As the weather cools and the holidays start creeping onto the calendar, our homes get busier — more heaters running, more candles lit, more lights strung up outside. It's a cozy season, but it's also when small safety habits matter most. At Smith's Plumbing, Heating & Air, we've spent years helping Memphis-area families keep their homes safe and comfortable, and this time of year always brings the same handful of hazards. Here's your simple checklist to cover them all.
A heating emergency won't wait for business hours. If your furnace is acting up, smells off, or won't kick on at all, don't risk it — fill out our online contact form or call (901) 290-1110 now.
Safe Heating Practices
Your heating system works harder this time of year, and a few habits go a long way toward keeping it running safely:
- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, bedding, and anything else flammable.
- Never leave a space heater running unattended or overnight.
- Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet — not an extension cord or power strip.
- Have your furnace professionally inspected before you're relying on it every day. A quick emergency heating check now can catch a problem before it becomes a no-heat night.
Candle Safety for the Holiday Stretch
Candles make a home feel festive, but they're also one of the most common causes of household fires this time of year. Keep it simple:
- Trim wicks to a quarter-inch before lighting to reduce flare-ups.
- Keep candles on a stable, heat-safe surface, away from decorations, curtains, and anything else that burns.
- Never leave a lit candle unattended, and blow it out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Consider flameless LED candles for mantels, tables, or anywhere little hands (or curious pets) can reach.
Check Your CO and Smoke Detector Batteries
This is the easiest item on the list, and one of the most important. As heaters and fireplaces come back into regular use, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are your first line of defense.
- Test every detector in your home and replace batteries that are more than a year old.
- Replace any detector unit itself if it's more than seven to ten years old (check the manufacturer date on the back).
- Make sure you have at least one CO detector on every level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
- Set a reminder to test them again each time the season changes — it takes two minutes and could save a life.
Best Practices for Holiday Lighting
Stringing up lights is one of the best parts of the season, but outdoor and indoor lighting comes with its own set of risks:
- Inspect strands for frayed wires, exposed metal, or cracked sockets before hanging them, and toss any that look worn.
- Use outdoor-rated lights outside and indoor-rated lights inside — they're not interchangeable.
- Don't link more than three strands of standard lights together, and use outlets with ground-fault protection outdoors.
- Turn lights off before bed or when you leave the house. A timer makes this effortless.
Let Us Help Keep Your Home Safe This Season
A little prevention now means a lot less worry later. If any part of this checklist turns up a concern in your home — a furnace that needs a look, flickering lights, or anything else that doesn't feel quite right — the team at Smith's Plumbing, Heating & Air is here to help. Reach out through our online contact form or give us a call at (901) 290-1110, and we'll make sure your home is ready for everything the season brings.