We frequently hear that when the heat becomes sticky due to humidity, you and your home become uncomfortable. And you might be thinking that it’s time to turn your air conditioner down to the lowest setting (for quick relief), buy an enormous unit, or close the vents to save energy and money. This is not the case!
Energy.gov recommends keeping your house warmer than normal when you’re gone and only setting the thermostat to 78°F when you’re home and need cooling. Instead of bringing it down quickly, maintaining a consistent temperature uses less energy (which equals money in your pocket)!
This information should serve as a wake-up call to homeowners who should stop believing in common air conditioning myths and start conserving their hard-earned money.
Here, we debunk some of the most common air conditioning fallacies and suggest strategies to save money without sacrificing comfort and satisfying your cooling demands.
What are some of the most common air conditioning myths that are costing you money?
Turning your thermostat down will help your home cool down quickly.
Larger air conditioners are more effective.
When you’re not at home, turn off the air conditioner.
Your cold could be due to air conditioning.
Air filters do not need to be updated yearly.
Let your existing air conditioner “die” before replacing it.
The location of the thermostat does not affect air quality or temperature.
Fans keep a room cooler.
Close vents in rooms that aren’t in use.
If you keep the ceiling fan turned on, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.
Air conditioning checkups are a waste of time and money if you have a newer unit.
1. Lowering your thermostat will allow your home to cool faster.
It will always be a matter of time to cool a room or your home. Your air conditioner will continue to run at the same rate even if the thermostat is set to the lowest possible level. When you are not at home, you can raise the temperature by a few degrees and then lower it when you return. This will help to avoid a rapid rise or fall in temperature. Adjust the temperature of your thermostat based on your habits, preferences, and the outside temperature. The closer your thermostat temperature is to the outside temperature, the more you save.
Every rule does, however, have an exception. You probably have three settings if you have a window unit: low, medium, and high. Using the maximum setting will naturally chill things down faster, but don’t forget to change it after you’ve reached your ideal temperature.
2. Larger air conditioners are more efficient and produce better results.
An air conditioner with a capacity that is far too large for the space it is designed to cool will cause its compressor to cycle on and off frequently, wear it out, shorten its life, and consume a lot of electricity.
When you select an air conditioner that is too large, it is forced to operate continuously in small bursts, causing it to burn out more quickly. While your air conditioner runs in brief spurts, heat and humidity can seep back into the house, causing damage over time.
On the other hand, choosing an undersized air conditioner wastes a lot of energy and money because the air conditioner is constantly running to cool your home, even though it will never be able to do it properly.
The simplest method to start saving money on your energy bill is to choose the proper air conditioner size.
3. When you’re not at home, turn off the air conditioner to save energy.
This strategy is only effective for long periods. On a hot summer day, if you switch off the air conditioning before heading to work and then turn it back on when you get home, your air conditioner will have to work more to cool your home. It’s preferable to crank the thermostat up a few degrees than leave it off.
Raising the thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees while you’re gone for the day is preferable for the following reasons:
Mold and bug protection for your home (Turning your air conditioner off causes humidity, and in the summer, mold and insects love humidity)
It enables you to save money. (A daily thermostat setback of 7-10 degrees F for eight hours can save up to 10% on annual heating and cooling energy use.)
It keeps you at ease (maintain a cooler temperature all day will manage the indoor humidity)
When you’re at home, Energy Star, a federal program run by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, recommends keeping your house at 78 degrees.
4. Your Summer Cold Could Be Due to Air Conditioning
A cold is caused by a virus rather than cold temperatures. To get sick, you must be exposed to viruses, bacteria, or germs. You may be suffering from allergies or an asthma-related condition. Since your HVAC system influences the quality of your interior air, a dirty air conditioner could cause airborne infections.
5. Air filters don’t need to be changed for a year.
Dust, mold, and other filth particles collect in air filters. These particles reduce airflow, forcing your air conditioner to work more. As a result, there is more electricity use and higher utility bills.
A clean filter effectively eliminates airborne particulates, ranging from dust to minuscule particles invisible to the naked eye. On the other hand, a clogged filter can exacerbate indoor air quality by acting as a reservoir for dirt, dust, and other airborne toxins that are constantly pumped back into your lungs.
Replace your air filters according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. You may also choose pleated fabric filters designed to catch airborne particles as small as 3 microns.
6. Allow Your Old Air Conditioner to “Kick the Bucket” Before Replacing
While purchasing a new air conditioning unit may be costly at first, its increased efficiency will save you more money in the long run than keeping and operating an old one.
Today’s heating and air conditioning systems are highly energy-efficient, using far less energy than systems developed 10 to 15 years ago. The greater the SEER, the less energy is required and the less expensive it is to run.
When deciding when to invest in a new air conditioning system, weigh your alternatives with all available information and consider the system’s age, technology, repair expenses, and general performance.
7. Air Quality and Temperature are unaffected by the thermostat’s location.
The location of your thermostat is critical to the operation and efficiency of your air conditioning system. A thermostat should be kept away from heat or cooling sources and in a central area where it can accurately acquire an average reading of your home’s temperature levels.
An incorrectly installed thermostat can waste both energy and money. A properly installed thermostat will accurately read the temperature in your home and satisfy your needs for a comfortable environment.
8. Fans help to keep a room cool.
Fans are intended to cool people rather than rooms. Fans circulate the air in a room but have little effect on the temperature. It does, however, produce a wind-chill effect, which may make you feel cooler, making it an excellent choice for cooling down without turning down the thermostat.
9. Close vents in rooms that aren’t in use.
Closing vents in rooms you don’t use disrupts the airflow throughout your home. It produces a pressure build-up in your ductwork, making your air conditioner work harder.
10. If you have a newer unit, air conditioning inspections are a waste of time and money.
Service and cleaning regularly will keep your unit functioning well and detect any potential issues that may have arisen over the winter. Thermostats can make your home more pleasant and function with your HVAC system. Another common misunderstanding is that seasonal maintenance and tune-ups are not required. Seasonal changes necessitate various heating and cooling requirements. Proper, continuous maintenance and service are required to keep your air conditioning system functioning smoothly and efficiently.
Contact Us Today
When you need AC repair, you want to call on a local company with highly trained technicians and affordable. You can count on Coastal Climate Experts to provide you with quality air conditioning service, whether you need routine AC maintenance, AC installation, or emergency AC repair. We service all brands of residential and commercial heating and cooling systems.
