You’re more than likely familiar with the phrase, “Well if it’s on the Internet it must be true.” This is often a sarcastic remark in response to outrageous claims, and unfortunately, when it comes to saving money, we’ll believe just about anything we read.
Air Conditioning Myths
Some of the tips and tricks you hear and read online can actually have negative effects, especially when it comes to expensive equipment like heating and air conditioning equipment.
We’ve debunked some of the most common air conditioning myths that claim to cut costs or provide more efficient comfort. Before we tell you the answers, can you guess which ones are myths and which one is true? No peeking!
1. Ceiling fans keep rooms cool.
2. Turning the thermostat way down will cool your home faster.
3. Annual tune-ups will extend the life of your air conditioner.
4. An air conditioner with a higher efficiency rating will by default save you energy.
5. Changing your air filters once a year should suffice.
Think you’re an A/C expert? See how well you did!
1. Ceiling fans keep rooms cool
False: It’s often assumed that because we feel cooler in a room it must be because of the fan that’s on. However, the fan isn’t cooling the room; it’s cooling your skin! Sound confusing? The circulated air is moving across your skin, but that doesn’t mean it’s cooling the room.
Because a ceiling fan doesn’t cool a room, make sure to turn it off whenever you leave. A ceiling fan that is left on is only wasting your hard earned dollars. Nevertheless, running your ceiling fan only costs about 2 cents per hour, so don’t worry about it too much. Use your ceiling fan when you can to save on air conditioning costs.
2. Turning the thermostat way down will cool your home faster
False: Regardless of your temperature setting, your air conditioner always cools at the same rate. A cool, refreshing home sounds ideal after a long day at work, but setting the temperature way back won’t do any good, no matter the degree. If you want your home to be cool by the time you come home, we recommend setting your programmable thermostat to turn on 30 minutes before you arrive home.
Most air conditioners operate on a set speed, however, some units do offer low, high, and medium settings. If you aren’t satisfied with your current heating or cooling system, consider installing a programmable thermostat! You can set the desired temperature before you leave work so that when you arrive at home it’s cool and comfortable.
3. Annual tune-ups will extend the life of your air conditioner
True: Would you ever drive your car 50,000 miles without changing the oil or making sure it runs alright? Of course not! So why do that to your air conditioner? Much like a car, your AC system needs some good ole’ TLC once and a while. We recommend performing annual tune-ups on your AC so that you can be cool and comfortable all summer long.
As an added benefit, you can forget about all those frequent, costly air conditioner repairs! Our technicians can spot any problem before it becomes a messy and expensive affair. Annual tune-ups isn’t a service we implemented to get more money out of you; they’re designed to save you, the customer, from having to spend money on issues that could have been avoided in the first place.
4. An air conditioner with a higher efficiency rating will by default save you energy
False: We hope you didn’t feel too tricked by this statement, as it is partially true! They key to this is a perfectly executed installation. An installation that is rushed or not completed properly can cause the new unit to consume between 30 and 40 percent more fuel than it would if the installation had been completed with care and precision.
Larry & Sons employs only professional, highly trained technicians. We treat each and every service call with the care and respect it deserves.
5. Changing your air filters once a year should suffice
False: While changing your air filters is crucial, changing them only once a year is simply not good enough. Show your AC some love by changing the filters at least once every three months. A dirty filter slows down air flow, not to mention it makes way for poor indoor air quality.
Write the date on your air filter so when you go to look at it again you know when to change it
Now that we’ve cleared the air, we hope you no longer believe these AC myths! For all your home cooling needs, leave it to the experts at Larry & Sons. Got any questions? Well we’ve got the answer! Feel free to give us a call at (301)733-5428 and keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!
