When you’re preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday, remember that there’s more to consider than seating and food. How will you prevent a catastrophe over the long weekend? Are there fire hazards in your home you haven’t addressed?
Use these five tips to prepare your home for Thanksgiving, avoid fires, and prevent problems that could easily be handled long before the first guest arrives.
Everyone Out of the Kitchen
While you’re preparing food for Thanksgiving, don’t host people in the kitchen. You want everyone out of the kitchen while you’re cooking and even during service. You can go so far as hosting the bar at the dining or breakfast table. You could even set up chairs to sit on the opposite side of the counter from you.
But, you need everyone to get out of the kitchen so you can move freely. You’re not a professional chef, and people don’t yell “hot” or “behind” when they’re near you. If it’s just you in the kitchen, it’s easier to control that environment.
Don’t Overload Power Outlets
Make sure you don’t overload power outlets. Bring in a surge protector if you really need it. Moreover, move small appliances around the kitchen so that one outlet isn’t doing all the work.
Plus, you need to make sure that you don’t place hot items near outlets. Move everything away from the wall, keep the outlets clear, and unplug small appliances when you’re done using them. Don’t ever leave these items plugged in because you “don’t have time” to deal with them. Cleaning and clearing as you go is always the best policy.
Don’t Overwork the HVAC System
Don’t turn the heat all the way up to keep everyone comfortable. You should set your furnace at an attainable temperature so that it isn’t struggling to keep up. When it gets too hot in the house, crack a window, and turn the system off.
Repeat this process as much as you need so that you’re not flipping from heat to AC. There’s no need when you can keep the temperature a little lower, understanding that all that cooking will heat up the house naturally.
Protect Your Pets
Move your pets to another part of the house. It’s best to keep pets away from your guests and the kitchen. By stashing all your pets in a bedroom or spare room, they can relax and eat when they want, get water when they want, and avoid all the “treats” everyone might try to give them.
Children Need a Place to Play
Make sure children stay out of the kitchen. In a house that’s hosting a large group of people, you need to create a kids play area where the little ones will be occupied. Let the older kids disappear to your child’s room to play video games, etc. If the weather’s nice, force the kids to go outside and play.
Just keep the kids out of the kitchen. It’s safer that way.
Contact Strategic Insurance for More Information on Home Insurance and Fire Safety
Contact our team at Strategic Insurance for information on home insurance, fire safety, and protecting your biggest investment. Our team is happy to help with safety assessments, new insurance policies, and improved financial planning.
