The Pro Solutions Air Times
“Never a Problem, Just a Solution!” · Thanksgiving Edition
Holiday hosting
A Full Table, a Full House, and a Home That Keeps Up
Thanksgiving is the one day a year your kitchen, plumbing, electrical and heating all get a stress test at the same time. A little prep this month keeps the only thing overflowing the gravy boat.
Think about what your home handles on Thanksgiving Day. The oven runs for hours, the stovetop is crowded, a roaster and a slow cooker share one counter, the dishwasher runs twice, and guests line up for hot showers. Add a dozen extra people breathing, laughing and opening the front door, and your house is working harder than it has since the end of summer.
Here in the West Valley, late November also brings the first truly cool mornings, so many families are running the heat for the first time in earnest just as company arrives. That combination is why the holiday week is a busy one for heating, plumbing and electrical calls across the Valley.
This issue is about getting ahead of all that. The tips below are simple and safe for any homeowner: no tools beyond a step stool, an old coffee can and a little planning. We’ve also included a short guide to the warning signs that mean it’s time to call a professional instead of improvising.
And because a lot has changed in our industry this year, we’ve added a new regular column: “What’s New in HVAC,” a plain-English look at the news that affects your home and your wallet.
Tip No. 1
Don’t Fight the Oven
A full house warms itself. Between a hot oven and a room full of guests, your living area can climb several degrees by mid-afternoon, and the heat may still be running out of habit. Before company arrives, nudge the thermostat down a degree or two, or switch it to a schedule that eases off during the busiest cooking hours.
If you have a smart thermostat, check that its sensor isn’t sitting next to the kitchen. A thermostat that “feels” the oven can leave the bedrooms chilly while the kitchen bakes.
Tip No. 2
Make Room for the Air, Too
Extra chairs, folding tables and coats piled on a bench have a way of landing right on top of floor vents and the big return grille in the hallway. Blocked returns starve your system of air, so it runs longer and the house heats unevenly. Walk the rooms once the furniture is set and make sure every vent has breathing space.
Tip No. 3
Wake Up the Guest Room
Spare rooms often get their vents closed in summer and forgotten. A few days before guests arrive, open the registers, wipe the dust off the vent covers and let the system run for a while. A room that has been shut for months can smell stale, and a little airflow fixes most of that before anyone unpacks.
Tip No. 4
Give Grease a Can, Not the Drain
Turkey drippings, bacon fat and butter go down the sink as a liquid, then cool and cling to the inside of your pipes. Over a big cooking day they can build into a stubborn clog right when the house is full. Let fats cool in an old can or jar, toss it in the trash, and wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
Running hot water after grease doesn’t wash it away; it just moves the problem farther down the line. Our plumbing services →
Tip No. 5
Go Easy on the Garbage Disposal
Potato peels, celery strings, onion skins, eggshells and bones are the classic holiday disposal jammers. Put them in the trash or compost, feed the disposal small amounts at a time with cold water running, and let it run a few seconds after the grinding stops. If it hums but won’t spin, switch it off at the wall before anyone reaches near it.
Tip No. 6
Share the Outlets, Spare the Breaker
Roasters, slow cookers, electric skillets and air fryers each pull a lot of power, and plugging three of them into one kitchen circuit is a fast way to trip a breaker mid-meal. Spread them across different counters and rooms, and skip daisy-chained power strips.
This week, press the “Test” and then “Reset” buttons on your kitchen and bathroom GFCI outlets to confirm they work. If a breaker trips, unplug something and reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call an electrician. Electrical services →
Tip No. 7
Test Your Smoke Alarms and Clear the Air
The National Fire Protection Association reports that Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home cooking fires. Press the test button on every smoke alarm, keep a pan lid close to the stove, and never pour water on a grease fire.
Run your range hood fan whenever the stove is on. Cooking puts smoke, grease and moisture into the air, and gas burners add combustion byproducts, so venting it outside keeps the whole house fresher. Indoor air quality options →
Tip No. 8
Line Up the Showers (and Unhook the Hose)
A tank water heater only holds so much. With a houseful of guests, space the showers out and run the dishwasher overnight instead of right after dinner. If hot water runs out far faster than usual, or the tank rumbles and pops, sediment may be the reason. Read our water heater flush guide →
Outside, desert nights can dip close to freezing as winter approaches. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets so water trapped in the hose can’t back up and stress the spigot.
What’s new in HVAC
Two Rule Changes Worth Knowing Before You Replace Anything
1. Older-style R-410A systems can still be installed, while supplies last. Since January 1, 2025, manufacturers can no longer make or import new home air conditioners and heat pumps that use R-410A, the refrigerant most Arizona systems have used for years. The original 2023 EPA rule also set a deadline of January 1, 2026, to install the older equipment still sitting in warehouses. In May 2026, the EPA finalized a change that removes that installation deadline, so units made or imported before 2025 can be installed until the existing supply runs out. The change took effect on July 27, 2026.
What it means for you: if your system needs replacing, you may be offered either a remaining R-410A unit or a newer system built for the lower-impact refrigerants R-454B or R-32. Both can be good choices. Newer units are where the industry is headed, and leftover R-410A stock will thin out over time. If you’d rather keep your current system, the EPA confirms you can continue to repair it; the rules apply to new equipment, not the system already on your roof or beside your house. Refrigerant costs can move with supply, so ask for a written estimate. Thinking about a new system? →
2. The federal heat pump and efficiency tax credits have ended. Under the law signed July 4, 2025, the IRS states that the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (the “25C” credit many homeowners used for heat pumps, central air and insulation) is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) for things like solar and geothermal ended for work completed after that same date. If you installed qualifying equipment in 2025, you may still be able to claim it on your 2025 return; talk with your tax professional. For anything installed in 2026, plan your budget without it. Utility programs from APS and SRP change from time to time, so check their websites for current offers before you buy. For pricing questions, see our AC repair cost guide.
Sources: EPA Technology Transitions final rule fact sheet (May 2026) · ABC Newsline (July 29, 2026) · IRS FAQs on the 25C and 25D credits
A note of thanks
Grateful for Every West Valley Home We Get to Serve
This time of year, we’re thankful for the families who trust us with their comfort, from emergency calls on the hottest days of summer to tune-ups on quiet fall mornings. However you celebrate, we hope your table is full and your home is warm.
If anything acts up before, during or after the big meal, our phones are answered 24/7 at (844) 943-6498. And for more seasonal ideas between issues, read our latest News & Tips. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Pro Solutions Air.