Quick Fixes to Do Before Holiday Guests Arrive

The holidays are right around the corner and now is the time to take care of the improvements you've been procrastinating about all year long. From dead doorbells and jammed doors, to caulking the bath and replacing broken tiles, here are our top quick fixes, and all the information you need to get the job done right.

1. Fix a Doorbell

Don't leave holiday guests waiting out in the cold. Make sure your doorbell is in working order before they come ringing. It could be the fault of a worn outside button. But it's also possible that the chime or transformer have stopped working. For full step-by-step instructions to help you find and fix the problem, see How to Fix a Doorbell.

2. Fix a Worn Concrete Walkway

Make safe passage for party guests this holiday season. If there are cracks and pits in your concrete, but your walkway isn't cracked all the way through, you can coat the slab with a concrete resurfacer. Its natural color is dark gray, so buy enough to cover your entire walk. If you want a different color, just add a concrete tint. Here's How to Resurface Worn Concrete in just 4 easy steps.

If you've come to depend on your sink disposer, you probably want to be sure it's in fine working order in case the big holiday feast does a number on it. Take a few minutes to watch TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explain How to Repair a Garbage Disposer in just three steps.

Doors shift with time and age, and some become so out of alignment they stick when opened and closed. But the remedy is just a few quick tricks away. Here's How to Fix a Sticking Door in just an hour.

Keep guests comfortable by plugging up old windows to block drafts. The fix could also help you save between $50 and $170 a year on your heating bills. Watch TOH general contractor Tom Silva Insulate a Window with Sash Weights. Then grab some more pointers for draft-proofing from How to Make Your Doors Draft-Free, Drape Away Drafts, and Detecting Drafts With an Energy Audit.

See more of our quick fixes before holiday guests arrive at ThisOldHouse.com.