The house is spotless, the table is set, and your family and friends are on their way to your home to enjoy a delicious home-cooked holiday meal. And just then, your kitchen sink won’t drain. We’re talking a water-up-to-your-elbows clog.
We’ve all been there, and we know how quickly these pesky mishaps can zap the holiday spirit right out of you. Thankfully, some of the most common issues can be avoided with a little preventative care.
Here are 5 common holiday disasters hosting problems and tips for avoiding them.
The oven won’t heat. During the holidays, the oven quickly becomes one of the most important appliances in the house. If it stops working, it can quickly turn your festive holiday meal into a casual pizza party. To help prevent it from going caput, resist the urge to use the self-clean function – and risk blowing a fuse or thermostat – until after the holidays, especially if you’ve never used that function before. Also, if you notice your oven acting up now, don’t put off contacting an appliance repair person. A little money spent now can prevent a major malfunction later.
The kitchen sink won’t drain. Did you know that the holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for plumbers? More cooking and baking means more dirty dishes, and in our haste to clean up, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to let some things slip down the drain that we otherwise wouldn’t. Avoid a serious back-up and protect your plumbing by properly disposing of all food waste. Never pour cooking fat and oil down the drain, and if you have a garbage disposal, don’t feed it starchy or fibrous food. Also, resist the urge to use chemical drain cleaners. They actually do more harm than good. Keep a plumbing snake handy to dislodge backed up food waste.
The heat goes out. You want your guests to enter a warm and inviting home, not a frigid tundra. Be sure to clean or replace your furnace filter at least every 90 days, and have your heating system inspected annually by a licensed HVAC technician to ensure that it’s in tip-top shape.
The toilet is backed up. Nothing gets your heart racing faster than the sight of quickly rising water in a toilet. And while there’s never a good time for a clogged toilet, it’s extra annoying during the holidays. Don’t throw anything other than toilet paper down the toilet. And consider putting up a polite note reminding your guests to do the same.
The refrigerator won’t stay cold. Avoid having to dispose of hundreds of dollars-worth of food by keeping an eye on your fridge, and being mindful of any temperature changes. Your fridge needs to circulate cold air, so don’t over-stuff the shelves. And keep the condenser coils on the back free of dust, dirt, and pet hair.
Of course, even with the best of care, plumbing and heating mishaps can and do happen. Should happen to you this holiday season, Eagle Service Company will be on hand to turn disaster into delight before you know it. Contact us today for the service you need, when you need it.
