When it comes to using the air conditioning and cooling systems in their home more than a few people have been a little misled by some very often cited ‘tips’ about air conditioners and energy savings. It’s not really their fault, these nuggets of ‘not wisdom’ have been repeated in books, magazines, on TV programs and now all across the Internet for years, to the point where most assume they must be true.
However, what you don’t know could hurt you, or at least lead to higher bills and more wear and tear on your home cooling system. So, with all of this in mind, we thought we would take the time to ‘explode’ some of the most common air conditioning energy myths here:
Myth: Purchasing a newer air conditioning system will lead to an automatic saving on my utility bills.
Reality: One of the biggest reasons to consider purchasing a new cooling system for any home is indeed to make better use of the electricity you are paying for while also keeping energy costs down in general. This can only be achieved though if the system is properly sized to your unique home.
If a system is too large for your home it will cycle on and off almost constantly, putting undue strain on its mechanics and wasting more and more energy as it goes. If a system is too small it will struggle to cool the space it is required to and homeowners will be tempted to keep turning the thermostat lower and lower in an attempt to cool their home down properly, something that will most likely only result in frozen A/C unit coils.
If you are considering installing a new air conditioning system call in a professional HVAC company to access your home’s particular cooling system needs before you buy a thing.
Myth: Turning Off My Home’s Cooling System When People are Out During the Day Will Save Money:
Reality: On the face of things this sounds like reasonable advice. If something is switched off it can’t use energy, so you have to be saving money. However, that is not quite the way an air conditioning system works.
With the system off all day the air in your home will heat back up again and when you all come and turn the A/C back on, hoping to get some immediate cooling relief the system will have to put in double effort to cool it back down again, resulting in increased energy usage and a few sticky minutes for the home’s occupants.
Instead, get into the habit of increasing the thermostat temperature by 10-15 degrees every morning before everyone leaves. This will allow the system to keep the air reasonably cool and the humidity at bay and will still result in consistent energy use and yes, some savings.
Myth: Dropping the Thermostat to a Super Low Temperature Will Cool Your Home Faster
Reality: This is an easy myth to dispel; it won’t. No matter what temperature you set, your cooling system can only move the air at a set speed. All you are doing by setting the temperature too low is wasting energy, putting undue strain on your system, making yourself potentially feel very uncomfortable (refrigerator levels temps are no fun) and risking freezing the coils, which will leave you without a cooling mechanism at all until the HVAC techs arrive.
Myth: Keeping Windows and Doors Closed Will Keep All of the Cool Inside
You do indeed need to keep doors and windows closed when running your A/C but that does not necessarily mean that some of that nice cool air is not escaping from elsewhere while warm, humid air may be seeping in.
Reality: Improperly sealed doors, cracks or gaps in windows sills, recessed lighting, electrical outlets and those old holes where cables once ran (the ones we all seem to have) can allow air leakage to begin affecting the efficiency of your air conditioning. You can, if you are concerned about saving as much as possible, commission an energy audit from an HVAC professional that can track down all of those stray leaks.
Myth: Leaving Your Ceiling Fan Running in an Empty Room Will Cool It Down
Reality: Ceiling fan usage in tandem with air conditioning is one of the most misunderstood aspects of home cooling of all. As they come into contact with you, and your skin, you will feel cooler as a ceiling fan does move air in a way that creates a noticeable wind chill. However, that is all they do, they do not cool air by themselves. They merely facilitate the movement of cooled (or not cooled) air around the room.
That means if you leave one running in an empty room you are simply wasting energy. Once a room is occupied it is a different matter though, as the increased cool air movement from the ceiling fan should allow you to turn the A/C thermostat up by a degree or two without anyone ending up feeling uncomfortable at all.
NOT a Myth: Keeping Your A/C System & Furnace Clean Makes It More Efficient
It is real that a clean A/C & furnace runs more efficiently, which keeps your home cooler for less money. Plus, regularly cleaning & service will extend the life of your system saving you money even further!
Give us a call today to set up a service call to get your system ready for the summer ahead – 816-436-1000!
