How All-Day Cooking Affects Your Heating & Cooling System (and How to Protect Your Home Comfort!)

Thanksgiving is one of the most memorable days of the year—a time for family, food, football, and all-day comfort inside your home. But while most homeowners are focused on the turkey, the pies, and the parade, very few realize that Thanksgiving cooking can put a surprising strain on their HVAC system. If you're hosting in Dothan, Headland, Ozark, Enterprise, Daleville, or anywhere in the Wiregrass, your heating and cooling system is working overtime behind the scenes to keep your home comfortable for guests.

At Eco Heating and Cooling (AL 15172), we want to help you enjoy a stress-free holiday. Here’s how all-day cooking impacts your HVAC system—and what you can do to avoid issues like uneven temperatures, poor indoor air quality, or heating system failure when it matters most. And remember: we are open for emergency HVAC service all Thanksgiving weekend, so you’re never stuck without heat or AC when guests are in your home.

How Thanksgiving Cooking Impacts Your HVAC System

1. Extra Heat From the Kitchen Can Throw Off Your Thermostat

When the oven is running for hours and multiple burners are going at once, your kitchen becomes one of the hottest spots in the house. Modern homes have centrally located thermostats, and if yours happens to be near the kitchen, all that excess heat can cause inaccurate readings.

This can make your HVAC system think the home is warmer than it really is—causing:

• Your heater to run less than it should

• Cold spots around the house

• Guests asking why it feels chilly everywhere except the kitchen

If you notice uneven heating during busy cooking hours, it’s likely due to your thermostat being influenced by kitchen temperatures.

2. Increased Humidity Makes Your HVAC System Work Harder

Boiling pots, simmering dishes, a full dishwasher, and a packed house all create extra humidity. Warm, moist air is harder to condition, which means your HVAC system has to work harder to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

If you’re using the air conditioner (which many Wiregrass homes still do during warmer Thanksgivings), excess humidity leads to:

• A muggy or sticky feeling indoors

• Higher energy use

• Longer AC cycles

• More strain on your system

If you’re using the heater, high humidity can make the home feel warmer than it actually is—causing guests to feel uncomfortable while your heating system cycles on and off unnecessarily.

3. More People in the Home = More Body Heat

If your house is full of friends and family, all those warm bodies add another heat source your HVAC system must compensate for. In smaller homes especially, temperature swings can become noticeable as the day goes on.

If you’re noticing inconsistent temperatures during the holidays, higher occupancy is a big reason why.

4. Cooking Releases Smoke, Grease, and Odors Into the Air

Your range hood does some of the work—but not all. Smoke, grease particles, and strong cooking odors circulate through the air and get pulled into your HVAC system. This impacts:

• Indoor air quality

• Allergies

• Airflow

• The cleanliness of your HVAC filter

If your filter is already overdue for a change, Thanksgiving cooking can clog it faster, forcing your system to work harder and reducing airflow to bedrooms and common areas.

5. Doors Opening and Closing Make Your HVAC System Cycle More

Guests arriving, kids going in and out, and trips to the smoker or outdoor fryer all introduce drafts of outdoor air. Whether the weather is warm or chilly, these temperature fluctuations force your HVAC system to run longer to compensate.

How to Protect Your HVAC System on Thanksgiving

1. Use Your Kitchen Ventilation

Always use:

• The stovetop vent

• The oven vent

• Additional fans to move heat and humidity out of the kitchen

This helps reduce the temperature imbalance your HVAC system must correct.

2. Change Your Air Filter Before the Holiday

Thanksgiving sends airborne particles flying:

• Grease

• Smoke

• Spices

• Dust

• Pet dander (especially if guests are bringing pets)

A clean filter maximizes airflow and helps your system run efficiently all throughout the busy season. If you haven’t changed your filter in the last 30 days, now is the time.

3. Adjust Your Thermostat Gradually

Because you’ll have extra heat from cooking and guests, you may not need your heater to run as often. Many homeowners set their thermostat:

• 1–2 degrees lower than usual if using heat

• 1–2 degrees higher if using cooling

This prevents unnecessary cycling and keeps your home more comfortable overall.

4. Keep Interior Doors Open

This helps airflow move freely throughout the home and reduces hot or cold spots. Bedrooms, hallways, and dens often trap air during busy holidays, and keeping doors open helps your HVAC system maintain balanced temperatures.

5. Schedule Preventative Maintenance Before the Holidays

If you haven’t had your fall furnace maintenance or heat pump tune-up, Thanksgiving is the absolute worst time for an unexpected breakdown—especially with guests in the house.

A professional maintenance appointment includes:

• Checking the inducer motor

• Testing the pressure switch

• Inspecting safety components

• Cleaning coils

• Checking refrigerant levels

• Ensuring airflow is balanced

• Testing the blower motor

• Inspecting electrical connections

This ensures your heating system is ready for the holiday rush and won’t leave you shivering in front of the turkey.

Indoor Air Quality: The Overlooked Thanksgiving Issue

Thanksgiving is one of the highest indoor air-pollution days of the year due to:

• High cooking hours

• Use of the oven and stove

• Limited ventilation

• More people in the home

If you or your guests suffer from allergies, asthma, or sensitivity to smells, consider:

• UV lights

• Whole-home air purifiers

• Media filters

• Duct cleaning

These upgrades keep your indoor air much cleaner all year—especially during heavy cooking holidays.

Signs Your HVAC System Is Struggling on Thanksgiving

Call Eco Heating and Cooling if you notice:

• Short cycling

• Weak airflow

• Hot or cold rooms

• Burning smells

• Strange noises

• Furnace blowing cold air

• AC not removing humidity

Your comfort should never be compromised just because you’re cooking a big meal.

We’re Open for Emergency HVAC Service This Thanksgiving

If your heater stops working, your AC starts blowing warm air, or your system shuts down completely, Eco Heating and Cooling is here for you.

We proudly serve:

• Dothan

• Headland

• Ozark

• Enterprise

• Ashford

• Taylor

• Kinsey

• Webb

• Cowarts

• All Wiregrass communities

We are available for:

• Emergency AC repair

• Emergency furnace repair

• Heat pump service

• HVAC troubleshooting

• Same-day service when it matters most

Don’t let a broken HVAC system ruin your Thanksgiving—call Eco Heating and Cooling anytime.

Final Thoughts

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, enjoy great food, and celebrate with the people you care about—not worry about your heating and cooling system. By understanding how all-day cooking affects your HVAC system and taking a few simple steps to prepare, you can keep your home comfortable, protect your system from strain, and enjoy a smooth, stress-free holiday.

If you need service, maintenance, or emergency HVAC repair this holiday season, we’re here to help.

Eco Heating and Cooling – AL 15172Honest, Accurate, Local Service for All Wiregrass Homes