AC Repair Myths That Could Be Costing You Money
Your air conditioner keeps your Asheville, NC, home comfortable during the summer. However, if you’ve fallen for any common AC myths, you might be paying more than you need to.
A prime example is purchasing a larger air conditioning unit than your home requires. While you might think this will keep your home extra cool, it also comes with an increased energy cost. 1st Choice Service Group Heating & Air presents this guide to avoiding extra expenses, while keeping your house nice and cool.
7 Common AC Repair Myths
You can definitely be forgiven if you’ve fallen for any of the following myths regarding AC repairs. After all, some of these myths are several decades old and are passed on as being factual.
1. Turning Down the Thermostat Makes It Cool Faster
If you’ve ever heard that turning down your thermostat will cool off your home faster, then it’s time to learn the truth. While on the surface this myth appears to make some sense, it’s actually going to increase your energy costs.
Your air conditioner operates at a constant speed and does not compensate for big temperature variances. In other words, your AC will simply run for longer until it reaches the lower temperature you’ve set your thermostat to. Set your thermostat to your desired temperature instead, and you’ll soon begin to cool off.
2. Closing Vents Saves Energy
When you want to save money, it might seem like closing some of your vents will help. Unfortunately, if you close the vents in your bedrooms to make your shared spaces cooler, your energy bills will increase instead.
The reality is that closing vents causes a lot of stress to your Asheville air conditioner. It will disrupt your HVAC unit’s balanced airflow, which could lead to uneven temperatures. Even worse, it’ll lead to more frequent repairs, along with a lot of wear and tear.
3. DIY Repairs Save You Money
On the surface, it definitely seems like doing your own AC repairs is a good way to save some money. However, your AC unit is complex, and attempting a DIY repair is a good way to damage it even more. Another reason not to try your hand at repairing your AC is that doing so could void your warranty.
4. Save Money by Turning Your AC Off
Do you turn off your air conditioner to save money before leaving home? The problem with this is that your AC will have to work harder than normal to cool your Asheville house upon your return.
Let’s imagine that your home’s AC is usually set to 75 degrees. By turning it off for several hours, though, your house’s temperature has risen by seven degrees. Cooling it back off to 75 degrees takes a lot more energy and money than simply leaving your AC on—just a few degrees higher—in the first place.
5. Routine Preventative Maintenance Wastes Money
We understand that many people are barely scraping by, so it might initially seem like skipping routine maintenance is the way to go. After all, why pay for a professional to look at your AC unit when there is nothing wrong with it?
If you dig deeper, though, you’ll discover that preventative maintenance reduces energy consumption, increases efficiency and helps you avoid expensive repairs. In fact, the very point of preventative maintenance is to help you discover tiny, inexpensive issues before they become huge, expensive inconveniences.
6. Replace Your Air Filter
Although there are a few air filters that only need to be changed once a year, there are a lot more that need to be replaced at least once every three months. Sadly, the myth of replacing an air filter only on an annual basis seems to have stuck, despite it typically being untrue. Most air filters actually need to be replaced every 30 to 90 days.
7. Bigger Units Work Better
Finally, let’s take a closer look at our example from the beginning of the article. Purchasing a bigger AC unit than your house needs will cause it to frequently cycle on and off. Not only will this make your unit less efficient, but it can also cause your home to develop humidity problems.
Top-Notch AC Repairs in Asheville
When your AC needs a repair in Asheville, be sure to reach out to 1st Choice Service Group Heating & Air. Founded in 2007, we are a Christian-based HVAC and electrical company. Some of our services include repairs, AC maintenance and installation. Each of our experts is NATE-certified and fully dedicated to providing timely, professional service.
Has your AC developed problems that keep it from properly cooling off your Asheville home? Contact 1st Choice Service Group Heating & Air right away.