5 Ways to Prep Your Home for the Holiday Season (So you can actually enjoy it)

The holidays are coming in cold, bright and busy. Whether you’re hosting family, hanging lights or transforming your home into a miniature North Pole, your house is about to work overtime.

Here are five fun, helpful ways to prep your home for the season.

1. Start the Season Out Right With a Happy Heater 

Nothing wipes out holiday cheer faster than a heater that stops working the day the in-laws arrive. A quick HVAC tune-up helps:

• Keep your home warm and comfortable
• Improve efficiency
• Prevent mid-season breakdowns
• Keep winter utility bills in check

Pro tip: Schedule this before decorations go up. Our techs love Christmas, but navigating around garlands is not their favorite sport.

2. Make Sure Your Lights Spark Joy, Not Sparks

Your home is about to plug in more things than a theme park on opening night. Before powering up blow-up Santas, light-up reindeer, and Christmas displays you can see from space, do a quick safety run-through:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Check for frayed or brittle wiring
• Avoid chaining extension cords
• Keep indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors
• Don’t overload outlets

Bonus: If your electrical panel looks the same age as your favorite holiday movie, it might be time for a professional look.

3. Make the Most of All That Ladder Time

This is the time of year when many homeowners are already up on ladders adjusting lights and discovering the one bulb that ruins the whole strand.

While you’re there, take a moment to check your roof for:

• Missing or cracked shingles
• Worn-out fascia
• Granule loss
• Pooling water
• Full or clogged gutters

Catching small issues now prevents big headaches later. Nothing ruins Christmas morning like an unexpected drip from above.

4. Keep the Holiday Glow From Spiking Your Power Bill

December energy usage goes up in almost every household. Between guests, marathon cooking sessions and holiday décor, your electrical system gets quite the workout.

A few easy ways to help control costs:

• Swap old lights for LEDs
• Put decor on timers
• Use smart power strips
• Keep the thermostat steady
• Close vents in unused rooms

And if your bills are already higher than Santa’s gift list, this might be the year to gift yourself solar. It’s the season’s smartest upgrade and keeps paying off long after the lights come down.

5. Build Your Secret Holiday Hideaway (For When Things Get… Festive)

This one isn’t about home maintenance. It’s about survival.

Create a tiny “holiday escape corner” for when celebrations become… a lot.

Perfect for moments like:

• The awkward storytelling begins
• The kids have reached cookie-powered hyperdrive
• Your spouse is in peak holiday stress mode
• Someone suggests “just one” family photo

Stock it with:

• Your favorite snack
• Headphones or earbuds
• A cozy blanket or hoodie
• A book or magazine
• A phone charger
• A backup gift
• Batteries (for everything)
• A candle or diffuser

Will this fix your heater? No.

Will it protect your sanity until January? Absolutely.

Need Help Getting Holiday Ready? Empower Has You Covered.

Whether you need an HVAC tune up, an electrical safety check or a roof inspection before the decor goes up, Empower Home Services is here to help your home stay merry, bright and running smoothly all season long.

 Empower Home Services is available by phone at (866) 499-6460, or you can always send us a message online.