Blogs from December, 2021

You have probably heard the classic Christmas poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” before. Many people often mistakenly refer to this work by its classic first line, “’Twas the night before Christmas.” However, what you may not have realized is that this timeless poem by Clement Clarke Moore can actually teach us a thing or two about taking care of our homes. Whether it’s remembering to check on things that are often overlooked or just going the extra mile to make sure we avoid trouble, following these simple reminders can help you potentially avoid some serious disasters this season.

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,”

Christmas stockings are about as much of a holiday tradition as the Christmas tree itself. However, stockings by the chimney are also a great reminder to check your chimney and make sure it is clean, clear, and free of obstructions. Regardless of whether you have a gas chimney or a wood-burning unit, carbon monoxide is a real danger that could be fatal if allowed to get out of hand. So when hanging your stockings this holiday season, be sure to check your chimney and then check the battery in your carbon monoxide detector. If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as your chimney, they can be purchase from any home improvement store for around $20, and we strongly advise installing one to keep you and your loved ones protected from a potential disaster.

“When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,”

The sound of reindeer coming to land on your lawn may be one thing, but nobody wants to hear the sound of their irrigation pipes bursting. It is rather rare that we see temperatures dip down below freezing here in Southern California, but that’s precisely why this problem tends to happen so often when they do. Those who aren’t prepared leave plumbing lines outside their homes exposed, and that exposure leads to the water inside the line freezing, expanding, and then tearing apart from the inside. When the water thaws, you’re left dealing with a huge mess to clean up or a potential plumbing emergency. Plumbing insulation is available at home improvement stores for no more than a few dollars, and it takes only a few minutes to install properly for added safety and peace of mind.

“As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,”

In Southern California, most of the species of tree that are not evergreen tend to start losing their leaves from roughly around late November through until the end of December. That means you’ll probably start to see a lot of dead leaves blowing around your property and ending up in all of the nooks, crannies, and corners you might have. This is particularly the case with your outdoor compressor unit, and this could strongly inhibit the efficiency of your air conditioner or your heat pump system. In fact, leaves in your heat pump could cause the system to break down and fail completely. It may seem like a tedious task, but for a few weeks it’s a good idea to go outside every few days and rake or sweep fallen leaves away from your outdoor unit in order to maintain efficiency and long-term reliability. After, all, nobody wants to deal with a winter night without heat.