Five Home Fixes to Make Before Christmas

Contributed post.

If you've already started Googling heating and cooling because the weather can't decide whether it wants to be festive or feral, take this as your sign right now. It's the perfect time to tackle those home fixes that you might have been ignoring for the past couple of months. Christmas has a way of sneaking up on us. 

One minute it's June, the next you're panic buying wrapping paper and wondering where you stored the Christmas tree stand. Before the holiday chaos kicks in, here are some fixes that you need to get your home holiday ready. 

Give your HVAC some holiday cheer.

Your heating and cooling system has suffered through months of temperature mood swings, and nothing kills Christmas spirit faster than guests shivering indoors while you frantically poke vents hoping they'll work, clean or replace the filters. Schedule a tune up and make sure that your thermostat isn't trying to audition for ‘The Worst Setting of the Year’. Not only will this keep your home cosy, but it'll also save you from paying more in energy bills because winter is expensive enough.

Patch the drafts.

The walls of your home should not be breezy. If you've ever walked past a window in December and suddenly felt like you entered the Arctic Circle, that's a draft, and it's basically your house begging you to get yourself together. Check the windows, doors, and any suspiciously cold corners. Weather stripping and caulk are not expensive. They're quick to apply, and they do work. Plus, sealing draughts prevent your heating from escaping, which is good for your comfort and your wallet.

Brighten up your lighting before you hang the festive ones.

Before you pull out twinkly lights and pretend you're participating in a holiday movie montage, take a look at your everyday lighting. Are bulbs flickering? Are there mysterious dark spots in the hallways giving off gentle haunted house vibes? Fixing your standard lights now means smoother decorating later. 

Check your roof.

We're not looking for Santa Claus here, but your roof is one of the things that you don't think about until it leaks. And nothing ruins Christmas faster than water dripping into your living room while you're trying to enjoy a hot chocolate before the snow or the rain arrives. Inspect for shingles, clogged gutters or suspicious soft spots that are sinking in. If you're not the ladder climbing type, which is understandable, hire help to come and do it for you. It's far better to fix it now than dealing with a surprise indoor waterfall on Christmas morning.

Test your smoke alarms.

Your oven is about to get very busy, and holiday cooking brings joy, warmth and occasional smoke. Between roasting turkeys and baking cookies, and even forgetting something in the oven just for a minute, your smoke detectors deserve some attention. Test them, replace batteries and make sure they're doing their job, because nothing says holiday memories like the alarm blaring while you eat.