The holidays are supposed to be filled with warmth, joy and family gatherings—not frozen pipes, furnace failures and overflowing toilets. But every December, homeowners across the Triangle, and Sandhills regions of North Carolina, and Hampton Roads and Richmond Virginia areas face preventable HVAC issues and plumbing emergencies that turn holiday vibes into added seasonal stress.
We’re breaking down the 12 most common holiday home comfort fails and showing you exactly how to avoid them. Think of it as our gift to you—minus the awkward family photo card.
Why December brings more HVAC issues and plumbing emergencies.
Simply put, the holiday season puts extra strain on your home systems. You’re hosting guests, cooking elaborate meals, running the heat constantly and using more water than usual. All of this creates the perfect storm for system failures right when you need everything working perfectly.
The 12 Fails of Christmas.
1. The furnace that quit on Christmas Eve.
Nothing ruins holiday magic faster than waking up to a cold house on Christmas morning. Furnaces work overtime in December, and without proper maintenance, they’re prone to breakdowns during the coldest days.
How to avoid it: Schedule your annual furnace inspection before the holiday rush hits. Our HVAC technicians will check your heat exchanger, clean burners and ensure everything’s running efficiently. Don’t wait until you hear strange noises or smell burning odors—by then, you’re already in trouble.
2. Frozen pipes that burst during your New Year’s party.
When temperatures drop below freezing, exposed pipes in attics, crawl spaces and exterior walls are vulnerable. A burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and leave you without running water.
How to avoid it: Insulate exposed pipes, keep cabinet doors open under sinks during cold snaps and maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home. If you’re traveling for the holidays, never set your thermostat below 55 degrees. Better yet, have Bell Cow inspect your plumbing before winter weather arrives.
3. The garbage disposal that gave up mid-feast.
Turkey bones, potato peels, celery strings and grease—holiday cooking produces everything your garbage disposal hates. Overloading it with the wrong foods during meal prep is a recipe for clogs and mechanical failure.
How to avoid it: Never put fibrous vegetables, grease, bones or expandable foods like rice down your disposal. Run cold water while using it and keep it running for 15 seconds after you turn off the disposal. When in doubt, throw it out—in the trash, not down the drain.
4. The clogged toilet during a house full of guests.
Few things are more embarrassing than having your only bathroom out of commission when you’ve got 15 relatives over for dinner. Extra guests mean extra bathroom use, which often reveals underlying drainage issues.
How to avoid it: Before hosting, make sure all toilets are flushing properly. Keep a plunger handy in each bathroom. Warn guests not to flush anything except toilet paper. If you’ve got older plumbing or frequently experience slow drains, schedule a drain camera inspection to catch problems before they become holiday disasters.
5. The thermostat wars that overworked your HVAC system.
Everyone has a different idea of the perfect temperature. When guests start adjusting your thermostat every five minutes, your HVAC system works harder, cycles more frequently and wears out faster.
How to avoid it: Set your thermostat to a comfortable middle ground (around 68-70 degrees) and politely ask guests to grab a sweater or blanket instead of changing the temperature. Consider a programmable or smart thermostat that you can lock or adjust remotely.
6. The water heater that ran cold mid-shower.
Extra guests mean extra showers, extra laundry and extra dishes—all of which drain your hot water faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. Running out of hot water is uncomfortable for everyone and can indicate your water heater is undersized or failing.
How to avoid it: If you’re expecting a full house, consider lowering the temperature on your water heater slightly (to avoid scalding) but check that it’s heating properly before guests arrive. If your family regularly runs out of hot water, it might be time to upgrade to a larger tank or tankless water heater.
7. The kitchen sink that backed up during dinner prep.
Cooking big holiday meals means peeling vegetables, washing dishes and putting your kitchen plumbing through the wringer. When your sink backs up mid-meal prep, everything comes to a halt.
How to avoid it: Never pour grease down your drain—it solidifies in pipes and creates stubborn clogs. Use sink strainers to catch food particles. If your drains are already slow, schedule professional drain cleaning before the holidays instead of waiting for a complete backup.
8. The air filter that nobody remembered to change.
A dirty air filter restricts airflow, which makes your furnace work harder and reduces indoor air quality right when you need it most. With a house full of people, poor air circulation means stuffiness, odors and potential system strain.
How to avoid it: Check your HVAC filter monthly during winter and replace it when it looks dirty—usually every one to three months depending on your system and household. It’s the simplest maintenance task that makes the biggest difference in your system’s efficiency.
9. The emergency service call that cost double on Christmas Day.
Nobody plans to have a plumbing emergency or HVAC breakdown on a holiday. But when systems fail on December 25th, emergency service rates are significantly higher than scheduling preventative maintenance in November.
How to avoid it: Invest in preventative maintenance before the holidays. Bell Cow’s HVAC Service Agreements include regular tune-ups that catch small issues before they become expensive emergencies. A little planning now saves you from costly crisis calls later.
10. The carbon monoxide scare that evacuated your holiday dinner.
Cracked heat exchangers, blocked vents and malfunctioning furnaces can all lead to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. During winter when homes are sealed tight, CO buildup is a serious risk.
How to avoid it: Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and test them monthly. Have your furnace and heat exchanger inspected annually. Never ignore warning signs like yellow pilot light flames, soot buildup or unexplained headaches and nausea.
11. The ductwork leak that wasted heat and money.
Leaky or poorly sealed ductwork means heated air escapes before reaching your rooms. You’re paying to heat your attic and crawl space instead of your living areas—and your energy bills reflect it.
How to avoid it: Have your ductwork inspected for leaks, gaps and insufficient insulation. Professional duct sealing improves efficiency, lowers energy bills and keeps your home consistently comfortable—exactly what you need when hosting holiday guests.
12. The “I’ll deal with it after the holidays” approach that made everything worse.
The biggest fail of all? Ignoring warning signs because you’re too busy with holiday planning. Strange noises, inconsistent temperatures, slow drains and rising energy bills don’t fix themselves—they get worse.
How to avoid it: Act fast when you notice problems. Small issues become big emergencies if left unaddressed. A quick service call now prevents a holiday disaster later.
Don’t let home comfort issues ruin your holidays.
The best gift you can give yourself this season is peace of mind. Schedule your preventative HVAC maintenance and plumbing inspection before the holiday rush hits. Bell Cow’s certified technicians will make sure your home systems are ready to handle whatever December throws at them.
From all of us at Bell Cow, we wish you a warm, comfortable and stress-free holiday season. And if something does go wrong? We offer emergency service—because home comfort issues don’t take holidays.
Call or text (844) 234-2355 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule your pre-holiday inspection, and learn more about our HVAC Service Agreements and plumbing maintenance plans.