It’s not surprising that energy myths continue to spread through the public’s knowledge about their homes. These myths are based in the desire to better understand their home’s essential systems and how to save money.

However prevalent, these practices and situations have no basis in reality:

• Not changing the thermostat saves money. If you’re going to be away, it will save energy to raise or lower the temperature, depending on the season. Unless your HVAC system is inadequate or very old, it will be able to cool your home down within a short period. Programmable thermostats are effective in lowering energy costs by controlling temperatures when homes aren’t occupied. Smart thermostats give you control of your HVAC system from anywhere, which makes it possible to manage the HVAC system for optimal energy savings.
• Appliances don’t use energy when they’re off. Many appliances and devices in your home use electricity when they’re not running. Entertainment systems and kitchen appliances continue to use power if they have clocks or are programmable. Some of the worst culprits are chargers for portable electronic devices that use block-style, heavy chargers. Their chargers continue to draw power even when the device is unplugged.
• Closing off rooms saves energy. This is one of the more persistent energy myths. In reality, closing the registers to a room and shutting the door may end up costing you more in energy and wear and tear on your HVAC system. Ductwork leaks may result and the negative air pressure it creates can pull in unconditioned air, which raises energy bills.
• Dripping faucets just waste water. In reality, dripping faucets waste energy in your home and at water treatment facilities. The EPA estimates that drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities use two percent of all energy used in the U.S. annually. When it goes down the drain, both the water and the energy to provide it are wasted.

In the long run, these energy myths will result in higher bills and wear and tear on your appliances. To learn more, contact Powers Heating & Air, providing trusted HVAC services for Peachtree City homeowners.

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). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.