December Service Calls: Common Winter Problems and 17 Ways to Avoid Them

December is one of the busiest months of the year for service technicians, and December service calls increase significantly across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Cold weather increases furnace usage, holiday lights and space heaters put extra demand on electrical systems (sometimes leading to increased risk of fire), and freezing temperatures often lead to plumbing issues.

While we’re always happy to help when something goes wrong, many of these December service calls are preventable with a few simple preventative steps. Taking care of your home now can help you avoid costly repairs and uncomfortable surprises during the coldest time of the year.

HVAC December Service Calls: No Heat or Cold Air Issues

One of the most common December service calls we receive involves HVAC systems that aren’t producing heat or blowing cold air. There can be several causes behind this issue, including:

• Dirty air filters are restricting airflow
  
• A failing thermostat is preventing the furnace from running
  
• Ignitor problems
  
• General wear and tear from increased winter usage
  

When airflow is restricted, or components begin to fail, your system has to work harder, often leading to breakdowns when you need heat the most.

How to avoid it:

• Change your air filter regularly. Most manufacturers recommend replacing filters every 3–5 months, though homes with pets may need more frequent changes.
  
• Keep vents and returns clear to allow proper airflow.
  
• Schedule a professional HVAC tune-up before or during winter.
  

During a tune-up, technicians can test components, identify parts that may fail soon, and address small issues before they turn into no-heat emergencies.

Plumbing December Service Calls: Frozen Pipes, Clogs, and Water Heater Problems

Cold December temperatures make plumbing issues much more common, especially frozen pipes. Pipes located in crawlspaces, garages, exterior walls, or other unheated areas are particularly vulnerable. When pipes freeze, pressure builds up inside, often leading to burst pipes and water damage.

How to avoid frozen pipes:

• Insulate exposed pipes
  
• Use heat tape in colder areas
  
• Allow faucets to drip when temperatures drop below freezing
  
• Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around pipes
  

December is also a peak time for clogged kitchen drains due to holiday cooking and entertaining. Grease, food scraps, and starchy foods can harden and block pipes as they cool.

Prevention tip:

• Never pour grease down the drain
  
• Scrape food scraps into the trash
  
• Use sink strainers to catch debris
  

Water heaters are another system that sees increased demand in winter. With more guests and higher usage, older or poorly maintained water heaters may struggle to keep up.

How to avoid water heater issues:

• Schedule routine water heater maintenance, including tank flushing
  
• Flushing removes sediment buildup that reduces efficiency and capacity
  
• If hot water demand has increased, consider upgrading to a larger tank or a tankless system
  

Our licensed technicians can help with maintenance, repairs, or upgrades to ensure reliable hot water all winter long.

Electrical December Service Calls: Holiday Lights, Space Heaters, and Winter Outages

December brings festive decorations, but also increased electrical demand. One of the most common electrical calls we receive is tripping breakers caused by holiday lights. Plugging too many decorations into a single circuit can overload your electrical system, especially in older homes.

How to avoid breaker issues:

• Use LED holiday lights, which use significantly less power
  
• Spread decorations across multiple outlets and circuits
  
• Use GFCI-protected outlets for outdoor lighting

If your home has older or non-protected exterior outlets, professional outlet upgrades can improve safety and reduce the risk of breaker trips during the winter season.

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Winter storms and ice can also strain electrical systems. While some outages are unavoidable, homes with outdated wiring or stressed circuits may experience partial outages, sometimes affecting heating systems.

Prevention tip:

• Have your electrical system inspected
  
• Consider a whole-home generator as a backup power solution
  

Another common December service call involves space heaters. Older space heaters draw a large amount of power and can easily trip breakers, or worse, create fire hazards.

Space heater safety tips:

• Choose newer models with automatic safety shut-offs
  
• Plug heaters directly into wall outlets (never extension cords)
  
• Avoid using space heaters on overloaded circuits
  

Prevent Problems Before They Start

December is the month when small problems quickly turn into emergencies. Routine maintenance and a few proactive steps can help keep your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems running safely and efficiently throughout the winter.

If you’re unsure whether your home is winter-ready, scheduling a professional inspection can help identify potential issues before they become costly repairs.

Need Help Getting Your Home Ready for Winter?

Our experienced technicians are here to help keep your Lexington, KY home safe, warm, and comfortable all season long. Schedule your December service call online today before the holiday rush.