Four Essential Home Improvements for the Season

Gearing up for the holidays can feel downright magical, from the satisfaction of crisp winter air to the excitement of trimming your home with all your nostalgic, comforting decorations. In all the fun, though, don’t forget to maintain and repair your home accordingly. Direct some of your energy into the following areas at least a week before you open your doors to guests, and you can be better prepared to host festive gatherings with ease.

Optimize your entryway

This frequently used area will naturally develop some wear and tear over time. Doing this maintenance will help ensure that your guests’ first impression of your home is a positive one:

• 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 weatherstripping, which can appear unsightly and allow cold drafts indoors, impacting your energy bills.

Examine your breaker

Nothing can ruin a holiday party 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.

Test major kitchen appliances

For many people, the holidays are primarily about food, 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 a 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 post-party wash-up.

Inspect your plumbing

Hosting means creating a sanitary experience for everyone cooking and dining, so you’ll want to ensure that your plumbing is up to the task. 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 flip it 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 that guests will use. Do they operate properly, without any unusual sounds, slow flows, or odors?

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.