It can be hard to differentiate frequently repeated myths from the truth. In the case of home cooling myths, they may even seem plausible. By avoiding the following home cooling myths, however, you’ll avoid sabotaging your system’s efficiency.

Shutting Down the A/C When Leaving Wastes Energy

It’s commonly believed that cooling a hot home upon your return uses more energy than keeping the A/C on at a constant temperature. Truth be told, you waste much more energy by cooling an unoccupied home, especially when you ‘re gone for several hours or the entire day.

To avoid walking into an extremely hot and stuffy home, install a programmable thermostat and have it start cooling about an hour before you arrive. A programmable thermostat will help you save on your energy bills.

Upgrading to a Larger Air Conditioner Improves Cooling Performance

If your existing air conditioner isn’t doing its job well and it was properly sized for your home during the installation, it likely only needs a bit of regular maintenance, such as cleaning the coils or changing the air filter. Systems that are larger than necessary tend to cycle on and off frequently, leading to increased maintenance costs and poor efficiency.

Turing Down the Thermostat Cools Faster

Your air conditioner was designed to cool at a pre-defined rate. Turning down the thermostat to cool a hot home quicker does no good; in fact, it increases your chances of wasting energy by forgetting to reset the temperature later.

Air Conditioners Can Only Cool the Air

Besides providing cool air, most air conditioners also help to dehumidify your home. High humidity can make the air feel warmer than it actually is, just like a humid summer day feels warmer than when the humidity is low.

Closing Vents in Unoccupied Rooms Saves Money

In systems designed for zoning, closing vents can save money, but in regular systems, it can cause an airflow imbalance in the supply and return systems. This can decrease efficiency and lead to system problems.

For more information about these home cooling myths, contact the HVAC professionals at Powers Heating & Air in Peachtree City.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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