Most homeowners are always looking for ideas to keep their home comfortable in the summer. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there that can lead to wasted energy and high cooling costs. In this month’s blog, the Main Stream Mechanical home comfort specialists set the record straight by exposing six common home cooling myths.
Myth #1: Air conditioning can only be added on a forced air system.
Fact: Advances in HVAC technology have made cooling systems possible without ductwork. Ductless air conditioning, or mini splits, provide many of the same benefits as central AC—without the need for ductwork. Mini splits are energy efficient, quiet, compact, and simple to operate.
Myth #2: Drastically lowering your thermostat temperature will cool your house faster.
Fact: Air conditioners operate at a consistent rate to reach the desired temperature. Setting the thermostat to a frigid temperature won’t cool your house faster, it will continue to cool it at the same rate, but work harder longer to reach the low temperature you set. If you want to improve your HVAC’s cooling performance, try changing the filter or scheduling a tune-up with an HVAC professional.
Myth #3: Ceiling fans can lower your home’s air temperature.
Fact: Ceiling fans circulate the existing air in it, but they do not lower the air temperature. In fact, the comfort created by a ceiling fan is only effective if there's someone in the room to feel it. When the wind from the fan moves across your warm skin, heat is distributed, making you feel more comfortable. It’s this wind chill effect that homeowners often confuse with a lower air temperature.
Myth #4: Keeping your AC on while you’re away saves you money.
Fact: A better way to save energy is to set your thermostat about 10°F higher than the temperature at which you feel most comfortable, and lower it when you return. On extremely hot and humid days you may want to keep the thermostat set at a lower, constant temperature because if excessive heat gets into your house, it will take longer to cool down to your desired temperature. Programmable thermostats make this simple by allowing you to pre-set the time you leave and your anticipated return time. The thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your perimeters.
Myth #5: The location of your thermostat doesn’t matter.
Fact: Your thermostat is the brain of your home’s heating and cooling system, telling it when to turn on and turn off. As a result, where your thermostat is placed is essential to getting accurate readings of your home’s overall temperature. Cooler exterior walls, drafty windows, doors and hallways, heat from sunlight or from a stove or oven, will influence the accuracy of the temperature readings. For best comfort results, install your thermostat on an interior wall, away from drafty areas, direct sunlight or warm rooms.
Myth #6: AC service is only necessary for repairs.
Fact: Many homeowners think a running system is a healthy system. But that’s not necessarily the case. Scheduling annual maintenance checks is the best way to ensure the health, reliability, and operating longevity of your system. Your HVAC professional will inspect your system to make sure it is functioning at optimum levels; and identify and repair any mechanical problems before they become costly, or cause a system failure in the heat of the summer.
HVAC Installation, Service, and Repair in NH and MA
Keep your home and family comfortable this summer with a cooling system that meets your needs and matches your budget. Whether it’s an AC maintenance check, an equipment upgrade, or repair work, you can be sure our team will help you get your home’s cooling needs ready for the warm season ahead. Contact Main Stream Mechanical’s home comfort specialists for your appointment today.
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