You know what they say… there’s no place like home for the holidays! Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christams are right around the corner, and it’s time to think about the possibility of hosting a house full of guests for extended visits. Is your home ready? If you’re unsure, it’s time to take a look around to make sure everything is in good working order.
Consider these factors before sending out the invites:
Fireplace Safety
Caution always needs to be exercised when building a fire but prior to striking the first match follow these tips. Contact a professional chimney sweep to remove the creosote and soot to prevent a fire in the chimney. Perform a visual inspection of the bricks and outer structure as well. Check to see if the damper is working properly. Check for nests of any kind along with animals that may have taken up residence in the chimney. Following these steps will ensure the family sing-a-long will be worry free.
Hot Water Heater
Can your hot water heater meet the demand of providing all of those hot showers? Determine the age of your hot water heater and check to see if it is in good working order. Inspect for sediment in the bottom, corrosion or cracks in the tank. What is the output capacity of the unit, does it have a prayer of keeping up with demand? It may be time to consider replacing the unit with a new energy efficient unit or hot water on demand for each shower and kitchen. Tank and tankless options exist.
Kitchen Appliances
All those delicious meals have to be prepared and cleaned up. Assessing the functionality of all of the kitchen appliances along with the electrical wiring that support them can prevent a catastrophe from occurring. Make sure the amperage can support the constant and extended usage of additional small appliances. Evaluate the age and likeliness of a breakdown occurring mid-holiday. Cleaning up by hand can be an enormous chore and become tiring as your guests linger on.
Plumbing can only take so much punishment before it cries mercy. Are the pipes delicate or is there a septic system to consider? If the answer to either of these questions is “Yes”, consider the following. Warn guests about not flushing items that do not degrade such as cotton balls or swabs. Have the septic system serviced before guests arrive to prevent a back-up from occurring.
Prepare your home for the flurry of activity that only the holidays can bring. Take time before guests arrive to inspect, repair or replace utilities reducing the chance of a disaster from occurring. No promises can be made about family squabbles; you are on your own for that.
All Jersey Mechanical & Construction is here to meet your home and business construction and maintenance needs. We offer a full-service portfolio of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, renovation, construction, maintenance, Energy Management Systems (EMS), generators and installation services in the eastern New Jersey area. We are located at 77 Cliffwood Avenue, Suite 4C in Cliffwood, New Jersey. We can be reached by phone at 732-583-1204 or by email at info@alljerseysystems.com. Do not hesitate to reach out to us to get your project planning underway.
