Aquanique Insider Tidbits
Most long term residents may know these tidbits, but for those that are new, here are some you may not know. (Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
- First Aid kits are available in the Kitchen area of Le Bistro and in the drawer of the table in the lobby that has the flower arrangement.
- When the building hydro goes out, the generator will start and power one elevator and the hallway lights and the stairwell lights. If you are in the non-powered elevator, it will stop on the nearest floor and open the doors so you can exit and take the other elevator.
- Every Wednesday a generator test occurs between 10:00 and 10:30 AM for approximately 20 minutes which stops the elevators. The west elevator will switch over to generator power and may shudder during transition. The east elevator will stop at nearest floor and the doors will open. The east elevator will not be operational during the test. Do not hold the door open when it is on generator power.
- If your A/C doesn’t work after an electricity outage, power it off for a few minutes to reset it.
- You’re A/C drain pipe can plug as algae grows inside it and flood your Unit (try pouring a cup of vinegar or bleach into drain pipe at least once every 6 months). If you suspect that it is already plugging, you may have to use a ShopVac to suck out the clog. You can also install a sensor that will shut you’re A/C off if the pipe plugs and fills with water (if you’re A/C may shut off, have someone check regularly). The cap on most sensors comes off so it can be used to pour bleach into the pipe. Some A/C units already have a sensor attached to the condenser water tray inside. $10 water alarms sitting on the floor beside the A/C unit or your clothes washer are another idea.
- There is a manual car wash in the west wing of the parking lot. In case you are wondering, this is drinkable water unlike the sprinkler water which is reclaimed from sewage water.
- If the parking lot is full, you may park on the grass east of the south parking spaces
- The two parking spaces on either side of the storage room entrance are for unloading only (15 minutes)
- If you have a Craftsman garage door keypad numbered 315, you can buy new ones at Ace Hardware or order a LiftMaster 377LM on line. Both operate at 315MHz. Note, the LiftMaster requires a new mounting hole and since our garage door walls are cement you may find it easier to mount it close to the door on the wood frame. If you have a flip top keypad, you might want to put a small piece of velcro under the lid so it doesn't fold up in a high wind and be drenched with rain.
- Units are sprayed for pests/bugs yearly (unless you don’t want them to)
- When you leave for an extended time, leave your AC on but set the temperature to about 78F so the humidity doesn’t cause problems. Leave all interior doors open, especially closet and bathroom. Cooler northside units should be set to 76F during winter months as the A/C will not run as often on cooler days and therefore not keep the humidity down.
- When you leave for an extended time and if you have a humidistat (wired in series with the thermostat), make sure the air conditioner is set to the “cool” and “auto fan” settings, then set the temperature on the thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the humidity level on the humidistat to 58 percent. Although mold and mildew do not form at humidity levels below about 68 percent, Craig Muccio of the Florida Power & Light Company recommends a setting of 58 as humidistat gauges can be off by as much as 10 percent. With a series wired configuration both the temperature and humidity conditions must be met for the A/C to turn on so do not set the temperature too high. With a lower cooling temperature on the thermostat, the humidistat becomes the major controller. Note: the temperature of your Unit may rise into the 80’s or more because the humidity is still below the humidistat setting which is why you save on your electricity bill. If you are at home and the temperature is more important to you, set the humidistat to “On” and set the thermostat to the desired temperature.
- The hot tub water temperature is set to 100F (and is checked daily for bacteria count). The pool is set to 80F.
- The pool is covered by volunteers Oct 1st to May 1st if the temperature is below 60F. It is not covered on Friday and Saturday nights since there is no staff to uncover it in the morning or in the summer.
- The grill gas valve is on the pipe coming up through the floor beside the grill. Please use wire brush to clean grill after use.
- The hot tub timer is on a post on the west side of the pool area. There is a delay (about 15 seconds) until the water starts.
- The front door directory can be set to dial any number in N. America (including cell phones). Contact the Office to have a telephone number set for you.
- The front door security camera can be monitored on your TV on channel 95
- Balcony lights must be off at night March 1 to Nov 1 due to turtle nesting. New lights can be purchased at 1StopLighting. Order P5712-30. They are about $60 and are made of polycarbonate that won't rust.
- Love bugs are plentiful in May and Sept for a few weeks. They don’t bite or carry diseases. They are black with a red spot behind their head. The males are about ¼” long and the females are about ½” long. Don’t let the squished ones stay on your car as they are acidic and can damage the paint. Check for a plugged radiator too.
