The holidays are upon us, and with family, friends and fur-babies coming for visits, it is important that during this busy month, we keep an eye on a few things around the house, too.

• Check your flue. Fireplaces can create a comfortable atmosphere this time of year, but can also be a hazard. If you have a wood-burning stove, make sure the flue is cleaned out to minimize the risk of a flue fire. If you have a natural gas fireplace, check outside to make sue the vent isn’t blocked (sometimes bird build nests in there) and vacuum the dust and spider webs off the faux logs.

• Visually inspect your attic. If you are digging out your holiday decorations from the attic, take a look at your attic. Look for water damage and signs of insect or pests, such as wasp nests or rodent droppings.

• After the first snowfall, take note if the snow is melting from the roof rapidly. This may mean that heat is escaping through your roof. If this is the case, take a look at your attic insulation and make sure it is thick and evenly distributed.

• Don’t overload outlets. Tis the season for overuse of extension cords. Play it safe by limiting the plugs to no more than three per extension cord and only one extension cord per outlet.

• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. There is usually a lot of baking happening in the kitchen – and accidents can happen. Make sure you top chef knows where the fire extinguisher is and how to operate it.

• Clean behind appliances. Gently push out your oven and refrigerator and clean behind them. You’d be surprised at what you’ll find!

The Metzler Home Builders team wishes you a safe, fun and festive holiday season!