Much to the delight of hungry families and football fans, the big feast is right around the corner. That means a crowded house, lots of cooking, and possibly some bad jokes from your uncle.

Here are some tips to get through Thanksgiving with good food, happy guests, and no energy-related surprises.

Before the Big Day

• Schedule a furnace inspection. Have a licensed technician check your heating system, vents, and chimney before the season’s heaviest use, ideally a week or so before guests arrive.
• Service your gas appliances. Water heaters, fireplaces, ranges, and ovens work overtime during the holidays. Make sure they’re ready.
• Test carbon monoxide detectors. With ovens, fireplaces, and heating systems all running at once, make sure your monitors are working before the party starts.
• Clear your outdoor meter. Rake leaves and clear any mulch or overgrown plants.

Hosting a Full House

• Adjust your thermostat. Body heat from guests plus a busy oven can increase indoor temperatures. Consider lowering the thermostat a few degrees before the living room turns into a sauna.
• Switch your ceiling fans to clockwise. At low speed, they push warm air pooled at the ceiling down into the room. Added bonus: no thermostat wars with grandma.
• Clear space around vents and returns. Keep furniture, decorations, and folding chairs away from vents so warm air can circulate.

In the Kitchen: Cooking Safety and Efficiency

• Stay in the kitchen. An unattended stove can be a fire hazard. Keep eyes on your cooking. (It’s also a good excuse to hide out from any annoying relatives.)
• Keep flammables clear. Keep the fire in the fireplace. Make sure potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, and paper towels get nowhere near your fireplace or stove burners.
• Avoid burns. Turn pot handles inward so they aren’t bumped by a passing elbow or a very excited dog.
• Max out the oven. Your oven can multitask better than most of your guests. Bake multiple dishes at once and skip preheating when you can.

If You’re Traveling

• Set your water heater to vacation mode. It cuts back on energy use while you’re gone. Just remember to reset it when you return unless you want to experience a cold plunge.
• Never turn on a gas meter yourself. If your gas is shut off for any reason while you’re away, call UniSource so that one of our employees can come out, inspect it and restore service.

Know the Signs, Know What to Do

• Natural gas is odorized to smell like rotten eggs. If you smell it, a gas leak might have dealt it. Leave your house immediately and call 911 as well as your local utility.
• Watch for dead vegetation or discolored soil near a gas line. These signs can signal a leak even without an odor.
• Doing a little holiday landscaping? Call 811 at least 48 to 72 hours before you dig, no matter how small the project.
• Never move gas appliances yourself. Call a licensed technician instead.

A little prep goes a long way. Check your appliances, watch the stove, and know the smell of a leak. That way, the biggest drama of the day will be arguing over the last slice of pie.