Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Holidays

The holiday season fills homes with a packed schedule of gatherings, meals and overnight guests. Friends and family stop by for a few hours or stay for several days, and with that comes nonstop cooking, baking and entertaining. Your kitchen and plumbing systems work overtime to keep up!

At the same time, colder winter temperatures outside often mean turning up the heat inside. While this keeps everyone warm and comfortable, freezing conditions also increase the risk of burst pipes, heating issues and other winter-related plumbing problems. When heavy home use and harsh weather collide, the result can be inconvenient – and costly – if you’re not prepared.

From unexpected plumbing repairs to uncomfortable guest rooms, small oversights can quickly escalate. As you prepare your menu and finalize holiday plans, don’t forget to set aside time to winterize your home for the season. Here’s how to get started.

Holiday HVAC Preparation Tips

To make sure you and your guests stay comfortable during the winter season:

• Book an HVAC Inspection: Identify issues and tackle repairs before you’re expecting company. A professional can check and repair your heating system, including common concerns like leaks or a clogged filter.
• Adjust Your Thermostat: Calibrating your thermostat resets its performance for the season ahead. Once you’re confident in the reading, program it to provide a comfortable temperature when you’re home and save energy for the time you’re away.
• Clean Vents and Filters: Ensure better air quality for everyone in your household. A professional can vacuum your ducts and swap out filters, resulting in a cleaner HVAC system that’s more efficient.
• Seal Drafts: Letting cold air in from the outside can lead to a chilly experience. Sealing drafts around windows and doors can improve comfort while maximizing your HVAC system’s performance. A lower energy bill once the holidays pass might be another surprise!
• Look for Sources of Heat Loss: Inspect your property for loose shingles, single-pane windows and drafty crawl spaces to pinpoint concerns and schedule necessary upgrades.

Holiday Plumbing Preparation Tips

Take a preventative approach against clogs and burst pipes:

• Repair Leaks: Inspect the most common areas – under sinks and around toilets, appliances and pipes—for corrosion and dripping water. Leaks may require resealing, new pipes or connections.
• Be Cautious of Clogs: An increase in cooking often leads to more fats and oils flowing down the drain and more waste going through the garbage disposal. Water consumption also spikes with guests washing their hands or bathing. To prevent an overflow from spoiling your plans, add drain covers to catch debris and hair, and create rules for using the bathroom.
• Pay Attention to Water Pressure: A drop in pressure, especially if you have guests over, can indicate an issue with the water flowing into your home. Have a plumber check the pipes if you notice a thin, stop-and-start stream from your fixtures.
• Prevent Frozen Pipes: Keeping pipes warm keeps the contents flowing rather than freezing inside. To avoid a damp, foul-smelling mess, insulate all pipes that run along the exterior and keep the thermostat at 55°F when you’re away from home.
• Check Your Water Heater: Flush sediment to remove buildup and improve efficiency. Also confirm the temperature settings on your water heater: It should have no trouble staying around 120°F, enough to keep guests comfortable through several showers.
• Clean Your Fixtures: Use a vinegar-based solution to remove sediment and improve water flow from shower and sink heads.
• Check the Toilet: Inspect the flappers and tackle any strange sounds before guests walk through your door. Putting a trash can near your toilet also shows guests where to dispose of wipes, towels and hygiene products, minimizing the risk of an accidental flush.
• Be Ready for Plumbing Emergencies: Know the location of all shut-off valves. In the event of an overflow, have enough towels and buckets on hand to control water before a plumber arrives.

Plan Ahead with M.J. Fahy & Sons

Once you have a winterization checklist, work with our team to successfully cross off every item. Contact us today to inspect your ducts, heating system, pipes and appliances before you host a household of guests for the holidays.