While prepping the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner, don’t forget to prep your home for your guests and safety! A home inspection can ensure that your home is ready for the holidays, from preventing potential hazards to ensuring everything is in top shape for entertaining. Whether hosting family and friends or simply preparing for a relaxing holiday, safety should always be a priority. Here are some expert tips from a home inspector in Philadelphia to help you get your home holiday-ready:
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Let’s start from the top, so to speak—smoke alarms. Ensure one is installed on each level of your home and test the alarms to ensure they work properly. Change any batteries if needed. The holidays are a peak time for house fires, so having reliable smoke alarms is essential. Additionally, it’s wise to have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Get acquainted with how the extinguisher works and teach your family as well. You can never be too safe when preventing fire hazards in your home!
Do not use your garbage disposal like a trash can when prepping your feast. It’s easy to toss scraps and other items down the drain, but certain items can be damaging. Foods like potato peels, bones, and fruit pits can damage the blades and create clogs. Additionally, never dump grease down the drain. The grease will coat your pipes and eventually form a sludgy substance that causes slow drains and complete blockages.
As you think about the physical and electrical power required to prepare a Thanksgiving feast, make sure you don’t overload your outlets. The last thing you want is a circuit overload! Spread out the usage of your appliances throughout the day or across different rooms. For example, a crockpot doesn’t need to be plugged in within the kitchen. During the holiday season, decorations and lights often occupy outlet space, so be cautious when plugging them in. Overloading circuits can lead to serious issues, including fire hazards.
Thinking of adding a touch of cozy to your home with candles? Be careful. Candles are a huge fire hazard, so be mindful of their placement. Keep candles far away from fabrics and other materials that could catch fire or where they may be knocked over. In addition to candles, keep any other flammable items away from the stove.
A thorough home inspection in Philadelphia can help identify potential safety hazards before they become problems. Ensuring that your home is properly maintained not only keeps your family safe but also provides peace of mind during the busy holiday season. Regular home inspections can help spot issues like outdated electrical systems, fire hazards, or plumbing problems that could be exacerbated during the holidays.
These are just a few tips to add a touch of safety to your home during the upcoming holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Eagle Inspectors are local inspectors caring for our neighbors in the following locations:
Pennsylvania