You’ve spent weeks preparing for the perfect holiday season gathering – Christmas, New Year’s, you name it.  And now, it’s come down to this:  your house is spotless, the table is set, and your guests have texted or Tweeted that they’re on their way.  Perfect, except for one minor detail:  suddenly, you’re staring at a kitchen sink that refuses to drain.

That’s just one of many cruel little jokes your home can play on you at any given time.  So, let’s have a look at how to prevent at least a few of them:

Clogged Kitchen Sink

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for plumbers. The reason? Clogged drains by the dozens.  To prevent such a problem in your home, never pour grease or cooking oils down the drain, since over time they’re likely to solidify and adhere to the inside walls of your pipes.  Next, always run your garbage disposal for a few seconds before placing any food scraps in it.  When you’re done grinding the scraps, keep the disposal running while running your cold water faucet to help thoroughly flush the disposal and kitchen drain.

Clogged Toilet

There’s never a good time for a toilet to clog and back up.  But you can help keep things flowing smoothly by not using it like a trash pail. Only use your toilets for what they were built for, toilet paper included.  Everything else can go in the trash.

Oven Malfunction

Whether it’s a gathering for 20 or an intimate meal for two, your oven is almost always a necessary tool for winter meal preparation.  One thing you can do to score a home run with your holiday meal is to put off using the self-cleaning function until after the holidays.  Otherwise, you run the risk of a blown oven thermostat.

No Heat

A cold house can stop a holiday party before it starts. Which begs the question:  when was the last time you had your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected?  If it’s been a year or longer, don’t wait another minute before contacting Burton to schedule service.  You’ll breathe a whole lot easier knowing your furnace is receiving the best possible care – during the holidays, and all winter long.