String lights go up, the tree finds its spot in the living room, and suddenly your home looks like something out of a holiday movie. It’s the best time of year… until your heating system decides it’s had enough. Between the extra decorations, increased foot traffic, and all those little touches that make the season special, your HVAC system is working harder than you might realize. And sometimes, without meaning to, we make its job a whole lot harder.
Most people don’t think about their furnace or heat pump until something goes wrong. A cold blast of air when you’re expecting warmth. Odd sounds coming from the vents. Or worse, a complete breakdown right when you’ve got a house full of guests. The good news? Most of these problems are avoidable if you know what to watch for.
That Tree Might Be Too Close to the Heat
You’ve found the perfect spot for your tree. It anchors the room, looks great from every angle, and fits all your ornaments. There’s just one problem: it’s right next to the heating vent, the baseboard heater, or dangerously close to the fireplace.
Live trees are beautiful, but they’re also highly flammable once they start drying out. Keep them at least three to four feet away from any heat source. It’s not just about fire risk. Those dried needles that fall off? They get sucked into your vents, clog your air filter, and can even mess with internal components you’d rather not have to repair.
If you’re using an artificial tree, double-check that it’s labeled flame-resistant. Fake doesn’t automatically mean fireproof. And if you’ve got a real tree, fill that stand with water every single day. It’ll stay fresher longer, drop fewer needles, and be far less likely to become a safety hazard.
Decorations and Heat Don’t Mix
Stockings by the fireplace are tradition. Presents stacked near the radiator? Not so much. Paper, fabric, cardboard, ribbon… all of it can catch fire if it gets too close to a heat source. It’s one of those things that feels harmless until it isn’t.
Space heaters are another culprit. They’re great for warming up a chilly room, but they need clearance. No blankets draped over them, no gift wrap within arm’s reach, and definitely no holiday decor piled nearby. Same goes for candles. Real flames near air vents or your thermostat can cause soot buildup, mess with temperature readings, and lower your air quality fast.
Switch to battery-operated candles if you want the glow without the worry. They last longer, don’t drip wax, and won’t trip any smoke alarms or confuse your heating system.
Your Outdoor Unit Needs Space Too
It’s easy to forget about the condenser sitting outside when you’re focused on making the inside look festive. But wrapping it in lights, surrounding it with inflatables, or tucking it behind a plywood Santa sleigh is a bad move.
Your HVAC system needs about three feet of clearance on all sides to function properly. Anything closer can block airflow, freeze in place, or get pulled into the fan. Even though the unit is built to handle weather, it’s not designed to deal with tangled extension cords or foam snowmen.
If you’ve got kids or pets who might be curious, consider putting up a small temporary barrier. Just make sure it doesn’t crowd the unit itself.
Blocked Vents Are Everywhere During the Holidays
This happens in almost every home. The tree goes in front of the floor vent. A wreath covers the wall-mounted return. Gifts pile up next to the register. You don’t realize it’s a problem until one room feels like an icebox while the rest of the house is fine.
Vents and registers are how heated air moves through your home. Block them, and your system has to work harder to compensate. That means higher energy bills, uneven temperatures, and more wear on your equipment.
Your thermostat also needs breathing room. Drape it in garland or place a lamp too close, and it’ll think the room is warmer than it really is. That causes your system to shut off early, leaving you cold and forcing it to cycle on and off more often than it should.
Before you settle on your layout, walk through and check. Are the vents clear? Does the thermostat have at least a foot of open wall space? Small adjustments now save you from big headaches later.
Change Your Filter After You Decorate
Pulling boxes out of storage releases a cloud of dust you didn’t know was there. Add extra people, more cooking, and a few scented candles, and your air filter is working overtime. A clogged filter makes your system strain, drives up your energy bill, and shortens the life of your furnace or heat pump.
Once you’ve finished decorating and things have settled, swap out the filter. If you’ve got pets or anyone with allergies in the house, you might want to upgrade to a higher-efficiency filter or change it more often through the winter.
It’s a five-minute task that makes a real difference in how well your system performs.
Some Decorations Are Worse Than Others
Tinsel, glitter garlands, and canned fake snow might look festive, but they’re terrible for your HVAC system. They shed tiny particles that get pulled into air returns, clog filters, coat fan blades, and lower your indoor air quality.
Spray-on snow is especially bad. It releases chemicals into the air that get sucked straight into your ductwork if your system is running. If something smells strongly of plastic or chemicals when you open the box, think twice before putting it up.
Stick with decorations that don’t shed, and look for labels like “non-toxic” or “low VOC.” Your lungs (and your HVAC system) will appreciate it.
Don’t Ignore Your Safety Detectors
More cooking, more candles, more heating… it all adds up to a higher risk of smoke or carbon monoxide issues. But if your detectors are blocked by decorations, they might not alert you when something’s wrong.
Walk through your home and check every smoke and CO detector. Make sure nothing is covering the vents on these devices. Test them while you’re at it, and replace the batteries if it’s been more than six months.
Carbon monoxide doesn’t smell or make noise. If your furnace has a crack in the heat exchanger or if your flue gets blocked, CO can build up silently. A working detector is the only way you’ll know there’s a problem before it’s too late.
Keep the Flue and Fuel Lines Clear
If your heating system vents through a flue pipe or runs on propane or oil, those access points need to stay clear. It’s easy to hang lights on a pipe or place an inflatable too close without thinking about it.
Never decorate the flue. Keep yard decor several feet away from exhaust vents and fuel tank access points. Snow drifts can block these too, so check them regularly throughout the season.
If you have a fuel delivery scheduled, make sure the driver can still reach your tank. Blocked access can delay service, and running out of fuel in the middle of winter is not a fun problem to solve.
Schedule Maintenance Before the Rush
The smartest thing you can do for your HVAC system this season is to have it checked before the holidays really kick in. A technician can spot small issues, test for carbon monoxide, clean the outdoor unit, and make sure everything is running safely and efficiently.
Winter is when HVAC companies get slammed with emergency calls. Holiday breakdowns are expensive, stressful, and completely avoidable with a little preventive care.
Even if your system seems fine, an inspection gives you peace of mind. You’ll know your furnace or heat pump is ready to handle cold weather, crowded rooms, and long nights of celebration.
Final Thoughts
Your holiday decorations should make your home feel warm and inviting—not put your heating system at risk. A few simple adjustments go a long way toward keeping everything running smoothly.
If you haven’t scheduled your winter maintenance yet, don’t wait. Call us today at (903) 455-5662 and let’s make sure your system is ready for whatever the season brings. You’ve got enough to worry about without adding HVAC problems to the list.