It's probably safe to say that most of us around the greater Kansas City area are happy to see winter go away. Spring is here, and snow and ice are a thing of the past. Everything is looking warmer and sunnier—except, of course, when it’s not.
For homeowners, especially those in Olathe and the rest of the Midwest, springtime is a period when the weather seems to constantly be changing its mind. We are ever adjusting the thermostat from heat to cool and back again. Temperatures may fluctuate from the 30s or 40s to the 60s or 70s—sometimes in the course of the same day. Some days are warm. Some days are cold. Some days are both, somehow.
This can make it difficult for our HVAC systems to keep up. Many of us may already have turned on the A/C for the first time this year, even while we’re also still cranking up the heater on cold days. We may have turned on the air conditioner at night to sleep comfortably, only to get out of bed midway through the night and turn on the furnace to warm things back up.
Is there a solution to this constant battle of heating and cooling? Well, yes and no. While there may not be any true solution to the weather shifts that come with springtime, there are things that you (and your friendly Olathe heating and coolingprofessional) can do to help make the situation a lot more bearable.
Install a programmable thermostat. Honestly, this is the answer to a lot of homeowners’ problems with constantly adjusting the thermostat around the house. We’ve talked before about the benefits of programmable thermostats. During spring and autumn particularly, when the temperatures are fluctuating so dramatically here in Olathe, they’re especially worth every penny! What’s more, programmable thermostats can save you money, too. They’re great for more than just keeping the house cozy and the utility bills down during powerfully fluctuating weather, though. They’ll also help put an end to “thermostat wars” as your family members stop adjusting and re-adjusting the thermostat settings throughout the day.
Agree on a temperature in the house. Speaking of those “thermostat wars,” it goes without saying that they’re bad for your utility bills, and they’re bad for your home’s HVAC system. Sure, some members of the family may like it a little warmer, and some may like it a little cooler, but if you possibly can, agree on a compromise temperature and don’t make too many adjustments throughout the day or night. Your home’s HVAC system works best when it’s keeping the house at a steady temperature rather than constantly turning on and off to heat it up or cool it down a few degrees. If you need some guidance, most experts recommend setting the temperature of living spaces around 70 degrees, while bedrooms are kept a little cooler.
Dress for the weather. And not just when you go outside! Don’t pack away all those warm winter clothes just yet. There’ll still be days (and nights) when they come in handy, and wearing them can save you on your energy bill. Rather than cranking up the thermostat, put on a warm sweater or wear socks or slippers around the house. Then, you can just take off layers as you warm up.
Bundle up at night. Most folks say that they stay fairly comfortable during the day, but they complain about being chilly at night. While slightly lower temperatures in the bedroom are a good idea for better sleep, you also don’t want to be too cold for comfort. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to rely on your furnace to keep you warm when it’s bedtime. Pile on some extra blankets and bundle up snug and warm. This is not only a very cozy way to turn in for the night, it’s also more easily adjusted as your temperature changes during the course of the evening.
Schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment. This one’s a no-brainer. You should have an HVAC service company come out to check up on your furnace and air conditioner twice a year anyway, and spring and autumn are ideal times because you’re switching over from furnace to A/C (and vice versa). Your HVAC system works hard all year long to keep your home warm and cool, and like any other mechanical device, it requires routine maintenance and regular care in order to continue operating efficiently. That’s where a seasonal maintenance appointment—say from Davenport Service Company—comes in!
Get out the fans and space heaters. While your HVAC system works hard, there’s no need to make it do all the heavy lifting. Just as you can use blankets to keep you warm at night and sweaters and other heavy clothes to help you stay cozy during the day, you can use fans and space heaters to supplement your furnace or air conditioner in whatever rooms you’re in. Whether it’s running the ceiling fan (remember to change the direction of the blades as the seasons change), bringing in portable fans to give your air conditioner a break, or utilizing a space heater for a room that you’re going to be spending time in when the weather is cold, you can make good use of these simple devices to help keep yourself comfortable without constantly adjusting the thermostat. Remember to only use space heaters sparingly, and always turn them off when you leave the room!
Got questions about how to stay warm and/or cool as the weather changes? Want to schedule that HVAC maintenance visit? Whatever you need, Davenport Service Company is here for you! We’ve been providing “Customer First” service as a heating and cooling professional in Olathe for more than thirty years, and we know all about the challenges that the changing seasons bring to your home’s HVAC system. Fortunately, we also know all about the solutions. Give us a call at 913-441-2222, and let’s schedule that HVAC system tune-up today!
