“Christmas is on its way—lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved.”
If you’re a movie fan, then you’ll recognize this quote by Ralphie Parker from A Christmas Story. Of course, it is a glorious time of the year, and not just for kids but homeowners, too. ‘Tis the season for transforming your home’s living space into a cozy, warm, glowing, twinkling, wonderland.
Decorating for the holidays is one of the greatest joys of the season. But there are other traditions we find great joy in, too—like rewatching our favorite Christmas movies every year. And this got us thinking. Many of the timeless classics we continue to watch have taught us a great deal about homeownership. They’ve taught us what to do, and what not to do, especially during this time of year.
So, as our gift to you, we’re taking a trip down candy cane movie memory lane. And sharing what we’ve learned (and applied) from watching some of the greatest classics of all time.
10 Lessons We’ve Learned from Classic Christmas Movies
Grab your popcorn, a mug of hot cocoa, the remote, and snuggle onto the couch. We’re headed to the movies!
A Christmas Story
There are many lessons to take away from A Christmas Story—and scheduling regular HVAC maintenance to avoid unwanted furnace repair is just one of them. Throughout this movie, the Old Man regularly wrestles with and curses his furnace. If he’d just called for emergency HVAC repair, he could’ve avoided all that profanity and yelling of “It’s a clinker!”
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
We’re hoping you don’t have a “Cousin Eddie” in your family. But if you do, keep them far from your plumbing; otherwise you’re likely to need an emergency plumber! When family visits for the holidays, it’s a good idea to test all toilets, faucets, sinks, and maybe even your sewer before their stay. You don’t want anything, uhm, getting full.
It’s a Wonderful Life
When George Bailey was angry over Uncle Billy misplacing his money, he took some of his frustrations out on his house. He complained that it was a “drafty old house” and it felt like “living in a refrigerator.” Well, it was an old house, but it was nothing some decent insulation or proper furnace repair couldn’t have taken care of. Of course, none of that mattered to George once he learned what life would’ve been like without him.
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty knew the sun was hot that day. And if he didn’t find the right temperature, he’d surely melt away. Without professional HVAC maintenance, your home can also get too warm and stuffy. To keep your home just right, always schedule HVAC maintenance, especially around the holidays when friends and family visit.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa found a lifesaver in Rudolph when he learned he had a nose so bright it could guide his sleigh at night. After all, there’s nothing worse than a power outage or blackout around the holidays. If you’ve had trouble with breakers tripping or lights flickering, take a page out of Santa’s book and look for some lighting/electrical help. While we can’t send Rudolph, ARS is available for electrical services seven days a week!
The Holiday
While maybe a lesser-known holiday film, The Holiday tells the story of two women (one American and one British), who swap homes for the holidays. Sure, that sounds lovely and all, but before making such a switch, we hope they scheduled a home heating tune-up prior to that switch! If not, the frustration of calls across the pond for furnace repair could easily have ruined The Holiday.
Home Alone
Kevin McCallister certainly couldn’t have outwitted the Wet Bandits if his home wasn’t outfitted with electrical timers. Let this be a reminder to anyone who travels over the holidays. For safety reasons, a professionally installed electrical panel and preset lighting timers are a great way to keep your home protected while you’re away.
A Christmas Carol
In Charles Dickens’ time, fireplaces were the main source of heat. And if you recall, A Christmas Carol’s Ebenezer Scrooge was often depicted in front of his fireplace as he grumbled his humbugs. But who really knows how safe his fireplace was back then? These days, if you have a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to schedule annual chimney cleaning to prevent fire hazards—and humbugs.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
While A Charlie Brown Christmas explains the true meaning of Christmas, it also shows us how far a little TLC can go. Whether it’s a tiny tree or a tiny house, it shows how providing a little tender loving can make something shine. Be good to your home’s heating system this season. Change air filters, schedule maintenance, and care for it properly.
Die Hard
Yes, it is a Christmas movie. And if it tells us anything, it’s that you should not go to the coast, not get together, and not have a few laughs. Instead, stay home during the holidays and steer clear of Nakatomi Plaza! If you do find yourself trapped in an air vent, however, best to make sure it’s clean. Many of our branches can help with duct cleaning.
Bonus Movie: Love Actually
Ok, we’ll admit it. There isn’t much HVAC, plumbing, or electrical that we can relate to Love Actually. But we are fond of its feel-good theme. And so are many movie lovers around the world.
This holiday season, the entire ARS/Rescue Rooter family wishes you peace, love, and many more happy endings—just like in the movies.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!
