HOME

A WelcomingHome for your Holidays

November is here and the holiday season is revving up. Even better, the weather outside is (seasonally) frightful, your fire is warm and delightful and the entire family is planning to arrive on your doorstep to celebrate gathering together. But nothing ruins this Hallmark moment more than a cracked water heater and water cascading into the basement. Family togetherness is great and all, but hot showers make gathering around the Scrabble board a lot more pleasant. Being prepared for guests means checking things twice and making sure your furnace is being less naughty and more nice. Here are a few tips to have your house in prime condition before the doorbell rings.

BY EMILY KEMME

Make sure water stays inside the water heater

Jeff Allen of Allen Service said water heaters have different life expectancies depending on manufacturer and type. Typically, standard cylindrical tanks last between 10-15

years. Manufacturers recommend servicing every 1-2 years to flush out sediment: as you heat water, solids already existing in water fall to the tank bottom over time. “That can cause stress on the heater, because you ’ re putting cold water in it and then heating the water.The repeated expansion and contraction over time ages out the tank, causing hairline leaks that are early signs of stress or

aging,

”Allen said. General maintenance allows the service person to gauge where the unit is in its useful lifespan and helps it last longer. “It’ s better than waiting until the middle of the night or when you ’ ve got a houseful of people. Regular flushing helps keep emergencies from happening and assures

Giving your floors a good professional cleaning, from tile to carpet, can make them look new even if they aren't. (Courtesy Steamway Floor to Ceiling)

optimal efficiency,

”he said. The other water heater style is tankless; it mounts on a wall and heats water as it’ s being used.These technologically advanced systems are more expensive but you ’ll never run out of hot water — a boon when you ’ ve got a full house and dishes to wash. Tankless systems also require flushing at least every two years. A safe chemical is used to flush solids and descale the heat exchanger. Allen recommends setting up an annual service schedule in October or November, around the time you blow out your sprinkler systems and disconnect hoses from outside spigots that, with cold weather, could cause breakage inside the house.

Keep your home toasty with a furnace check up

The other major appliance check up to perform as colder weather settles in is the furnace. McCreery & Sun ’ s service technicians follow manufacturer specifications to check the integrity of the heat exchanger and verify there is no carbon monoxide in the home. Along with checking electrical components, technicians clean the furnace, check blower speeds and verify capacitors aren ’t reading low, replacing if needed. McCreery typically schedules 6 to 8 weeks out for routine service appointments but maintains an emergency list for people who call in with heating problems, project coordinator Jada Specht wrote in an email.They can usually service customers without heat within one to three business days and have an emergency technician available after hours when service can ’t wait another day.

Make the rest of the house sparkle

Now that the house is warm and the dishes are clean, put on the finishing touches with carpet, tile or furniture cleaning. Steamway Floor to Ceiling uses a hot steam extraction method to remove dirt and sterilize surfaces and grout. They also have a hand unit to clean and seal granite countertops. Spray on sealer keeps the shine for 12-24 months, depending on usage.They ’ll clean area rugs, too but because each rug is unique, Steamway advises if a rug can withstand the process. Choose between a full house cleaning or limit it to high traffic areas. Steamway service technicians can move most furniture, except for storage pieces and entertainment centers.The service length depends on the area being cleaned and if it’ s necessary to move furniture. One thing to keep in mind, Steamway owner Kim Weber notes, is whether you ’ re planning on cleaning up after the holidays, too. “We can clean the entire house even if holiday decor is already up, but if you call before setting up the tree, it’ s easier.There ’ s also the possibility there will be a need for cleanup after the holiday spills,”she said. The company provides free estimates, usually within a week after contacting them.Take advantage of a 20 percent holiday discount until Christmas.

DEALING WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION? YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

SANDI Y. SQUICQUERO

M. ED., LPC Licensed Professional Counselor National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist | Former Probation and Family Services Worker 30 years of experience

A LIMITED AMOUNT OF IN PERSON SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT.

All CDC and Covid-19 regulations are being followed

THE s Medical Hypnosis & CounselingCENTER, P.C.

CALL US TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT (970) 674-0191

We offer a variety of ways to become involved in clinical and non-clinical roles. Opportunities include:

Direct Patient Care

• Companionship • Caregiver Relief • Pet Therapy • Pathways Inpatient Care Center (greeter & companionship)

Non-Clinical Support

• Greeter Desk - Main Office • Event Support & Outreach