Pre-Outdoor Fourth of July Party Maintenance Checklist
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Posted July 3, 2018
With July 4th right around the corner, there will be plenty of cookouts and parties on patios. Planning an outdoor party can be overwhelming and maintenance checks may slip your mind. Don’t worry, we have the perfect checklist to make sure everything will run smoothly, and you won’t come across any unwanted surprises. Here are some crucial things to check before your outdoor BBQ begins.
Light Up the Night With More Than Fireworks
★ Outdoor lighting is extremely important for a successful outdoor summer bash. Once the sun sets, you’ll need to ensure the party doesn’t have to move inside because of poor lighting! Use strings lights across your backyard and/or patio to give your party a beautiful and festive ambiance.
★ It’s also a good safety measure to have proper lighting so friends or family don’t get hurt in the dark. We recommend installing flood lights near trees and lights lining walkways to make sure no one trips.
★ We can easily install any of your outdoor lighting needs. Just give us a call!
Inspect Your Toilet to Avoid Overflows
★ Double check your toilets are running properly BEFORE guests arrive. In the summer, clogged toilets are more frequent because of the kids being home and an increase of houseguests.
★ Some problems to watch out for: Listen for strange noises when flushing, look for a puddle around the toilet, listen if toilet is constantly running, or if you have to hold the handle down for long periods of time to get it to flush. These are all instances in which you should turn off the water supply for the toilet, and give us a call to fix things quickly.
★ Not everything is flushable! Here are things that should not be flushed, especially during the party. Do not flush: cosmetics, feminine hygiene products, wipes, cotton balls, Q-Tips, etc.
Party TIP: Make a sign with objects that are safe to flush and not safe to flush for your house guests!
Keep Things Cool Indoors
★ Keep your screen door closed to not only keep bugs out but also to keep the house cool. Closing all windows and shutting blinds will provide a comfortable temperature for guests inside and also save you some money on your AC bill.
★ Program your thermostat to the perfect temperature! Set it between 68-72 °F before the party begins so your home will remain cool throughout your celebration.
★ Not sure if your HVAC is working properly? Be sure to get that fixed before your party so your guests don’t overheat! Schedule maintenance for a whole-house cooling system with us, we’d be happy to help out before the big day.
Prep the Grill BEFORE the Party
★ If you have an outdoor kitchen area or a grill that attaches to a gas line, make sure it’s working properly several days before the actual party. You’ll have a hard time grilling hamburgers and hot dogs without the gas line working!
★ Here are some tips for prepping your grill:
- Clean it off – Give it a good cleaning and make sure there’s no funky residue before you start grilling for your guests!
- Start it up – Make sure all the burners are working properly and that the propane tank is full. You don’t want to leave hungry guests while you run to the store for propane.
- Stock up – Prep all essential grilling supplies: propane, charcoal, lighter fluid, and more.
Your Garbage Disposal Is Not The Trash
★ When you are cleaning up, it might be tempting to toss the food scraps and leftover oil down the garbage disposal. Remnants of food, along with grease and oil, should be disposed of in a trash can.
★ Never put these items in the disposal:
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocado pits
- Bones
- Carrots
- Celery
- Coffee grounds
- Corn husks
- Egg shells
- Grease
- Onion skins
- Pasta
- Peach pits
- Potato peels
- Raw meat with bones
Party-Tip: Set up several trash cans outside to encourage guests to throw trash outside and not in the sink. If you are using non disposable plates, put a trash can near the sink with signs telling your guests to scrape their plates before tossing them in the sink to prevent a clogged disposal!
If you double check all these things before your party, then everything will run smoothly without any clogs, overflows, or emergencies. If anything does go wrong, we’ve got you covered. Contact us so you can get back to enjoying fireworks, friends, and BBQ worry free!
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