Common Myths About Your Air Conditioner

 In HVAC Systems, Indoor Air Quality, Uncategorized

Many of us yearn for the summer months, and then we quickly remember the blistering heat once the season arrives! The time has finally come and many of us are now turning on our air conditioners. We thought this would be a great time to address the most common myths about air conditioners that we tend to hear. Read more to find out the truth.

Turning The Temperature Down Will Cool Your Home Faster

Another common myth about your air conditioner that may have heard is that turning the temperature down very low will cool your house faster. Your AC works just as hard to cool one degree as it does 20 degrees. This will just cause your equipment to run continuously to bring your home’s temperature down, essentially using more energy and causing your equipment to work harder — but it won’t actually cool any faster.

The Bigger, The Better

While an AC unit that’s too small for your home will negatively impact your comfort in the warmer months, bigger doesn’t equal better, either. A unit too large will constantly turn on and off, and will eventually wear the unit out, and fail to effectively remove humidity from the air. For best results, choose a unit that is appropriately sized for your home. If you are unsure of what size unit you need, our team can help you find a model with the correct cooling capacity for your home’s square footage.

You Only Need To Change The Filter In Winter

Just as you would vacuum and dust your home throughout the year, you should also monitor and replace your furnace filter — especially when your AC is running. Dust, pet hair, and allergens will still accumulate and circulate through your home in the summer months. If you notice that your vents aren’t blowing cold air, you may want to start by checking and replacing your filter.

Turning Off The AC Saves Energy

Turning off your air conditioner at night or when you’re out of the house may seem like a good idea, however, the truth is that this won’t help you save energy or money. After being shut off for a period of time, your equipment will have to run for a longer than normal to reduce the temperature in your home, so it’s best to leave it on consistently. We recommend that you always keep your fan on auto and set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature to circulate the air in your home and remove humidity.

An AC Unit Doesn’t Require Any Maintenance

A common myth about air conditioners we also hear is that they don’t need any maintenance. Just like your furnace, your air conditioner would also benefit from annual maintenance. Having your equipment checked and tuned-up by a professional will extend the lifespan of your equipment and help to keep your warranty valid.

If you have any questions about your air conditioner or other home comfort equipment, the team at Bryan’s Fuel is always available. We will even make a house call to help you set up and troubleshoot your equipment. Get in touch with us here and we’ll be happy to help.

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Showing 2 comments
  • Raymond Burrill
    Reply

    I have to disagree with your comment on turning off the A/C does not save energy. It is the same as you do with your furnace in the winter when you use a setback thermostat to save energy. If you are just doing for an hour while you go to the store the savings will be minimal but if you shut it off when you go to bed and do not turn it back on till you wake up then there will be a savings.

    • Bryan's Fuel
      Reply

      Hi Raymond, thanks for the comment! Always good to have some discussion. I think it does depend on your specific home, the weather conditions, and other factors. If your home tends to stay cool at night, it might make sense to turn your AC off. But if your house tends to get hot at night, then your AC will have to work overtime in the morning to get it cool again (as we mentioned in the article) — and this will not help with energy savings. It is ultimately a judgement call, but we would recommend keeping it running in most cases. If nothing else, you will probably sleep better!

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