It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for Port St. Lucie homeowners entertaining guests, the holidays can be tough on your home’s most important systems. Below, the team at Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air shares four easy ways to prepare your home for the holidays so you can enjoy quality time without worrying about electrical, HVAC, or plumbing problems.

Preparing Your Home for the Holidays, System by System

The holiday season can strain your home’s systems with guests’ increased water and electricity usage. To avoid leaks, clogs, and emergency repairs, homeowners can take proactive steps to enjoy the festivities without worry. Here are a few ways to make the holidays the most wonderful time of the year!

1. Prevent Overloaded Circuits

Mobile phones, computers, freshly unwrapped gadgets and gizmos; electricity powers the holidays. Combined with increased appliance use, big or small, your circuits can quickly become overloaded, increasing the risk of blown fuses and fire.

How To Avoid Overloaded Circuits

Identify which devices and appliances are on the same circuit. The easiest way to do this is to head to your circuit panel and turn off circuits one by one; whatever powers down is on the circuit. Try to balance out how many appliances are on any given circuit, especially in the kitchen.
Avoid using portable devices like space heaters and hair dryers at the same time and on the same circuit.
Next, indicate outlets on circuits with lower electricity demand for guests to use. Place a small table or sign with a subtle message (“Power Station”) to encourage charging devices there.

If your home is still experiencing overloaded circuits, consider having your circuits rewired to improve performance and reduce your risk of fire or other problems.

2. Clean Your Drains

Like electricity use, water consumption increases quickly with every guest and every big meal. Stay ahead of clogged drains with basic proactive cleaning a few days before company arrives; here’s where to start.

Cleaning Kitchen Drains

The most common causes of clogged kitchen drains are food debris and grease. To clean out kitchen drains, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the sink drain. If possible, cap the drain to force the pressure down the pipe. Let the baking soda work its magic for 10-15 minutes, then pour a pitcher of hot water down the drain to help dislodge and clear any remaining debris.

Cleaning Shower Drains

Soap scum and hair often clog shower drains. While baking soda can tackle soap scum, it doesn't work on hair. For hair removal, use a drain snake, wire, hanger, or plunger – sometimes a combination is needed. If clogs persist, tree roots might be the issue. Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air can quickly identify and resolve the problem, preventing leaks and backups.

3. Prevent Clogged Toilets

It’s the stuff of nightmares: you’re visiting friends and family, use the bathroom, and have to inform your host that the toilet might be clogged. (You know it is!) There are a few ways to protect your plumbing and your guests from the horror of a rapidly-overflowing toilet and prevent the associated embarrassment; here’s how.

How To Prevent Toilet Clogs

The best way to prevent clogged toilets is to remove any non-flushable items from the bathroom. While toilet paper is the most common cause of clogs, these bathroom staples should never go into the drain to prevent clogs, plumbing damage, or sewer line and septic tanks:

Cotton balls
Q-tips
Non-flushable wipes
Tissues
Wrappers
Floss

Clogged Toilets, Thanksgiving, and “Brown Friday”

The holidays are among the busiest times of year for most plumbing companies, with the day after Thanksgiving widely considered the busiest day of the year. The combination of intense meal prep, plenty of house guests, and families spending more time than usual at home, “Brown Friday” sees a spike in emergency plumbing problems.

4. Freshen Up Your Home’s Scent

Even immaculately clean and tidy homes have a unique scent. While you may not notice it, some guests may find your home’s natural aroma distracting – or worse, smelly. Instead of covering up your home’s odors, tackle subtle smells at the source.

How To Deodorize Your Home Quickly

Air it out: Start by opening windows and doors to let in fresh air. You can also run your HVAC system’s fan to increase air flow in the house, improving ventilation.
Remove the stink: Address common odor sources by taking out the trash, cleaning drains, throwing out old food in the fridge, and cleaning soft materials like upholstery, rugs, and carpeting.

Deodorizing Carpets and Rugs

Carpets and area rugs can hold onto smells from spills and accidents, especially with pets or kids. To eliminate odors, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes (or longer for strong smells). Vacuum it up, and the scent should be greatly reduced or gone. Repeat as needed.

Preparing Your Home for Holiday Guests Is Simple

Prepare for the holidays by making your guests feel welcome and ready for anything with Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air. Port St. Lucie residents trust our local technicians for prompt, professional service. Enjoy a wonderful holiday season – schedule an appointment to tackle common home issues early!

Call 772-356-1735 or contact us online to schedule HVAC, electrical, or plumbing services in Port St. Lucie, Jupiter, and the surrounding areas.

‘Tis the Season: Preparing for Holiday Guests