As we move from cooling season to heating season, it can be a little dicey at times figuring out whether we should run the air conditioner or the heating. Sometimes it’s warm and humid enough in the day to require some cooling, but at night, we might need the opposite. So does it harm the unit to use both when we’re transitioning seasons?
In general, it doesn’t hurt to use the cooling in the day and the heating at night, or vice versa, with one proviso. Whenever you have had the air conditioner on and you want to change the temperature or turn the heating on, leave it off for at least five minutes. That will allow the refrigerant pressure to equalize, so that the compressor doesn’t short cycle and possibly cause a fuse to blow.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips for transitioning seasons this fall:
1. Change the filter.The change of seasons is a perfect time to change the air filter. A dirty filter will cause your airflow to drag, and could lead to mechanical problems.
2. Check your vents. It’s a good idea to go through your home and make sure all the vents are unblocked by furniture, drapes or carpets so that the air can circulate freely. Also check dampers to make sure they are open. Closed dampers can cause a system imbalance.
3. Switch the fans. If you have reversible ceiling fans, make sure they are switched to run counterclockwise in the summer to circulate cool air better, and clockwise in the winter to push the heating down from the ceiling.
4. Clean the vents and grilles. Special equipment is needed to clean ducts, but you can vacuum vents and grilles to make sure they’re free of dust and dirt.
5. Schedule fall maintenance. Don’t run that furnace without having it checked out for proper operation this fall. Preventative maintenance can ensure it doesn’t break down, and discover carbon monoxide leaks.
For more on transitioning seasons with your HVAC, contact Arpi’s Industries. We have served Calgary for more than 50 years.
