Living in the Bay Area has many wonderful perks, including beautiful landscapes and proximity to mountains and beaches. However, with these benefits come the California winters and springs, where temperatures rise throughout the warm and sunny days only to drop significantly with the evening chill that lasts through the morning.
While wearing lots of layers may increase your comfort during these inconsistent temperatures, many homeowners also adjust their thermostats. You can run your AC and heating system on the same day, but you need to do so properly to avoid unnecessary strain on your system.
How To Properly Switch Between Heating & Cooling Modes
Learning to properly change your thermostat from heating to cooling and vice versa is necessary to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. Here’s how you do it:
- Start by ensuring that your thermostat is set to AUTO.
- Ensure that the system is not in the middle of a cycle. If it is, allow it to finish the current cycle.
- Switch your thermostat to OFF and wait for at least five minutes.
- Turn on the system you want to run.
- Gradually raise or lower the temperature one to two degrees at a time.
Switching from cooling to heating or heating to cooling this way limits the strain on the system.
What You Shouldn’t Do When Switching Between Heating & Cooling
If you attempt to shift between systems too quickly, your compressor can lock up. Resist the temptation to crank your thermostat up or down, thinking this will quickly give you the warmth or coolness you need. All this will do is strain your unit.
When you’re switching between heating and cooling on the same day:
- Don’t stop the current cycle that your system is running or adjust the thermostat to end the cycle prematurely
- Don’t switch to a new system immediately after a cycle ends without waiting
- Don’t set the new temperature much higher or lower than the current temperature in the hopes of speeding up the process
Call AIS for HVAC Maintenance Today
To ensure that your HVAC system is ready for whatever the California weather throws your way, trust the experts at AIS Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re the Bay Area’s premier family-owned and locally operated HVAC company with a reputation for exceptional customer service.
Whether you rely on an air conditioner and furnace, ductless mini-split, or heat pump, annual tune-ups will increase your system’s efficiency and lengthen its life span so you can continue to keep your home comfortable for many years to come.
Call AIS today at (510) 792-4328 or contact us online to schedule HVAC maintenance today. Ask about our maintenance plan for additional savings and benefits!
