When Desert Dwellers Face the Cold
Let’s be honest – Arizona residents are about as prepared for cold weather as a cactus is for snowboarding. We spend most of the year avoiding the sun like vampires, but when that thermometer dips below 65°F, suddenly we’re all turning into weather-watching warriors.
Here’s what typically happens in our sunny slice of paradise when winter arrives:
• Someone spots frost on their prickly pear and declares a state of emergency
• The neighborhood watch group starts reporting “suspicious ice-like substances” on windshields
• Everyone simultaneously remembers they own a heating system and hopes it still works
• Local stores sell out of hot chocolate faster than you can say “but it’s a dry cold”
At Green Valley Cooling & Heating, we’ve seen it all. From folks trying to heat their homes with twelve space heaters (please don’t) to the brave souls who insist on wearing shorts in December because “it’s Arizona, for Pete’s sake!”
Speaking of heating mishaps, here are some real situations we’ve encountered:
• The “I thought that burning smell was just my winter candle” scenario
• The “I wrapped my furnace in blankets to keep it warm” incident
• The classic “I haven’t changed my filter since Obama was president” situation
Serving communities from Green Valley to Tubac, we’ve become familiar with the unique desert-dweller approach to winter. In Sahuarita, residents break out parkas when it hits 60°F. Over in Vail, people start planning their furnace maintenance around the first sighting of a cloud. And in Corona de Tucson, folks huddle together like penguins at the first hint of a cool breeze.
But here’s the real talk: while we might chuckle about our cold-weather drama, maintaining your heating system is no laughing matter. Regular furnace service can mean the difference between cozy winter evenings and wearing three sweaters while watching TV through chattering teeth.
Remember, your furnace is like a hibernating bear – you need to make sure it’s ready when it’s time to wake up and do its job. And unlike that bear, your furnace won’t appreciate being fed salmon or berries (trust us on this one).
So before you resort to training your dogs to become sled dogs or converting your garage into an igloo, give the pros a call. Because in the desert, we might not know much about snow, but we sure know how to keep you toasty when those “freezing” 50-degree nights roll in!