It’s the holiday season, and you’re pulling out all the stops to make guests feel welcome. Taking a closer look at your home’s key systems will help avoid inconvenient and potentially embarrassing issues, from preventing clogged toilets to addressing foul odors. As Clearwater homeowners start getting ready for the holidays, we put together a few tips to make preparing your home for holiday guests a breeze.
Your Holiday Preparation Guide, System by System
Make your guests feel welcome, comfortable, and truly at home by ensuring your home’s core systems are up to the task. 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. Deodorize Your Home
Instead of covering up your home’s natural scent, try a few natural ways to deodorize your home.
- Increase ventilation: To increase air flow in the house, start by opening windows and doors.
- Address trapped odors: 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.
- Focus on the kitchen: 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!
- Use your HVAC system: Replace the filter on your HVAC system to remove dust and other airborne particles. Simply running the fan on your HVAC to increase air flow, reducing bad smells.
Read More: The Best Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality
2. Clean Out Drains
A clean sink drain helps prevent bad smells and backups, especially during holiday cooking. To address minor clogs from food debris, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and wait 15-20 minutes, then flush with hot water from a pitcher. You can also use a plunger for tougher build-up. Consider using tools like a wire coat hanger or a drain snake for clogs. For persistent issues, schedule a professional service!
3. Avoid Toilet Troubles
Clogged toilets are never convenient, but there’s nothing as embarrassing as having to tell your host about a toilet problem. Save your guests the trauma of reporting a toilet clog by prepping your bathroom for the holidays.
How To Prevent Toilet Clogs
The most common cause of clogged toilets is, you guessed it, 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 individuals from flushing 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.
4. Prevent Circuits from Overloading
Holiday lighting and inflatable lawn ornaments add to your home’s electrical demand this time of year, and so will guests. The additional phones, computers, and gadgets use a lot of electricity, and with everyone congregating in the living room and kitchen, your circuits bear the brunt of increased energy consumption.
How To Avoid Overloaded Circuits
To prevent circuit overloads, identify which outlets and appliances share circuits. Distribute high-energy devices, such as TVs and microwaves, across circuits, and block open outlets on overloaded ones. Encourage guests to use low-energy outlets for charging devices by placing a table and a sign nearby. Remember, power strips protect against surges but don’t increase circuit capacity, so avoid overloading them as well.
More Ways To Make Your Holiday Guests Feel Welcome
Clearwater homeowners strive to create a warm, inviting atmosphere year-round, especially during the holidays. To ensure a pleasant experience for your guests, start by asking about their travel plans, dietary restrictions, and activities they’re looking forward to.
Upon their arrival, give them a brief tour of the home, covering essentials like the Wi-Fi password, trash locations, and bathroom supplies. This helps them feel more at ease.
Temperature is also crucial; adjust the thermostat based on the weather and the number of guests. Check in with them about their comfort level and, if hosting a house party, set the thermostat to a cooler temperature, ideally between 66°F and 68°F.
FAST of Florida Wishes You a Wonderful Holiday Season
There’s no place like Clearwater during the holidays! Keep your home comfortable with 24/7 HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services from FAST of Florida. Schedule an appointment for prompt and professional help today!
Contact us online or call 727-273-7810 to get started!