As with any appliance, people tend to believe old wives’ tales, myths, and stories about air conditioning units that are better off passing around the coffee pot at the office. The problem is that experts agree that the majority of these are false. Many people make up stories about their own experiences, which could be valid for various reasons. However, if you believe those stories, you could be wasting your time or compromising your A/C system.
Unearthing the Truth Behind Air Conditioning Myths
These are seven of the most common air conditioning myths that don’t hold up under scrutiny.
Myth 1: The Bigger Your AC Unit, the Better Results You Get
This one is a prevalent myth. Large units mean more space for the machine to work. They have bigger motors and better compressors, which means they should be able to cool larger homes than small units. Many people say that bigger is always better with air conditioners.
But, most experts agree that this is a myth. The reality is that the size of the unit and the size of the home have nothing to do with each other. They come in distinct sizes to accommodate different rooms, and the size of the unit doesn’t matter for performance.
A bigger unit will provide better cooling, but only if the unit’s capacity is proportional to the size of the home. A smaller home is much better off with a smaller unit because it can cool more efficiently.
A small air conditioner will use less energy, be more efficient, and operate better in a small space.
Myth 2: The Lower the Thermostat, the Faster the Cooling
Some believe that the lower the temperature you set the thermostat to, the faster your home will start cooling. However, the truth is that the air conditioner will produce the same amount of cool air as usual. The efficiency will be the same, so the best thing to do is adjust the thermostat to your desired temperature and have a little patience as you wait for the room to cool.
Myth 3: There’s No Need for Frequent Filter Replacement
The myth that filters don’t need to be changed often is easy to believe. It’s very common for people to drop the replacement cycle because they are worried that they will wear the filter out more quickly. They will clean the filter after a few uses and then just put it back in the air conditioner.
The fact is that air conditioners’ air filters must be changed at least once a year. Otherwise, they will completely clog up the air conditioning unit, and the AC has a more challenging time cooling the home.
The only exceptions to this are the ones that are incorporated into the air conditioning unit. In those cases, it’s best to check with the manufacturer to see which replacement cycle is best for the unit.
Myth 4: You Need to Close the Vents in Any Unused Rooms
It’s easy to believe sometimes that if you close the vents in any rooms that are going to be unused, it will save money on your energy bill. The only problem with this is that closing off the vents in a room you don’t use isn’t a good idea.
If you close the vents in unused rooms, you’ll be adjusting the home’s air and temperature distribution. Also, you’ll cause pressure to accumulate in parts of the ducts, making the air conditioner work harder to cool the other rooms down. It’s no longer money-saving but energy-costing. Another thing to worry about is trapping any smells and air pollutants in the rooms.
Myth 5: It Doesn’t Matter Wherever You Place Your Thermostat
You may have heard that the placement of your thermostat is entirely up to you and that it doesn’t matter what you do with it. There’s an idea that the thermostat only works when it’s on the wall behind you so that you don’t accidentally touch it.
Unfortunately, this is a myth. The placement of your thermostat is important, and that’s because it needs to have an accurate temperature reading. If placed in the wrong spot, it may not be able to adjust the temperature evenly and efficiently. As a result, some rooms may be more uncomfortable than others. You’ll just be wasting energy because of this.
Myth 6: It Is Best to Maximize Your Old AC Unit Before Replacing
It’s common to think you can get more life out of your old AC unit. The truth is that many people think you can run the AC units as much as possible to get more life out of them, cutting back on the cost of buying a new unit.
What experts say is that this is a bad idea. The unit will work harder and will be much harder to cool down your space, ultimately just eating up energy while being inefficient. The best idea is to get a new unit and use it for as long as it will last before replacing it. That is how you will get the most use out of the unit.
Myth 7: It’s Best to Use the Fan to Cool Your Home
This one is a myth that’s been around for a long time. They say you can turn the fan on to help cool the home down while you’re home and save energy by leaving it off while you’re away.
However, experts agree that there is no point to this. The fan can only “cool” people down by blowing cool air around—not the home. It isn’t doing anything to actually lower the house’s temperature down faster.
Conclusion
Many people believe these myths, but air conditioners have evolved so much that you can use them more than you might think. It’s time to let go of these myths and start using your air conditioner the right way.
The next time you are trying to save energy and money, be sure to check out these common air conditioner myths. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, so it’s a good idea to get everything you can from the experts.
HVAC Swami is your expert HVAC resource. Whether you need to read up on air conditioning tune-up, want more information on a commercial HVAC system, or need emergency heating and cooling, you’ll find the facts and data in our articles.
