New Year's Eve Home Safety Tips for Vancouver WA Homeowners

Prepare Your Home for New Year's Eve

Whether you are hosting a celebration, heading to a party, or staying in quietly, a few safety checks help you welcome 2026 without worry. December has been hard on Pacific Northwest homes. Take a moment to confirm everything is working before the festivities begin.

Test Your Smoke and CO Detectors

When did you last press the test button? Most homeowners cannot remember. New Year's Eve involves candles, cooking, and sometimes fireworks nearby. Working detectors are essential.

Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Replace batteries in any unit that does not respond immediately.

Check detector age. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, CO detectors every 5-7 years. The manufacture date is printed on the back.

After December's storms, power fluctuations may have affected battery backup systems. Test everything now.

Check Your Exterior Lighting

If you are hosting guests or arriving home late, good exterior lighting matters for safety. Walk around your home tonight and note:

Burned out bulbs at entry points, walkways, and driveways.

Motion sensor lights that may have been knocked out of alignment during recent storms.

Timer settings if you use automated lighting while away.

Well-lit homes deter break-ins and prevent slips on potentially icy walkways. Tonight's forecast shows temperatures dropping to 30°F, so frost is possible by morning.

If You Are Hosting

Guests mean more activity, more cooking, and more potential hazards. Quick preparation helps:

Clear walkways of any debris or ice. After the December storms, branches and leaves may still be scattered.

Check your fire extinguisher. Make sure it is accessible and the pressure gauge shows it is charged.

Know your water shutoff location in case of plumbing emergencies with extra guests using bathrooms.

Secure pets if they are nervous around crowds or fireworks.

If You Are Leaving Town

Leaving your home empty over New Year's requires extra attention:

Set your thermostat to at least 55°F to prevent pipe freezing. Temperatures will drop into the low 30s overnight.

Stop mail and packages or have a neighbor collect them.

Use light timers to make your home appear occupied.

Check gutters one more time. Clogged gutters that freeze can cause ice dams and fascia damage while you are away.

Tell a trusted neighbor your plans so someone watches for anything unusual.

Fireworks Safety

Clark County allows consumer fireworks on New Year's Eve from 9 PM to 1 AM. If you plan to celebrate with fireworks:

Never light fireworks indoors or near dry debris.

Keep water nearby for disposal.

Watch for embers landing on roofs or in gutters full of leaves.

Check your roof and yard the next morning for any debris or damage.

Start 2026 With a Safe, Well-Maintained Home

The best resolution you can make is keeping up with home maintenance in 2026. The homes that handled December's storms best were the ones with clean gutters, clear drainage, and proactive maintenance.

For professional gutter cleaning to start the new year right, contact Seasons Cleaning Services.

Happy New Year from our team to yours!