Thanksgiving is upon us, and you may be hosting friends and family for a holiday gathering this week (or perhaps later in the holidays). That can have a subtle yet undeniable impact on your HVAC system — rarely an emergency, but certainly something that you can mitigate to lower costs and help your home be as comfortable as possible for your guests. Here in Beaverton, OR, temperatures are falling by the day, and it’s likely to be fairly cold once Turkey Day arrives. Here are a few tips to help make your home the perfect environment for your get-together.
Set the Temperature a Little Lower
If you’re cooking in the kitchen, the oven is going to generate added levels of heat. You’re also going to get a lot of heat from multiple people in a comparatively small space. That can help your heating system out, but if you’re running your heater, it might start to feel stuffy. Set it a few degrees cooler than you normally would when you start cooking. That will help balance the temperature with the circumstances.
Watch Out for High Humidity
Humidity levels tend to go up when lots of people gather: our breath sends moisture into the air that won’t evaporate in the warmth of a well-heated home. If you have a whole-house dehumidifier, you might consider running it for 20-30 minutes before your guests arrive. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, run the air conditioning for the same amount of time. It will do much the same thing.
Keep an Eye on Local Conditions
The weather in Oregon can vary quite a bit, and things may be warmer or colder on Turkey Day than you expect. Be prepared to make little adjustments 5o your HVAC system in light of those prevailing trends.
Call The Clean Air Act, Inc. today for repairs or maintenance on your heating system before the big day arrives!