Holiday preparations should go beyond wreaths and mistletoe if you’re entertaining. By addressing common holiday-related HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues before your guests arrive, you’ll ensure a stress-free stay for everyone! Make your season bright with these tips for preparing your home for the holidays from Swift Services.
The Homeowner’s Holiday Preparation To-Do List
Here’s how to prepare your home for the holidays and make sure your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical components stay on the nice list this year.
1. Avoid Overloading Circuits
In addition to those festive lights and inflatable lawn ornaments, holiday guests require a lot of electricity. If you consider all the extra phones, computers, and other gadgets plugged in during their stay, it's easy to see how quickly your home’s circuits can be overloaded.
How To Avoid Overloaded Circuits
To prevent overloading circuits, start by identifying which outlets and appliances are on the same circuits. Try to distribute devices with high energy use evenly across circuits. If that isn’t possible, block off any open outlets on those circuits to prevent any additional devices from plugging in.
Look for outlets and circuits with lower electricity requirements and encourage guests to charge devices there by placing a small table and sign near the outlet.
Finally, remember that power strips protect electronics from power surges and add a degree of convenience, but they don’t add to your circuit’s capacity. Avoid overloading power strips in the same ways you protect circuits.
2. Deodorize Your Home
While you may not notice certain smells in your home, your guests might. The holidays are a great time to deodorize your home and improve your indoor air quality at the same time.
- To increase air flow in the house, start by opening windows and doors.
- Take time to clean soft surfaces like carpets, rugs, and upholstery, which may trap foul odors caused by moisture, pets, or food and beverage stains.
- Take out the trash, clean the garbage disposal, and consider cleaning and disinfecting your dishwasher. These are all common sources of foul odors, and they’re especially noticeable during the holidays when everyone tends to congregate in the kitchen!
- Replace the filter on your HVAC system to remove dust and other airborne particles. Simply run the fan on your HVAC to increase airflow and reduce unpleasant odors.
Read More: The Best Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality
3. Clean Out Drains
A clean sink drain helps prevent bad smells and backups, especially during holiday cooking. For a clean drain, pour 1 cup of baking soda down, wait 15-20 minutes, then flush with hot water; use a pitcher for better results. A plunger can help clear any remaining build-up.
While baking soda and vinegar can clean drains, they're often not enough for clogs. Use a wire coat hanger or drain snake to tackle small clogs before they cause bigger issues.
For recurring or troublesome drain clogs, schedule an appointment for quick service!
4. Prevent Clogged Toilets
There is no better gift during any holiday season than sparing a friend or family member the embarrassment of clogging the toilet during a get-together. At Swift Services, we believe toilet clog prevention is a social good, especially during the busiest time of the year for most plumbing companies.
How To Prevent Toilet Clogs
The most common cause of clogged toilets is, as you might guess, toilet paper. During the holidays, invest in thicker-ply toilet paper, which often requires fewer squares per use, reducing the amount of TP flushed. You can also remove non-flushable items from the bathroom to prevent any flushing of paper towels, tissues, cotton balls, or Q-tips. Finally, regular plumbing maintenance and preventative sewer line cleaning can help prevent toilet clogs by addressing exterior issues, such as tree roots and sewer line problems.
More Ways To Make Your Holiday Guests Feel Welcome
Myrtle Beach homeowners love creating a warm, inviting atmosphere year-round, but it’s even more important during the holidays. In addition to cleaning your home and providing a tidy place to sleep, you can go the extra mile to ensure your guests are comfortable.
- Ask guests about travel plans, dietary restrictions, or any activities they’re looking forward to during their stay.
- Give guests a quick tour of the home, covering basics like the Wi-Fi password, where the trash is, and where they’ll find bathroom items like towels, wash clothes, and extra rolls of toilet paper.
- Adjust the thermostat to account for the weather and the number of guests in the home. Wondering, “What temperature should the house be for my guests?” For house parties, plan on setting your thermostat a few degrees cooler (think 66° to 68°) during festivities, and potentially a little cooler if you're cooking at the same time.
Swift Services Wishes You a Wonderful Holiday Season
There’s no place like Myrtle Beach during the holidays! Keep your home comfortable with 24/7 HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services from Swift Services. Schedule an appointment for prompt and professional help today!
Book an appointment or call 843-352-6427 for prompt and professional service!