Another summer is upon us, and it’s time to get our ACs ready. But there are many different air conditioner myths out there. How do you sort the fact from the fiction?
Central air was in more than 30% of homes in 2009, with that number believed to be much higher now. With so many homes having central air, there are bound to be a lot of different beliefs and views. Let’s look at some of the important facts to help you better understand and get the most out of your central air system.
What’s True and What’s False When It Comes to Central Air?
Myth: Running your AC all day will save you money on your hydro bill compared to turning it off and having to cool the house again.
Fact: Shutting your central air off will most definitely save you money. The key is to keep the cool air that has already been made in your home. This means leaving windows closed and curtains drawn. A programmable thermostat is always the way to go to keep your home cool without running your AC constantly.
Myth: All air conditioning systems are basically the same.
Fact: There are many different types of cooling systems for your home. When choosing an air conditioner for your home, a few questions need to be answered. How big is your space? Does your home have the proper venting and ductwork for central air? Figure out your home’s needs first to help find the right air conditioning system.
Myth: Having ceiling fans run while your AC is on will cool down a room faster.
Fact: This common belief is technically not true. If you are sitting in a room with a ceiling fan running, you may feel cooler, but the fan doesn’t lower the temperature of the room, it just helps move the existing cool air around more efficiently. That’s why you can save energy by running ceiling fans while turning up the temperature on your thermostat.
Myth: You can get sick if you spend too much time in an air-conditioned environment.
Fact: Air conditioning cannot make you sick, but the dust that can collect in vents or ducts could trigger some allergic symptoms. This can easily be avoided by having your ducts and vents cleaned on a regular basis and changing out your air filter.
Myth: Your air filter only needs to be changed once or twice a year.
Fact: This is a huge myth that is a major part of system issues and inefficiencies. Your air filter should be cleaned and or changed at least every two months or so, and even more so if you run your AC constantly and have pets.
If you want to know more about air conditioning facts and myths or need advice on which cooling system is best for your home then contact the cooling professionals at Oosterveld Heating.