Smart Home Readiness Checklist Before the Holidays

The holiday season brings more than decorations, family gatherings, and colder weather. It also brings new technology into our homes. From smart thermostats and video doorbells to automated lighting, security cameras, gaming systems, and voice-controlled devices, today's households rely on more connected technology than ever before.

But before adding new smart devices or plugging in another set of holiday lights, it is worth asking an important question: Is your home's electrical system ready to handle everything?

For homeowners in New London, Oshkosh, Appleton, and throughout Northeast Wisconsin, preparing for the holidays is an excellent opportunity to evaluate electrical safety, improve energy efficiency, and make sure your home can support modern technology.

Ebert Electric helps homeowners prepare for these upgrades with professional residential electrical services, including electrical panel improvements, outlet installation, lighting upgrades, surge protection, and smart home integrations.

1. Check Your Electrical Panel Before Adding More Devices

Your electrical panel is the foundation of your home's electrical system. While many smart devices use relatively little electricity, the combined demands of holiday lighting, kitchen appliances, electric heating equipment, entertainment systems, and newer household technology can expose existing electrical limitations.

Older homes throughout Northeast Wisconsin may have electrical panels that were installed long before today's technology became common.

Signs that your electrical panel needs attention include:

• Circuit breakers that trip frequently
• Lights that flicker or dim when appliances start
• A panel with no available breaker spaces
• Outdated wiring or electrical components
• Buzzing sounds or unusual heat around electrical equipment
• Plans to add high-demand equipment, such as an EV charger or electric heating system

A professional electrical evaluation can determine whether your current system is adequate or whether an upgrade makes sense.

Ebert Electric previously explored this issue in its article, Smart Home Wiring: Is Your Electrical Panel Ready for Automation?, which explains why electrical infrastructure matters when integrating modern technology.

2. Prepare Outlets for Smart Devices and Holiday Decorations

Think about how many devices will be plugged in during the holidays.

Your living room might have a television, streaming device, gaming system, smart speaker, and decorative lighting. Your kitchen may be running several appliances during holiday meals. Bedrooms and home offices may have additional charging stations for new electronics.

When outlets are limited, homeowners often turn to extension cords and overloaded power strips.

Instead, consider adding outlets where they are actually needed.

Popular locations for additional outlets include:

• Behind entertainment centers
• Near home office desks
• Around kitchen counters
• In bedrooms and charging areas
• Near Christmas tree locations
• In garages and workshops
• Along exterior walls for outdoor decorations

Smart outlets and USB-equipped receptacles can also provide convenient charging and device control without cluttering your rooms with adapters.

Professional outlet and switch installation can make your home more functional while reducing dependence on extension cords.

3. Upgrade to Smart Lighting Before Holiday Gatherings

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to make a home feel more modern and comfortable.

Smart lighting systems allow homeowners to control lights through mobile apps, schedules, sensors, or compatible voice assistants.

During the holiday season, this technology can be especially useful.

Imagine having your exterior lights turn on automatically at sunset, your living room lights dim during a movie, or your entryway illuminate when guests arrive.

Smart lighting upgrades worth considering include:

• Wi-Fi-enabled light switches
• Smart dimmers
• Motion-activated hallway lighting
• Automated exterior lighting
• LED recessed lighting
• Programmable lighting schedules
• Smart security lighting

For Northeast Wisconsin homeowners, lighting automation can also improve convenience during winter's shorter days.

Before choosing smart switches, verify that your existing wiring is compatible. Some smart switches require neutral conductors, and not every older electrical box has the necessary wiring.

Ebert Electric offers professional lighting installation and upgrades to help homeowners improve both convenience and efficiency.

4. Protect Your Smart Devices From Power Surges

Smart home technology can represent a significant investment.

Between televisions, computers, gaming consoles, routers, security systems, smart appliances, and HVAC controls, many homes contain thousands of dollars in sensitive electronics.

Unfortunately, power surges can damage these devices.

Surges may result from lightning, utility switching, electrical faults, or other disturbances.

A whole-home surge protective device installed at the appropriate electrical equipment can help reduce damage from certain voltage spikes.

For additional protection, homeowners should consider quality point-of-use surge protectors for sensitive electronics.

Devices worth protecting include:

• Smart televisions
• Computers and gaming systems
• Internet routers and networking equipment
• Smart thermostats
• Security cameras
• Smart home control hubs
• Connected appliances

Whole-home surge protection works best as part of a layered approach and cannot guarantee protection against every electrical event.

Learn more about protecting your electronics in Ebert Electric's article, Surge Protection: Guarding Against Spring Lightning & Power Spikes.

5. Make Sure Your Smart Thermostat Is Winter-Ready

Wisconsin winters make heating reliability especially important.

Smart thermostats offer convenient features such as programmable schedules, remote temperature adjustments, and energy-use information.

Some models can automatically adjust temperatures based on household routines, helping reduce unnecessary heating when nobody is home.

Before installing a new smart thermostat, homeowners should check several important details.

First, confirm that the thermostat is compatible with the existing heating system.

Second, verify the available wiring. Many smart thermostats require a common wire, commonly called a C-wire, or an approved alternative power arrangement.

Finally, make sure the device has a reliable network connection and is configured correctly.

A smart thermostat can be a useful winter upgrade, but proper compatibility and installation matter more than the number of features advertised on the box.