- Only large geckos bite but not hard enough to puncture your skin
- If you are not a Florida “resident”, you need a licence to surf fish (about $50 for a year)
- Neither stairwell is accessible from the lobby. (south entrance is fob accessible, east is exit only)
- The glass doors by the elevators are to be closed during high winds so the elevators don`t stop
- Cable TV, A/C, and hot water are included in your HOA (internet is extra)
- A building water shut down does not disable the water sprinklers in your Unit (separate line from street).
- Garbage and recycling is picked up twice a week (and we are great recyclers so they do fill up). There is no refund for beer bottles yet (2016) in Florida, so toss them in the recycle.
- Launches from Cape Canaveral (70 miles away) can be seen from ocean side Units and the beach. Click here for a schedule -- https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events.aspx?type=rocket-launches
- The beach is growing about 50 feet every 10 years
- By the first day of spring, the sun starts to hit the north side of the building when the sun sets
- The Office has spare plastic closing shutter bolts (they are a different size for metal shutters)
- The Bistro can be booked for private parties (with a damage deposit)
- The sea grapes are trimmed down once a year before Sept 30th. They will look brown but the green will come back. The Department has determined that the maintenance will not destroy the plant when following the guidelines listed below: Tree(s): 6’ in height, or more. - No more than one third reduction in the height of each tree annually, - Provided there is no more than one third of the leaf mass removed, annually. - Pruning shall not result in plant being reduced to less than six feet in height. Ref: https://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/trim-gdl.pdf
- Recent hurricanes were Frances on Sept 5, 2004 (105mph), Jeanne on Sept 26th, 2004 (120mph), Wilma on Oct 24, 2005 (105mph). Hurricane season ends at the end of November.
- Your Unit insurance can be greatly reduced if hurricane shutters are installed
- Letting sun light into your Unit can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew
- Turtles, rabbits, racoons, squirrels and a bob cat have been seen (and dolphins in the ocean)
- By the end of March turtles are laying eggs, sharks start moving north, and alligators start to roam
- The tennis courts are shared with the Barclay
- An entrance gate is not possible for reasons such as lack of space for turn around, etc.
- Interior wall construction uses steel studs, not wooden
- Shutting off your 2 main water valves when you leave does not shut off your fire sprinklers
- Changing the water valves to your clothes washer can be done by shutting off the main valves to your Unit
- Our drinking water comes from wells drilled into the Florida Aquifer at 400 and 800 foot depths.
- There is an outgoing mail drop in the mail room. UPS will pick up Return items.
- Your Unit smoke alarm is not monitored by the Office. Initial alarms are powered by 120 volts.
- There is a speaker in every unit for announcements
- Special hooks on handles can be used to close shutters that aren’t easily reachable
- With hurricane winds, rain may “pile up” on balconies and enter your Unit through doors or the drains. Some owners put Blue Pigs next to their doors to absorb leakage. They are sold online at http://www.newpig.com/pig/US/absorbents-503/pig-universal-absorbent-socks-899/pig-blue-absorbent-sock-913/0/20 . Putting a flexible flapper over the outside of the drain holes (glued at the top edge) may prevent water from entering and still let water out.
- The bathroom fans do not vent outside but if you leave them on after a shower and leave the bathroom door open, they will help the bathroom dry faster. The small rectangular recirculating fan in bathrooms can be ordered from TekQuest.
- Days per month on average in Fort Pierce when the minimum temperature drops to 40 or 50 °F or lower: Dec=2, Jan=4, Feb=2, Mar=1
- The Aquanique Ocean Club Condominium Association Inc. was incorporated March 15, 1993. There was an Open House in the fall of 1994.
- The yearly Operating expenses (including reserves) are over $750,000 (as of 2015).
- The yearly electricity bill is over $65,000 and the water/sewer bill is over $90,000
- The building stands on pylons that extend 90 feet in the ground
- There are pre-stressed cables in the ceiling. If you are drilling and hit one, stop immediately.
- The power panel is a Square D Homeline. The main breaker is in the Electrical room in the hallway. If you want a whole house electrical surge protector that mounts inside your power panel out of site, Homeline makes one: Model HOM2175SB for about $65 at Home Depot. This is cheaper that subscribing to FPL’s surge protector that mounts beside your meter and has a monthly rate of about $11. A Homeline 15A GFCI breaker (Model# HOM115GFICP) is about $40 at Home Depot.
- The smoke detectors are hard-wired to 120 volts and are typically not interconnected. They are on the same breaker as nearby lights and plug-ins.
- A highly rated wireless door bell is the GE Model 19299 at Home Depot for about $17.
- depending on your style, some replacement wheels for your screen door can be foundby clicking here OR click here.