Is Your Home Ready for Holiday Guests?
Fact: The holiday season is officially here! And no matter the celebration, chances are, you might be hosting it at your home, meaning that you’ll have to clean the house. However, there are several pre-celebration tips you’ll want to do now to ensure that you don’t spend the day waiting for repair:
Deck The Halls and Do it Safely
As you start to trim your tree, light your landscape, and get in the holiday spirit — don’t forget to be electrically safe. First off, if any strings are frayed or torn, replace them. If your outlets are warm to the touch or appear to be burned, discontinue use and call your electrician ASAP.
Furthermore, if your tree lights shut off when your toaster is on, chances are that your circuit can’t hand the job. However, there is a quick fix: You can move one of the plugs to another outlet or you could schedule an electrical inspection to see what your options are.
Prepare For The Kitchen Prep
No one wants to spend the rest of their day (after cooking a hot meal) sticking their hands in the sink to unclog the drain. And although minor clogs can occur, if you smell a strange odor or your sink seems to be draining slowly, it’s time to consider a professional drain cleaning.
While this might seem like something that can be put off until after the holidays, further delaying your appointment can cause even more of a significant issue — which could have been avoided early on.
Keep Your Guests Comfortable
Home temperature and comfort go hand-in-hand. And some extra body heat can lead to a stuffy room, so you’ll want to correct the issue quickly. Utilize ceiling fans, open windows in places that get warm and stuffy, and consider lowering the thermostat before guests arrive.
On that note, now is the perfect time to change your filters and get a system tune-up, too. Doing so will ensure that your unit is not headed for a breakdown.
Give The Gift of Hot Water
If you have guests that are staying the night, the last thing you want is for them to be greeted with an icy cold shower. In fact, if your water heater has been nearing the end of its lifespan or has trouble providing you with endless hot water, it’s time to call in the professionals. From strange noises to switching to a tankless unit, getting your water heater problems fixed now is the best time to do so. If you are considering an upgrade, going tankless can save you space, provide endless hot water, and lower your energy usage, too.
Secure a Safe Goodbye
How well illuminated is your yard? By providing your home with proper landscape lighting, you cannot only prevent family members from slips and falls, but you can also highlight the beauty of your home. Ultimately, the proper outdoor lighting gives you perfect curb appeal so that you’ll have the brightest house on the block.
Have a Backup Plan
If winter weather hits, be prepared to tackle it with a home generator that can keep you and your family safe from a power outage. Not to mention, if you’re big on cooking and are prepping your food ahead of time, one bad storm can leave you with the chance to spoil your food accidentally — thanks to that lack of power.
When an Issue Does Occur Call Ostrom
If a drain clogs, broken furnace, or lack of hot water is occurring in your home, the experts at Ostrom Electrical Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning are here to help. With over 20 years of experience, we are the trusted choice for most all of your home needs. Call (540) 685-4040 or contact us today!
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