Like Thanksgiving, Christmas is a traffic-heavy holiday where a plethora of friends and family hit the highways and airways to reunite with loved ones and celebrate the season of giving. As Bay Staters commence their journeys – foreign and domestic, in and out of state – it’s equally important to remember to prepare your home for your hiatus as it is your travel itinerary. So before you pack up your presents and start spreading the holiday cheer, take a few moments to knock out a few simple tasks aimed at preventing a major home disaster.
Understanding this sentiment more than most is Wicked Local Cambridge, who compiled the following suggestions to keep you from walking in the door after a Christmas teeming with spiked egg nog, wrapping paper, and tinsel. Heed to this advice and chances are you’ll avoid stepping into ankle-deep water, useless electrical sockets, and furniture decimated beyond repair.
Happy holidays, Boston!
• Turn off the main water supply: The main water supply controls all of the water in the house and is one of the best protections against needing to repair water damage and prevent flooding. Turning off the water supply can help prevent pipes from bursting while the homeowner is away.
• Winterize the drainage systems: Drain the water out of the toilet and add non toxic antifreeze. Also, pour one-half cup of anti- freeze down the bathroom sinks, as well as down the bath tub.
• Test the sump pump: In case there is an emergency, make sure the sump pump is working before leaving town. To test the sump pump, fill it with water and wait for the float to rise to the top. Once the float rises, the sump pump should start running.
• Leave the thermostat turned on: Make sure the thermostat is set no lower than 60 degrees F. Leaving it at this temperature can prevent pipes from freezing.
• Unplug the electronics: Before leaving, unplug all of the electronics, including the television, computers, stereos, lamps and any additional item plugged directly into the wall. This action can save money as well as prevent any damage from a power surge.
