How to Adjust Your Heating and Cooling System for Wildly Swinging Temperatures

Most people enjoy spring because the warm temperatures signal the return of summer. Then again, the change between spring and summer isn’t always easy. Depending on where your home is located, you might experience some wintery days intermingled with quite warm temperatures in a single week. This makes it difficult to regulate the temperature inside your home.

The issue of drastically changing temperatures—where it’s cool one day and warm the next—may leave you feeling puzzled about how to set the HVAC system. Should you keep the air conditioning on all night or change to heating for comfort the next morning? This very common issue doesn’t have just one answer. The secret to a comfortable, energy-efficient home is to adopt the right strategies until Mother Nature makes up her mind. Here are some easy-to-use tips and practices to best manage your HVAC system during fluctuating temperatures this spring.

Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat

Investing in a programmable or smart thermostat is one of the easiest moves you can make for your furnace and air conditioning system. In contrast to manual thermostats that offer limited control, programmable systems let you set your chosen temperatures based on your schedule and comfort needs. When you do this, you can conserve electricity while you’re out and about, with automatic recovery periods that resume a comfortable setting before you arrive back at your residence.

A smart thermostat is better still. One standout attribute is the ability to easily switch between heating and cooling modes. This advanced functionality makes fluctuating temperatures much easier to overcome. Smart thermostats equipped with this function have a unique heat/cool mode that quickly switches from your furnace to your air conditioner when it recognizes indoor temperature swings. This simply means that on a spring day that starts out cool and warms up by the afternoon, your HVAC can heat your home in the morning and cool it back down as the temperature rises, all by itself.

Establish a Temperature Everybody is Comfortable With

Finding your family’s ideal comfort zone is challenging when Mother Nature delivers temperature fluctuations. Preferably, you should maintain a temperature in the high 60s on cold days and high 70s on warmer days to achieve a balance between comfort and energy efficiency. Be sure to make modifications throughout the day based on real-time temperature changes—or set your smart thermostat to heat/cool mode and let it handle everything.

If the struggle over the thermostat continues even with your best efforts to keep everyone comfortable, it may be time to consider home zoning. This system combines numerous thermostats and ductwork dampers to get air where it’s needed most. Zoning is particularly beneficial in two-story homes and those with large windows. You can use zoning to keep your entire house at a more consistent temperature or let individuals to adjust the temperature in their area according to their comfort settings. For instance, Dad may well want a cooler atmosphere while he works in the home office, while the baby might require a warm, cozy nursery to nap in. In either case, zoning is the fix.

Wear Layered Clothing

In spring, it’s typical to wear jeans and a sweatshirt in the morning, followed by shorts and a tank top a few hours later. Wear layers so it’s convenient to stay comfy with an outfit change instead of having to make a thermostat adjustment. This raises your comfort and lowers your dependence on heating and cooling.

Open Windows and Run Fans

Take full advantage of mild spring temperatures to help get your home more comfortable. For instance, your furnace could run in the morning after a cool night, and continue running throughout the day as the temperature increases outside. Or, you could increase the temperature in your home naturally by opening the windows to let sunlight and a warm breeze into the residence. If your home starts to get too hot, close the windows and switch on ceiling fans to generate a wind chill effect. This may reduce the need to run your air conditioner.

Don’t Overlook HVAC Maintenance

Even if you utilize your heating and cooling system less in the spring, scheduled maintenance is still important to avoid unexpected repair visits. Here’s how to keep your heating and cooling equipment running properly:

• • Inspect the air filter monthly and change it when it is dirty.

• • Make sure the condensate drain is free-flowing.

• • Dust the air registers and make sure they’re all open and not covered by furniture, rugs or appliances.

• • Seal and insulate the ductwork.

• • Arrange duct cleaning.

• • Use a hose to wash off the outdoor AC unit, clear away any debris and trim back surrounding vegetation.

• • • Set up professional AC maintenance.

Your Comfort, Our Commitment

If you still have trouble adjusting your HVAC system to cope with up-and-down temperatures, turn to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, reliable solutions custom designed to resolve your comfort needs in the U.S.. Our devotion to excellence is apparent thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not extremely happy with our service, you can rely on the team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to make it right. For help solving your home comfort challenges, call us at 866-397-3787 today.