The last thing you want during the holidays is for an emergency to chill your family’s cheer. Prepare for power outages and weather-related emergencies with an easy-to-find emergency kit. Some items to include are bottled water, a hand-crank radio, a...

Check smoke alarms Holiday cooking and baking, along with candles and the distraction that parties create, can accidentally create unintentional fires. Before Thanksgiving, test your smoke alarms and make sure they are functioning in all areas. Have a...

Tiny Steps to Get Your House Ready for Guests Clean the bathroom. If you only have time to clean one room in your house other than the kitchen, make it the bathroom. Most guests can handle a little dust on the coffee table or lint on the carpet, but a...

With a roasting turkey, fluffy rolls, comfort side dishes and sweet pies all needing the attention of the stove and oven, you’ll want to make sure it’s working at its best. Perform some quick maintenance checks on your oven and range. Your washer and dryer...

Call and schedule a plumber The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day for plumbers due to garbage disposal issues, clogged drains, dishwasher problems, and toilet troubles. Do yourself a favor and schedule a plumber to come in and fix issues prior to...

If you have not done this yet its crucial in the fight against water damage. We have talked about this a couple times but its always good to have a reminder. Clogged rain gutters can cause ice dams, which can lead to expensive repairs. After the leaves...

If you have a fireplace or wood stove, it’s essential for safety that you have it serviced before lighting the first fire of the season. If you haven’t done so already, schedule an appointment to have your chimney inspected and, if necessary, cleaned. Want...

Vacuum radiators, baseboard heaters, and heating grates. Prepare for heating season by vacuuming up dust from radiators, baseboard heaters, and heating grates. If you have radiators with covers, remove the covers and vacuum beneath them before...

Dead limbs are more likely to fall during winter storms, making them a potential safety hazard. Have an arborist inspect and trim large trees. we strongly suggest the Three-Step Approach to cutting tree limbs! Step one: Make the first cut about one or two...

Winterize Your Gas Grill If you’re not a winter griller, now’s the time to pack away your grill before it’s covered with a foot of snow. In addition to giving your grill a thorough cleaning to remove grease and food scraps, take these steps to help prevent...

To prevent exterior water pipes from bursting when the weather gets below freezing, turn off the valves to the exterior hose bibs. Run the water until the pipes are empty. Make sure all the water is drained from the pipes, if not; the water can freeze up...

Soak Brushes in Fabric Softener to Keep Brushes Soft Every DIY painter has been privy to the horrors of a day-old brush with stiff bristles that makes round two nearly impossible. To keep paintbrushes soft: Rinse thoroughly (no soap) Mix half a cup of...