Air conditioning keeps your homes comfortable during the hot summer months. However, many misconceptions about air conditioning systems can lead to wasted energy and increased costs.
Myth: Turning Off The AC When You Are Not Home Saves Energy
It is a popular fallacy that you may reduce energy bills by turning off the air conditioner when you leave the house. While this AC misconception may seem logical initially, it does not accurately reflect how air conditioners work.
Air conditioners operate most efficiently when maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the day. When you turn off the unit before leaving home, indoor temperatures will rise significantly during your absence. Upon returning and turning on the AC again, it must work harder to cool down the space quickly, which consumes more energy than if it had maintained a consistent temperature. Instead of turning off your AC completely while away from home, consider using a programmable thermostat to set an ideal temperature range for different times of day or night.
Myth: Keeping Your AC At A Super Low Temperature Cools Your Home Faster
Another myth is that setting your thermostat at an excessively low temperature will cool down your house faster. In reality, air conditioners cool spaces at a constant rate regardless of the target temperature set on the thermostat. By choosing extremely low settings on the control panel, homeowners risk wasting significant amounts of energy without achieving the desired cooling effect any faster.
Myth: Closing Vents In Unused Rooms Saves Money On Cooling Costs
Some people believe closing air vents in unused rooms helps save energy and reduce cooling costs. However, this practice can have unintended consequences. When you close vents in your home, you upset the airflow balance and force your AC system to work harder than it has to to keep everyone in the house at a comfortable temperature. This will lead to much higher energy consumption and even cause damage or shorten the lifespan of your air conditioner.
Myth: Bigger AC Units Cool Homes Better
Many homeowners mistakenly believe that bigger air conditioning units will provide better performance when keeping their homes cool during hot weather. However, an oversized AC unit will cycle off too quickly before adequately dehumidifying indoor spaces, leading to a clammy feeling inside despite cooler temperatures.
In addition to reduced comfort levels from inadequate humidity control, oversized AC units tend to consume more electricity than necessary due primarily to increased cycling on and off. When a system uses more energy than usual, it can raise the monthly cost of utilities and reduce its lifespan because of increased component wear.
Contact a company like Steele Brothers Heating Inc for more info.
