Before we know it, the hot weather will be back and it’ll be time to crank up the air conditioning again. But do you make the most of your AC when it comes time to use it regularly again, or do you still fall for some big myths about air conditioners and their usage that still seem to pop up regularly in blogs, on social media and in general conversation among friends and neighbors? Hopefully not, but just in case, let’s look at and tackle the most common air conditioning myths and the realities behind them.
Myth: Using an Air Conditioner Can Give You a Cold
This is an oldie but a baddie. There are those who are against using an air conditioner because they are convinced that by doing so they’ll end up with the summer sniffles. But no, that’s not the case. Viruses cause colds, not environmental conditions. So, go ahead, keep yourself cool as you see fit and keep summer colds at bay by ensuring your wash your hands regularly and keep your home clean to help ward off germs.
Myth: You’ll save yourself money if you turn the AC off – or set the temperature extra high – when you leave home for the day and then turn it back up again when you get home.
This statement is wrong on both counts. When you come home to a hot home, your air conditioner must work twice as hard to cool it off again and turning the thermostat super low won’t help. Air conditioning units run at a single speed, so a lower setting will just make it run longer, overworking it once again.
What can save you money however is installing a smart thermostat. By doing so, you can set the temperature higher during the day when no-one is home, thus saving money, and then adjust the level down again – from your smartphone – thirty minutes before you head home so you will still be welcomed by a nice, cool house.
Myth: Your air conditioner won’t have to run as much if you keep your ceiling fans turned on.
Oh dear, this is one of those air conditioning myths that simply won’t die, mainly because too many people do not actually really understand how ceiling fans work. A ceiling fan – or in fact any type of fan – does NOT cool the air, it simply circulates the air that is in the room already around. So, you can get some benefit in a larger room by running a ceiling fan in an A/C cooled room when you are in it to feel the breeze, but keeping it running when the room is empty is useless and in terms of energy usage, rather wasteful.
Myth: A spring air conditioning checkup is a waste of time and money if you have a newer unit
False again. If you are lucky enough to have a higher performing, newer air conditioner, don’t you want it to stay that way for as long as possible? Every air conditioning unit, new or old, suffers from wear and tear every season. A scheduled service and cleaning will help keep your unit running efficiently and catch potential problems that may have developed over the winter. Skip that annual service and you may find yourself making an emergency call to a repairman on a sticky 90 degree Saturday afternoon, something that will cost you considerably more than that simple checkup you passed on to save a few bucks.
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