If you are hosting this November, you know the drill: the kitchen is a war zone of flour, simmering stock, and constant motion. The oven is running at 375°F for hours, the stovetop is blazing, and the dishwasher is steaming away.
The result? The glorious smell of dinner, and a house that feels more like a sauna than a cozy fall retreat.
When the kitchen turns into a heat factory, the rest of your house suffers. Here’s why your HVAC system gets confused during the holidays and how you can make a few quick adjustments to keep the entire family comfortable—from the chef to the dinner guest.
The Great Heat Imbalance
Your furnace thermostat is typically located in a central hallway or living area. It’s designed to measure the average temperature of the house and trigger the heat when that average drops.
But when you’re cooking a massive meal, the kitchen can easily become 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the average. This spike in temperature often tricks the main thermostat into thinking the house is warm enough, causing the furnace to stop running entirely.
The unfortunate side effect? The kitchen is scorching hot, while the distant bedrooms and basement—which haven’t benefited from the oven heat—become uncomfortably cold.
4 Essential Adjustments for the Holiday Cook
You don’t need to choose between a perfectly cooked turkey and a comfortable house. A few simple steps can help your HVAC system keep up with the extra heat load.
1. Execute a Smart Thermostat Setback
This is your most effective tool. When you plan to have the oven on for more than an hour, lower your thermostat by 2 to 4 degrees.
For example, if you normally keep the house at 70°F, set it down to 66°F or 67°F. The excess heat generated by your appliances will keep the kitchen and surrounding rooms warm enough, while allowing the furnace to distribute a small amount of heat to the colder, peripheral areas as needed.
2. Put the Exhaust Fan to Work (The Right Way)
Your kitchen range hood fan is designed to do more than just suck up smoke; it’s an exhaust system that removes heat, moisture, and cooking odors directly outside.
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Turn it on before you start cooking and leave it running the entire time.
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If you have a large gathering, use your bathroom exhaust fans as well. These fans pull warm, stale, or moist air out of the house, which encourages the movement of fresh, cooler air in through drafts and openings. This provides crucial ventilation.
3. Change Your Air Filter Before Guests Arrive
All that cooking—baking, frying, roasting—adds airborne grease, steam, and particulates to your indoor air.
A clean air filter is essential for two reasons:
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Efficiency: A clean filter allows air to move freely, ensuring that the warm air your furnace does produce is delivered effectively.
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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): With the house sealed up against the November chill, a high-quality filter helps capture cooking residue and dust, keeping the air healthier for you and your guests.
4. Close Kitchen Vents (But Don’t Overdo It!)
If your kitchen is chronically overheating, you can temporarily close the heating supply vents in the kitchen and any adjoining, overheated rooms. This redirects the furnace’s limited output to the colder parts of the house that desperately need it.
🚨 A word of caution: Never close more than 20% of your home’s vents. Closing too many creates excessive pressure and can damage your furnace’s blower motor.
November and the holiday season mean high-demand for your heating system. By taking these steps, you’ll prevent overheating, minimize temperature swings, and reduce the chance of furnace strain. If you constantly struggle with uneven temperatures even when you aren’t cooking, give us a call! Your system might benefit from a simple HVAC tune-up to ensure optimal airflow and performance.
