasons like Murphy does. The Spring is unbelievably comfortable as all the foliage comes back to life. The Summer is warm without the thick humidity. The Fall is one of my favorites with the change of the colors on the leaves. Even the Winter is quite mild and offers just the right amount of snow – not too much and not too little. You won’t find a more wonderful place with so much to offer.”

– Mark W., now a Murphy NC resident

If you’d like to come to Murphy and join us, give us or your Realtor a call. There’s no better place on Earth and we’re always looking for a new neighbor.

John Poltrock – The Poltrock Team at REMAX in Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496

Boat Marinas in Murphy NC on Lake Hiwassee

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Mountain View Marina in Bear Paw Resort

Now that Lake Hiwassee is full of water and the weather in Murphy NC is really getting nice and warm, now is the time to be enjoying the lake! To help with that, we are fortunate to have several good boat marinas here in Murphy. Most of them are smaller, local family operations – which makes them a great place to do business!

Be sure to click the link on the name of the marina as we put more information available on them.

  • Duke’s Marina – 828-835-3332 – Located in Hanging Dog off of Joe Brown Highway, you’ll find Duke’s after you go a little ways past the Hanging Dog Forest Service Campground and Boat Ramp. They offer a boat launch, fuel, pontoon boat rentals, fishing supplies, slips, and more.
  • Shook’s Marina – 828-837-2863 – Located in the Unaka area of Hanging Dog, Shook’s offers boat slips, boat rentals, gas, food, fishing supplies, and more.
  • Mountain View Marina (in Bear Paw Resort) – 828-644-5451 – this nice marina is situated right in the heart of Bear Paw in the Hiwassee Dam Community of Murphy (west side of Lake Hiwassee). They offer boat rentals, slips, fuel, a marina store, and more.
  • Harbor Cove Marina – 828-644-0661 – Located just before you get to Bear Paw in Hiwassee Dam. They have slips, fuel, and more.

Love Lake Hiwassee and want to find real estate in the mountains of Murphy NC? Search our Listings for sale and Contact Us Today!

The Poltrock Team – REMAX Mountain Properties – www.iLoveMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call Toll Free 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496

Spring is Here in Murphy NC!!

Posted by I Love Murphy on

Yup, that’s right! Today is an absolutely GORGEOUS first day of Spring. The weather man, who is known for being right all the time 🙄 says its supposed to reach 71 and beautiful all day long. I’m supposed to show land in a couple of hours, and I couldn’t ask for a better day!

Now that Spring is here, we’ll really begin to see real estate take off! Home and land buyers are lining up their trips here to find the property they’ve been dreaming of for years. It’s an exciting time – there’s lots to do outside after a colder-than-normal winter, everyone is ready to get out and enjoy the great outdoors!

John Poltrock – The Poltrock Team at RE/MAX Mountain Properties – www.MyMurphy.com – Call us Toll Free 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496

Click Here to see the average climate and weather for Murphy NC

We’ve Got Snow in Murphy NC!

Posted by I Love Murphy on

Snow in Murphy NCStarting yesterday, we had HUGE Flakes of snow falling from the sky! This year has been a great year in Murphy NC to get snow – and yesterday had the largest flakes I’ve seen in a long time! It’s simply gorgeous! We probably had 2-3 inches of wet, fluffy snow – perfect for building snowmen!

Click here for More info on the Climate and weather in Murphy NC

John Poltrock – The Poltrock Team at REMAX in Murphy NC – www.Murphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll Free 1-866-687-7496

A previous article we wrote when it was snowing.

The Poltrock Team’s NEW Murphy NC Area and Real Estate Information Packet NOW Released!

Posted by I Love Murphy on

If you would like to request your FREE copy of our exclusive Buyer’s Packet, call us or email JohnPoltrock@gmail.com to get your copy today!

Request your FREE copy today!
Request your FREE copy today!

When buying real estate in the Mountains of Murphy, North Carolina, there are tons of things to take in to consideration and questions you may have- especially if you’re not very familiar with the area.

We’ve worked to put the information about Murphy, NC together in one place for you – our Exclusive Buyer’s Packet. Now, Version 2.0 is officially released today!

Here’s what you can expect to find in the new version:

  • A map of where Murphy, NC is
  • Weather and climate information on temperatures, rainfall, snow, and much more
  • Profile of Cherokee County
  • Area information
  • Types of Homes for sale here in Murphy NC
  • Golfing
  • Boating and Fishing
  • Camping and Hiking
  • ATVing
  • Horseback Riding
  • Income producing Cabin Rentals
  • Places to Go
  • Other activities and things to do
  • Area Hospitals and Health Care
  • Why REMAX and The Poltrock Team?

