There were nearly 16,000 searches for tradespeople on Christmas Day last year on Checkatrade with electricians most in demand. They were followed by plumbers, locksmiths and in fourth place TV aerial repairers. There were dozens of searches for help with blocked drains and more on help with broken central heating.
Checkatrade expert Frank Fernando of Lion and Leinster said his team sacrificed their own plans to save Christmas for a family on the brink of disaster, when their home plunged into darkness shortly before 46 guests arrived. With the clock ticking, the electrician came to the rescue and restored power in just 40 minutes to turn a Christmas catastrophe into a festive triumph.
Frank shares his three top tips to help Brits steer clear of avoidable home emergencies this Christmas:
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Be aware of circuit limitations — A house full of guests and multiple appliances running (like ovens, dishwashers, heaters, not to mention Christmas lights) can put a strain on your electrics. To avoid power outages during Christmas dinner, try and minimise the amount of appliances running concurrently, especially if they are on the same circuit. It’s also always worth checking your circuit breakers ahead of time to ensure they can handle the load.
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Book a boiler service ahead of time and add simple maintenance tasks to your Christmas to do list – If you’re worried about your boiler coping with extra heating and hot water needs, then get on Santa’s ‘nice list’ by shorting out a service early. Simple maintenance, like bleeding your radiators, can also help improve efficiency, keep your home toasty and also save money on bills.
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Dispose of grease and food waste from your festive feast properly – Blocked drains are the last thing anyone wants to deal with on Christmas day, so remember never to pour fat or put food scraps down the sink as they can easily cause blockages.
Jambu Palaniappan, CEO of Checkatrade, said: “Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, but unexpected household emergencies can quickly disrupt the festivities. Checkatrade’s network of trusted tradespeople are the true unsung heroes of the season. Whether it’s repairing a burst pipe or restoring heating, our dedicated experts ensure families can return to their celebrations – even when disaster strikes on Christmas day.”