Despite AC being an important part of our lives in Arizona, there are several air conditioning myths out there. Let us set the story straight for your home’s cooling and bust six common air conditioning myths.
Bigger is Always Better
A bigger unit means more powerful and efficient cooling, right? Not quite. A bigger air conditioning unit is more powerful than a smaller one, this is true. But a big AC for a small room or home can actually end up costing you more.
An AC whose capacity is too big for the space will force its compressor to turn itself on and off in quick intervals. When your unit runs in short bursts, it allows heat and humidity to creep back into the house, which can cause damage over time. Not to mention the short bursts also cause your AC to wear out, shorten its life, and use a lot of electricity.
The key is to select the right air conditioner size to get the most efficient use and help you save on your energy bill.
Turning Off the AC When Not Home Saves Energy
The truth behind this tactic is it only works for extended periods. If you turn off your AC before going to work on a hot summer day, then turn it on when you get home, your AC is working harder to cool your home.
If you’d like to save energy, instead try turning your thermostat several degrees up rather than off. A programmable thermostat can make this simple by allowing you to choose when the temp goes up and goes back down again. So you can set it to automatically raise the temp when you walk out the door for work and lower it just before you get home.
Turning the Temp Down Cools the House Faster
If you need your home to cool down quickly, turning your thermostat way down won’t get it to cool faster. Cooling your home will always take a matter of time. No matter what temperature you set the thermostat, your air conditioner will cool the house at the same rate.
You should adjust your thermostat temperature according to your habits, preferences, and the temp outside. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can try increasing the temp when you’re not home by a few degrees, and adjusting the temp before you get back. This will help avoid the drastic increase or decrease in temperature. Just remember that your home will cool down at the same rate regardless of whether you’re adjusting by 1 degree or 10.
You Should Close Vents in the Rooms You Don’t Use
It may feel like you’re wasting cold air in rooms you don’t use, so closing the vents can seem like a logical idea. But closing off vents can throw off the delicate balance of air distribution through your home. When you close your room, you’re not optimizing your cold air usage. Instead, all you’re doing is cooling the inside of your air ducts and making your air conditioning unit work harder.
Air Conditioners Can Cause You to Catch a Cold
Some people think that your air conditioner unit can cause you to come down with a cold or another sickness. First and foremost, you can’t catch a cold from your AC. A virus, not a cold temperature, causes a cold.
This is a good time to bring up that your air filter is something that could cause you to experience more allergies or asthma-related symptoms. When kept in good condition, your air filter removes airborne contaminants like dust and bacteria. If you don’t change your air filter regularly, it could build up and stop filtering out these contaminants. This will eventually lead you to breathe these particles in and could make you feel sick. Check and change your air filter regularly to keep you from breathing in contaminated air.
It’s Time to Replace Your AC When it Breaks Down
If your 10+-year-old air conditioning unit is still working, you probably think it’s no big deal to hold out until it breaks down completely. Let’s bust this myth once and for all: don’t do this!
While buying a new air conditioning unit can cost you money in the beginning, its higher efficiency will save you more than holding on to, operating, and constantly repairing your old one. Energy efficiency in ACs has improved drastically in recent years, so upgrading will help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. If your AC is coming to the end of its life, consider its age, technology, repair costs, and overall system performance to help make your decision about investing in a new system.
If you have any HVAC problems, let us be there to help you out.
Comfort World Air Conditioning & Heating: Busting Myths and Keeping You Comfortable
If there are two things we love doing at Comfort World Air Conditioning & Heating, it’s busting AC myths and keeping your comfortable year-round! If you have any HVAC problems, let us be there to help you out. We’ve been bringing comfort to the valley for over 30 years, so you can count on us to get the job done right. Our highly trained technicians in Scottsdale, Arizona, want to bring a little more comfort to your world!