If you would like to request your FREE copy of our exclusive Buyer’s Packet, call us or email JohnPoltrock@gmail.com to get your copy today!

Search our inventory of homes and land for sale in the mountains of Murphy NC today on our website FREE with no sign-up required!

John Poltrock, Certified Residential Specialist – REMAX Mountain Properties – www.MyMurphy.com – Call us Toll-Free 1-866-687-7496

Fall and Festivals Fortify Real Estate in Murphy NC

Posted by I Love Murphy on

Fall is arguably the greatest season of the year here in the mountains of Murphy, NC. All the features we love about the mountains stand out in the most spectacular pageant of beauty. It brings about feelings that last not only a single season, but lasts a lifetime and is passed on through generations. The mountainsides boast a plethora of brilliant yellows, reds, oranges, and so many more. My personal favorite, the maple’s dramatic red stands out proudly from all the other colors.

The spectacular weather, cool evenings, and change of the leaves bring about many festivals to celebrate all the blessings Western North Carolina boasts. John C. Campbell Folk School has their famous festival, we have our RE/MAX Client Appreciation Party, and the annual Harvest Festival are just a few of the celebrations that we enjoy every year.

Thousands of people from all over the United States rightfully come to celebrate our natural beauty and bring their friends and family. Many of the thousands not only want to come once a year, they dream of living here. Folks have dreams of vacation homes to get away from the daily hustle and bustle of everyday life. Some dream of buying a home here and truly making the mountains home. Others dream of land to one day build a retirement home. No matter the situation or the dream, the mountains spur a deep longing to make the Appalachian Mountains home. And while some may not be in a position to pursue their dreams right away, the longing to be here tends to get in the soul and never leaves.

We’re fortunate in our business to be able to help many people turn their dreams into reality. With our Client Appreciation Picnic on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to thank you all – our clients, vendors, professionals, agents, attorneys, helpers, and so many more that I could never list everyone. Working together, we have made the dreams of many come true. Thank you.

Looking forward, we are excited to know there are many new relationships to be created, houses to become home, land to fulfill a desire. 2009 is proving to be a great year and we can all look forward to more.

If you are looking to buy a home or parcel of land, we’d love to have the privilege to work for you and make your dreams become reality. If you’re looking to sell your property and need a buyer who will love your home or parcel as you do, we’d love to work for you and get the job done. Please contact us however is convenient for you. We’re looking forward to it.

John Poltrock, CRS – The POLTROCK TEAM at REMAX Mountain Properties in Murphy NC – This article is to be featured in the Cherokee Scout’s Country Roads for October 2009.  Contact us Toll Free – 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – www.MyMurphy.com

Read about the 2009 Fall Festival at the John C Campbell Folk School

It’s Snowing in Murphy, North Carolina Today!

Posted by I Love Murphy on

March seems to always bring crazy weather in Murphy NC, and as I write this, it’s pouring some of the biggest snow flakes I’ve every seen! It’s really an amazing sight to see because it won’t stay long. And for your enjoyment and for the ability to laugh at us, here’s a couple of goofy pictures we just took outside!

John and Jessica in the Snow

The Normal Weather, Climate, and Rainfall of Murphy, North Carolina

Fun in the snow! John and Jessica Poltrock – The POLTROCK TEAM at RE/MAX of Murphy, NC – Real Estate in the Mountains – (877) 837-3002 – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com

Maintaining the right moisture level in your home

Posted by I Love Murphy on

Did you know there’s a level of "Relative Humidity" to keep your home’s air at? If your house is like mine in the winter, everything seems to dry out. The weather and time of year really can have a lot to do with it. My clock has a digital hygrometer built in, so I’m able to track what the air is like. Here lately, it seems to stay around 33%. What does that mean exactly?

If your house is at 30% or less – its too dry. This can cause problems just like excessive moisture. Your skin dries out, drywall will crack or gap in areas, you’ll be more susceptive to colds

If your moisture level (relative humidity) is above 50% – you’re too moist. This can lead to mold, allergy concerns, rot, damage electronic equipment, and other things can occur if its too high.

With all of that said, you should try to maintain your household humidity around 45%. Simple humidifiers (or dehumidifiers if you’re too moist) can help the situation. You can have whole-house units installed by a local HVAC company that will do the trick. Not only that, they can provide professional recommendations that will make your air in your home safer and healthier.

Two Local Heating and Air Contractors:

  • Cherokee Heating and Air – 828-837-8411
  • Elliott’s Heating and Cooling – 828-837-4364

 

Want more? Read the article I am came across at USA Today that answered a lot of my questions.

 

John and Jessica Poltrock – Real Estate in the Mountains of Murphy, North Carolina – Homes and Land – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – (877) 837-3002 – Demand the POLTROCK TEAM!