Preparing Your Arizona Home for Winter Heating

Here in Mesa, we love bragging that we barely need heat. But then that first real cold snap hits—maybe a December morning in the low 30s—and suddenly everyone remembers they own a heater. We’ve been keeping East Valley homes and businesses comfortable for years, and honestly, nothing makes us cringe more than a customer who waited too long and ended up shivering while waiting for parts. Getting ready for an Arizona winter is less about battling blizzards and more about making sure your heating system wakes up smoothly after a long summer nap.

Why Arizona Winters Still Need Solid Heating (Even If We Joke About It)

You know how it goes: we spend six months begging our air conditioners to survive 115-degree days, then flip a mental switch and pretend winter doesn’t exist. Here’s the thing—nights from November through February regularly drop into the 30s and 40s around Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek. That might sound mild compared to the Midwest, but when your home was built for desert heat, those chilly evenings sneak right through windows, doors, and uninsulated attics.

Plus, a lot of us have heat pumps that doubled as our AC all summer. They need a little love before reversing into heating mode, or you’ll be the one wearing three hoodies inside in January. Trust us, we’ve seen it.

What “Winter” Really Looks Like in Mesa – And Why Your Heater Cares

Most years, Mesa sees average lows around 40–45°F from December through February, with occasional dips into the low 30s or even upper 20s. Daytime highs still climb into the 60s, so your system is constantly switching between cooling the sunny side of the house and heating the shady rooms. That back-and-forth stresses components if everything isn’t clean and balanced.

The dry air doesn’t help either. Furnaces and heat pumps pull in that bone-dry desert air, and without proper humidity or filtration, you wake up with a scratchy throat and static shocks everywhere. A little prep goes a long way toward sleeping comfortably instead of sounding like a Darth Vader impression all winter.

Flip the Switch: Switching from Air Conditioner to Heating Mode Without Drama

If you have a heat pump (super common in Arizona), the changeover is literally flipping your thermostat from “cool” to “heat.” Sounds simple, right? But do it wrong and you can trip the system or even damage the reversing valve.

Here are the steps we tell every customer:

• Turn the whole system OFF for at least 30 minutes (lets pressures equalize).
• Change your air filter if it’s been more than 2–3 months.
• Set thermostat to HEAT and raise the temperature slowly—2–3 degrees at a time.
• Listen for weird noises the first time it runs. A little click is normal; grinding or screeching is not.
• Give it time. Heat pumps warm more gently than gas furnaces.

Still blowing cool air after 15 minutes in heat mode? Could be low refrigerant or a stuck reversing valve—time to give us a ring.

Our Go-To Pre-Winter HVAC Checklist (The One We Actually Use on Our Own Trucks)

We’re big believers that an ounce of prevention beats a freezing house in the middle of the night. Here’s what we do for every heating tune-up in the East Valley:

• Inspect and clean blower assembly – dust buildup from summer is brutal here.
• Check refrigerant levels on heat pumps (low charge = no heat).
• Test defrost cycle on heat pumps so it doesn’t ice up on 35-degree mornings.
• Clean flame sensor and igniter on gas furnaces – the #1 no-heat culprit.
• Inspect heat exchanger for cracks (safety first—carbon monoxide is no joke).
• Tighten electrical connections and measure voltage/amperage.
• Check thermostat calibration and recommend upgrade if it’s ancient.
• Clear condensate drains – yes, even heaters make condensation in our climate.

Want to do a few things yourself? Great! Just don’t skip the pro tune-up—most warranties require it anyway.

Heat Pumps vs. Gas Furnaces: Which One Makes Sense Here?

In Mesa and the surrounding areas, we install both, but heat pumps win more often these days. Here’s a quick side-by-side:

Modern heat pumps can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to old electric resistance heaters, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.^[2]

Common Winter Calls We Get in Mesa (And How to Avoid Being One of Them)

Every year like clockwork:

• “My heat pump is blowing cold air.” Usually low refrigerant or dirty coils from summer dust storms.
• “The furnace won’t ignite.” Dirty flame sensor (30-second fix for us).
• “Some rooms are freezing, others are fine.” Closed dampers or filthy blower wheel.
• “My bill doubled!” Old filter or thermostat fighting with the system.

Catch these early with a fall tune-up and you’ll sail through winter without drama.

Quick Energy-Saving Wins That Feel Good on the Bill

Small stuff adds up fast in our swingy weather:

• Set thermostat to 68° when home, 62° when away (every degree saves ~3–5%).
• Run ceiling fans clockwise on low to push warm air down.
• Seal obvious drafts around doors/windows – cheap weatherstripping pays for itself in one season.
• Let the sun in during the day; close blinds at night.
• Keep interior doors open so air circulates.

These habits plus a clean system can knock 15–25% off your winter bills without feeling deprived.

When to Call Us Instead of Googling at 2 A.M.

If you hear grinding, smell gas, see ice on your heat pump coils, or the system just won’t keep up when it’s below 45° outside, please don’t wait. A quick visit now saves expensive emergency calls later (and we hate seeing folks uncomfortable).

We’re local to the East Valley, we answer our phones 24/7, and we’ll never upsell you something you don’t need. Ready to schedule your pre-winter heating tune-up or have questions about upgrading to a new heat pump? Give us a call at 480-207-1239 or book online here—we’d love to help you stay cozy all winter long.

More helpful reading from our site:

• Heating Maintenance & Tune-Up Services
• Heat Pump Repair
• Furnace Repair
• All Heating Services
• Comfort Experts Blog

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Energy – Heat Pump Systems
2. U.S. Department of Energy – Air-Source Heat Pumps