diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 4dcd44a574..6d7ae564e8 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -224,8 +224,14 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     }
   }
 
-  // Clear the vector (reset size to 0, keep capacity)
-  void clear() { size_ = 0; }
+  // Clear the vector (destroy all elements, reset size to 0, keep capacity)
+  void clear() {
+    // Manually destroy all elements
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < size_; i++) {
+      data_[i].~T();
+    }
+    size_ = 0;
+  }
 
   // Shrink capacity to fit current size (frees all memory)
   void shrink_to_fit() {
@@ -244,17 +250,34 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     }
   }
 
-  /// Construct element in place and return reference
+  /// Add element by move without bounds checking
   /// Caller must ensure sufficient capacity was allocated via init()
-  T &emplace_back() {
+  /// Silently ignores pushes beyond capacity (no exception or assertion)
+  void push_back(T &&value) {
     if (size_ < capacity_) {
-      return data_[size_++];
+      // Use placement new to move-construct the object in pre-allocated memory
+      new (&data_[size_]) T(std::move(value));
+      size_++;
     }
-    // Should never happen with proper init() - return last element to avoid crash
-    return data_[capacity_ - 1];
   }
 
-  /// Access last element
+  /// Emplace element without bounds checking - constructs in-place
+  /// Caller must ensure sufficient capacity was allocated via init()
+  /// Returns reference to the newly constructed element
+  /// Silently ignores emplaces beyond capacity (returns reference to last element)
+  T &emplace_back() {
+    if (size_ < capacity_) {
+      // Use placement new to default-construct the object in pre-allocated memory
+      new (&data_[size_]) T();
+      size_++;
+      return data_[size_ - 1];
+    }
+    // Beyond capacity - return reference to last element to avoid crash
+    return data_[size_ - 1];
+  }
+
+  /// Access last element (no bounds checking - matches std::vector behavior)
+  /// Caller must ensure vector is not empty (size() > 0)
   T &back() { return data_[size_ - 1]; }
   const T &back() const { return data_[size_ - 1]; }