Your HVAC system plays a critical role in keeping your home in Buford, GA, comfortable. However, there are a lot of myths floating around that may cost you dearly in your utility bills or additional repairs. Here are the top six myths, along with the facts surrounding them.
1. You Only Have to Change Your Filter Once a Year
The air filter in your system helps remove contaminants from the air, reducing the strain on your system. The specific air filter you have will determine how often you should plan to change your filter.
It’s best to check your filters monthly so you can monitor their condition. Plan to change them about every three months for most standard 1-inch or 2-inch filters. You can extend the life of your filters by gently vacuuming off the intake side of the filter.
2. Setting Your Thermostat Warmer or Colder Will Make Your System Work Faster
There’s a common thought that setting your thermostat hotter or colder will achieve your desired temperature more quickly. The reality is your system can only work so fast, which is in part dependent on your particular system. When you try to get it to work fast, you’re only extending the run cycle.
Longer run cycles put more strain on your system, increasing the wear on each component and driving up utility costs. It’s better to set your temperature correctly and exercise some patience. If it seems like your system is taking longer than normal to cool, it may be time to call a technician for an AC repair.
3. A Bigger AC Will Cool My House Better
Sometimes the thought is that a larger, more powerful system will help cool your house more effectively. However, an oversized system actually causes it to short cycle, which causes the system to start and stop more frequently.
Short cycling puts tremendous strain on your system, especially your air conditioning compressor. This additional strain leads to increased energy bills and premature system failure.
4. Closing Vents in Unoccupied Rooms Increases Energy Efficiency
You may think that shutting vents in unoccupied rooms will help increase the efficiency in the rooms you do use. However, there are two unintended consequences when you shut those registers.
First, the air temperature in those rooms will be significantly different from the rest of the house. However, it still mixes with the air cycling through the system. This means your system has to work hard to heat or cool that air.
It also increases the pressure in your ventilation system, which leads to leaks in your ductwork. These leaks decrease efficiency by leaking heated or cooled air outside the target rooms.
5. It Doesn’t Matter Where You Put Your Thermostat
The location of your thermostat is incredibly important to keeping your system working properly. When mounted in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight, it will falsely read warmer temperatures. This will cause the system to turn on prematurely, increasing your energy bills.
If you put it near a supply vent, it may read the desired temperature prematurely because of the direct airflow. This will also cause the system to short cycle, causing the same issues already discussed.
6. Professional Seasonal Maintenance Doesn’t Matter
Proper maintenance is so important that many manufacturers tie their warranty to the system in order to receive regular maintenance. Your system will experience undue strain without this maintenance because of airflow restrictions and loosened parts.
You may think that your system maintenance is something you can easily do on your own. However, there are many parts to test, and without proper training, it’s easy to damage your system.
Be sure your HVAC system is ready for whatever this summer brings with it. Call us at Pruitt Heating & Air, Inc. to schedule your seasonal HVAC maintenance today. Our technicians can service any make or model.
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