Four Essential Home Improvements for the Season

The holiday and postholiday seasons are some of the busiest times of the year, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking steps to secure the safety of your family and guests. Make sure to tackle the following four tasks, which can provide peace of mind that loved ones are safe and sound all winter long.

Optimize your entryway

This frequently used area will naturally develop some wear and tear over time. Do this maintenance to help ensure that vital components are working.

• Check that all railing and handles on your walkup are secure, and tighten any fasteners and repair any loose flooring.
• Test your doorbell, and replace any failing batteries. Confirm that your smart lock app is sending the proper notifications and that your subscription is up to date, if applicable.
• For proper door operation, lubricate around the handle and clean any debris around the latch and strike plate. Then tighten the doorknob’s screws to ensure that it’s firm and secure.
• Replace any loose or worn weather stripping, which can appear unsightly and allow cold drafts indoors, impacting your energy bills.

Test major kitchen appliances

For many people, this time of year is about comfort foods, so make sure that your home is equipped to handle big meals and long cooking sessions. Here’s a checklist:

• Clean all stove burners, and give your oven a wash with a multipurpose cleaner. Then test the knobs to ensure that they operate the appliance properly.
• Turn on your oven, and place an oven-safe thermometer in the center to verify that it reaches the set temperature.
• Set your refrigerator dial to 40°F and freezer to 0°F. Use an appliance thermometer to make sure their actual temperatures match these settings.
• Empty and sterilize your dishwasher’s filter and spray arms, then run a cleaning cycle to confirm that the machine is prepared for any postparty wash-up.

Inspect your plumbing

More than any other time of year, you’ll want to ensure that your plumbing is up to the task for winter. These are the top areas to cover:

• Turn off your main water shutoff valve, then run a faucet indoors to confirm that the valve is working properly. (You may need to use the valve if a clogged or frozen pipe bursts.)
• To prevent these pipe issues, check all exposed ones for leaks, and insulate any that run outdoors or in unfinished spaces like the attic.
• Look around your water heater for signs of leaks and corrosion, and listen for any popping or hissing noises, which could indicate pressing issues like mineral buildup.
• Test all toilets and sinks. Do they operate properly, without any unusual sounds, slow flows, or odors?

Examine your breaker

Nothing can ruin a get-together or an ordinary cold winter morning like a sudden power outage, which can impact your hot water, warm air, and stored food. Here’s what you need to look out for:

• Locate your breaker box, and inspect it for signs of damage, including a burnt odor, melted screws, or burn marks.
• If the box keeps “tripping,” or automatically switching off power to certain areas, you may be overloading it or it may have faulty wiring.

If you come across any troublesome issues in these four fundamental areas of your home, be sure to contact a repair expert in the respective field as soon as possible to remedy them. Granted, your home may have other needs, but with this starting point, you’ll be on your way to readying your home for intimate gatherings and large shindigs alike.