The holidays are right around the corner, and the to-do list to get your home ready for guests can create a lot of stress. Here are a few tips to prevent some common holiday headaches.
Save Your Holiday Lights
It never fails. Whether you’re ready to decorate a pre-lit tree or hang icicle lights outside, there’s always at least one strand that doesn’t work properly. Before you toss them in the trash, try fixing them first.
The LightKeeper Pro fixes most sets of lights with the squeeze of a trigger. Miniature light sets are wired in series, and in order for them to light properly, electricity must flow through each bulb, to the next.
The Quick Fix Trigger works by sending an electrical pulse through the light set, finding the defective bulb, and fixing the shunt. The current can then flow through the light set, completing the circuit and illuminating the other bulbs.
The LightKeeper Pro also includes a bulb tester and fuse tester to help you troubleshoot problems, as well as a storage compartment for extra bulbs and fuses.
Check out Holiday Decorating and Storage Tips for more ideas.
Watch for Arriving Packages
Many of us do the bulk of our holiday shopping online, which means lots of packages are delivered to our doorsteps this time of year. Unfortunately, that also means increased opportunities for package theft. In addition, most home burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., while people are at work, school or running errands.
With the NuTone Knock smart video doorbell, you can see and speak to visitors from your smartphone or tablet, using your home’s WiFi and the free Knock app. So, if you’re not at home, you can let the delivery person know to leave the packages elsewhere. And, for added security, you can take snapshots or record video of suspicious activity.
The Knock works with existing doorbell wiring and is durable enough to withstand dust, water and extreme temperatures. The 180-degree high-definition camera lens ensures a clear picture, even at night.
Keep Your Guests Comfortable
It’s every host’s nightmare. Your home is the setting of a festive holiday party, but the guests are miserable. They’re still bundled up in their winter coats and scarves, because inside the house is just as cold as outside. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, everyone is hot and sweating, even after shedding their outerwear. Keep your home comfortable for holiday guests with Carrier’s CôrWi-Fi programmable thermostat. Carrier offers smart thermostats at various price points for consumers, and the versatile Côr thermostat is compatible with most HVAC system brands.
The device can be remotely controlled via the free mobile app, and you can easily customize settings for times when you’re home, sleeping or away. And, with the touch of a button, you can see exactly when your energy dollars are being spent, so you can modify settings to maximize savings. The Côr works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
