Is it ok to switch between Heat and AC

When do you switch your Air Conditioning to Heat....The Million Dollar Fall question when its still warm enough during the day that you don't need to have heat turned on yet and cold at night that you may as well just switch that heat on?

What is the most important thing when switching your AC and HEAT back and forth? The first and most important thing is to make sure that you let your unit complete its current cycle. (make sure your thermostat is set to AUTO and not ON) With the thermostat being set on AUTO it turns off when the house is at the preferred set temperature. When the AC cycle is complete, turn your thermostat OFF and wait five minutes. Then change it from AC to heat and turn it back on.

Best practices when switching your unit to heat or cool your house.

Things to keep in mind:

• Patience is a virtue: That five minute waiting period gives the refrigerant a chance to return to its starting pressure. If you turn it back on right away, the pressure is too high, which might cause the compressor to lock up. This can lead to a blown fuse or tripped breaker.

• Easy does it: When switching between heating and cooling your home, don’t make drastic changes all at once. Raise or lower the temperature a few degrees, then a few degrees more once it reaches that setting, then a few degrees more until you reach the perfect temp. This is the most efficient way to get where you want to be and prevents your system from overworking.

Know that your system is working a little bit harder when you’re switching  back and forth a lot. Not enough to justify freezing through a cold spell because you’re already switched to AC, but enough that you’ll want to make sure you don’t skip your preventative maintenance visit. Now is a great time to have your Ariana HVAC professional out to look over your system and ensure everything is in proper working order for the seasons ahead.