Southern Trust Home Services Offers Tips to Get Your Home Prepared for the Holidays

"This time of year is when your house takes the biggest beating," says Ted Puzio, owner of Southern Trust Home Services, southern Virginia's leading home services provider. "Visitors, decorations, increased use of appliances—all put bigger strain on a house. But we can help you get ready."

Here are some suggestions to help get ready in advance.

• Check your drains. If they aren't flowing freely, find out why and get them cleaned.
• Clean the microwave. Take out the microwave's rotating tray and scrub it or pop it into the dishwasher. Wipe down the microwave's interior with a soft cloth and a little soapy water. Make sure its air vents are clear of dust and grease.
• Don't clean the oven. The self-clean cycle is so stressful that it could cause the appliance to fail, right before you need it most. Give a quick cleaning around the top burner elements, and clean it after the holidays.
• Inspect the refrigerator. It's likely to be opened and closed more times on this one day than it is in a couple of weeks of normal use. Check for loose screws on the door handles, clear blocked vents, and replace burned-out lights.
• Consider a tankless water heater. You'll be using lots of hot water over the next couple of months, and now could be the perfect time to make a change. Tankless water heaters only heat the water as you need it, rather than wasting energy keeping water heated in a tank until you're ready to use it. And you have an endless supply.
• Inspect the dishwasher. Check the strainer/drain area in the bottom of the wash tub. Remove food debris and wipe off detergent residue.
• Take care of the toilet. Toilets take a particular beating this time of year, and now's the time to take care of any malfunctions.
• Replace burned out light bulbs. Pay close attention to lights that serve the front entrance and walkway that leads to the front door or other busy entrances.
• Make your home slip- and fall-proof. Fix loose treads on exterior steps, loose deck boards or loose pavers on front walkways. Take care of all other tripping/falling hazards, like using double-sided tape to tack down slippery rugs.
• Child-proof your home. Make all child-safety preparations in advance, such as covering electrical outlets, moving lamps and vases away from table edges and making provisions to block stairways to prevent hazardous falls.

"This is a time for family, friends and togetherness, and you want to make sure you don't have to worry about your home being ready," Puzio says. "Taking care of these things in advance helps take that worry away."

If you have questions about any aspect of your home's plumbing, electrical or HVAC system, contact the Southern Trust experts at 540-685-0106 to schedule an appointment.

About Southern Trust Home Services
Founded in 1995 as Southern State Electric, Southern Trust Home Services provides 24/7 emergency services for 60 plus cities in southern Virginia. Specializing in residential plumbing, electrical and HVAC work, Southern Trust Home Services staffs dedicated, certified, licensed and insured, drug and criminal background checked technicians who provide timely, same-day services for a variety of home repairs, installations and maintenance. A Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2006, Southern Trust Home Services has financing available including zero percent for 18 months, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee on stated repairs. To find out more, call 540-343-4348 or visit www.southerntrusthomeservices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
[email protected]

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SOURCE Southern Trust Home Services

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