6. Evaluate Your Wi-Fi and Smart Home Device Placement

Connected devices rely on dependable communication.

While Wi-Fi coverage itself is not an electrical wiring issue, the location of outlets and powered equipment can affect how well your smart home operates.

A router tucked into a crowded cabinet or a security camera installed far from reliable power may create unnecessary problems.

Consider whether your home has appropriate power access for:

• Internet routers and mesh Wi-Fi equipment
• Security camera systems
• Smart doorbells
• Home automation hubs
• Network switches
• Smart garage door equipment
• Home office networking devices

If you are renovating or planning a more advanced smart home system, consider adding properly located outlets and structured low-voltage wiring before walls are finished.

Planning ahead can improve the finished appearance and help avoid exposed cords and inconvenient equipment placement.

7. Prepare Outdoor Smart Technology for Wisconsin Winter

Outdoor smart technology has become increasingly popular.

Video doorbells, security cameras, smart floodlights, and automated holiday lighting can improve convenience and visibility around your property.

However, outdoor electrical installations must be suitable for winter conditions.

Snow, ice, moisture, and freezing temperatures can affect equipment and connections.

Before winter arrives, inspect:

• Exterior outlets and weatherproof covers
• Outdoor lighting fixtures
• Security camera power connections
• Smart doorbell wiring
• Garage and outbuilding outlets
• Extension cords used for seasonal decorations

Outdoor receptacles should have appropriate GFCI protection and weather-resistant equipment where required.

Never use indoor-only extension cords or power strips outdoors.

Homeowners who need additional exterior outlets or improved security lighting can contact Ebert Electric to discuss professionally installed solutions.

8. Consider Backup Power for Essential Connected Devices

Winter storms can cause power interruptions throughout Wisconsin.

When the electricity goes out, connected devices such as routers, smart home hubs, security equipment, and thermostats may stop functioning.

A battery backup system, also known as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), can keep certain smaller electronics running temporarily during an outage.

For homeowners who depend on internet-connected security systems, home offices, or critical networking equipment, battery backup may be worth considering.

For broader household protection, professionally installed generator systems can provide backup electricity to selected circuits or larger portions of a home, depending on system capacity.

A qualified electrician can help evaluate appropriate generator connections, transfer equipment, and essential electrical loads.

Keep in mind that battery backups and generators have different capabilities. Neither should be assumed to power an entire home without appropriate system sizing and installation.

9. Review Electrical Safety Before Holiday Decorating

Holiday decorations are enjoyable, but they also add temporary electrical loads and potential hazards.

Before decorating, inspect light strings, extension cords, and outlets for damage.

Use decorations that are listed by a recognized testing laboratory and follow manufacturer instructions regarding how many light strings can be connected.

Keep cords away from walkways, doorways, rugs, and heat sources.

Never plug extension cords into one another to reach a distant outlet, and avoid placing electrical connections where snow or water can collect.

If your home needs additional outlets for holiday displays, permanent electrical improvements are generally a better solution than relying on temporary cords year after year.

For households with younger children, Ebert Electric's Outlet Safety & Placement for Kids Heading Back to School article offers additional advice about outlet protection, cord placement, and safer charging areas.

10. Plan Future Smart Home Upgrades Before the New Year

The holidays often introduce homeowners to new smart devices, but the bigger opportunity is planning how everything will work together.

Instead of purchasing technology one device at a time, consider what you want your home to support over the next several years.

Future projects might include additional smart lighting, automated exterior security, EV charging, home office upgrades, electric heating equipment, or renovations.

Not every smart device requires new wiring or a larger electrical service. However, major electrical loads and extensive renovations deserve a professional evaluation.

Planning ahead allows homeowners to make improvements in a logical order and avoid unnecessary rework.

For a deeper look at electrical planning, read Ebert Electric's guide, Is It Time to Upgrade to a 200-Amp Service Panel?.

Your Pre-Holiday Smart Home Readiness Checklist

Before the holiday season gets busy, take a few minutes to review these important areas:

• Electrical panel: Check for frequent breaker trips or signs of electrical problems.
• Outlets: Make sure there are enough conveniently located receptacles.
• Smart lighting: Verify switch compatibility and consider automated controls.
• Surge protection: Protect sensitive home electronics.
• Thermostats: Confirm smart thermostat compatibility and winter settings.
• Networking equipment: Make sure routers and connected devices have dependable power.
• Outdoor technology: Inspect weatherproof outlets, lighting, and camera connections.
• Backup power: Consider battery backup for essential electronics.
• Holiday decorations: Inspect cords and lighting before installation.
• Future upgrades: Plan electrical improvements before adding major equipment.

Addressing electrical concerns before holiday gatherings can help keep your home safer, more comfortable, and ready for connected technology.

Get Your Northeast Wisconsin Home Ready for the Holidays With Ebert Electric

A smart home starts with a dependable electrical system.

Whether you are installing smart lighting, adding outlets, protecting electronics, upgrading your electrical panel, or preparing for future automation, having the right electrical infrastructure makes a difference.

Ebert Electric serves homeowners in New London, Omro, Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay, and surrounding Northeast Wisconsin communities with residential electrical installations, repairs, and upgrades.

Prepare your home before holiday gatherings and Wisconsin's coldest weather arrive.

Contact Ebert Electric today to discuss electrical upgrades, smart home readiness, and improvements that will help keep your household powered throughout the season.