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Preparing Your Home For The Holidays

Home Maintenance Tips for the Holiday Season

It’s the holiday season — and that means your home will probably soon be filled with bright decorations, good food, and even better company.

This time of year should be spent making memories with the ones you love, not worrying about an electrical, plumbing, or heating issue right before you serve your holiday dinner. Prep your home for the holidays with these helpful tips:

Holiday Electrical Tips

Turn Off All Devices

From lighting your Christmas tree to binging every holiday movie on TV, your home will see a spike in electricity usage during the winter months. Power these devices down when not in use to conserve energy.

Make sure you shut off all lights when they’re not in use, and at the end of the night before bed. This includes lamps, holiday lights (indoor and outdoor), and other lighting fixtures. One of the leading causes of fires in residential homes is caused by holiday lights sparking overnight — so better safe than sorry.

Don’t Overload Outlets

While you may want to light your home up like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, your outlets cannot handle this extra wattage. Remember to only plug in one high-wattage furnishing per outlet at a time. Devices that wake as soon as you touch them are constantly running, so be sure to unplug them if they are not in use.

Replace Burned-Out Lightbulbs

Keep your fixtures looking merry and bright by ensuring all burnt bulbs are replaced before the company arrives. Pay special attention to holiday lights, fixtures that serve your front entrance, and lights that are close to your front door or other busy entrances and walkways.

Change Smoke Detectors

Who burned the holiday ham? Keep your house guests safe by checking that each of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is working properly.

Replace batteries if needed, and hit the ‘test’ button to ensure they are fully functioning. If you do not currently have smoke detectors installed in these areas, you may want to consider hiring your electrician to install them:

  • Inside each bedroom

  • Outside each bedroom

  • On every level of your home (kitchen, den, and stairways are all good places)

Holiday Plumbing Tips

Give the Bathroom a Good Cleaning

With more guests in your home, your bathroom will be frequented more often. Take a few minutes the week before your loved ones are set to arrive to tidy up your cabinets, sink area, and shower. You may also want to leave out a few additional towels if you have guests that will be staying the night at your home.

Take Care of the Toilet

Give your toilet a double-take and make sure the flapper is functioning properly. If the toilet rocks slightly, you may need to tighten the mounting bolts. Additionally, remind your guests to keep items that are not flushable away from your porcelain throne.

Don’t Put Grease Down the Drain

Your garbage disposal is not the end-all place for your festive leftovers. Avoid pouring cooking oil, grease, and fat down the drain. These foods can clog your drain and cause a very unmerry sight in your kitchen. If you will be hosting this holiday season, it’s always a good idea to have your garbage disposal inspected beforehand to avoid any day-of cooking catastrophes.

Space Out Shower Times

No one wants a cold shower on a cold winter day. If you will be having loved ones staying over to enjoy the festivities, make sure to space out showers so everyone gets hot water.

Typically, 10-15 minutes between showers is enough time to give your water heater a break and to let your pipes drain. Check your shower drain for hair and debris and keep them clean to avoid clogs.

Holiday HVAC Tips

Lower Your Thermostat

If you’re having guests over, there will be a great rise in body heat in your home. To keep everyone comfortable and to account for the additional warmth, lower your thermostat by 5 degrees.

If you’re going away for the holidays, you should still keep your home semi-warm. You can turn your thermostat down to 60 degrees before you leave to avoid hiking up your heating costs.

Light Your Fireplace

In addition to adjusting your thermostat, you can keep your guests cozy by turning on your fireplace. Not only will it create a great ambiance, but it will also ensure everyone is warm as they gather in your living space.

Seal Your Windows

Prevent all of the money you spend on heating costs from going right out the window (literally) by sealing them tightly. This will also help to prevent any drafts from sneaking into your home.

Maintain Your Appliances For the Holidays

The best way to prepare yourself for the holiday season is to ensure that your heat is running, your electrical is safe, and your plumbing is working properly. At My Plumber Heating Cooling & Electrical, we are available 24/7 to schedule any repairs that you may face this season. If you do face a problem with your appliances, give us a call at (844) 294-8999, or contact us online.

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