Air Conditioning FAQ

If after making all the home adjustments you can to stay cool, but you just can’t seem to beat the heat, an air conditioner will do the trick. Air conditioners aren’t the most energy efficient solution to keeping cool, but an older model of an air conditioner can result in larger, unnecessary costs. Replace your old air conditioner with a more efficient one by contacting a heating and cooling contractor today.

MYTH: It’s more efficient to leave the air conditioner running at a minimal level during the day than to shut it off and have to re-cool the house again lager.

FACT: The less you use the AC, the less electricity you use. When the AC is running regardless of the level, you are paying for it, when it is off, you’re not. Keep your windows closed while the AC is off as to not let in additional humidity, a well insulated home should only drop a few degrees throughout the day while you’re not home.

MYTH: To cool off a house faster, you should crank the thermostat 5-7 degrees cooler than the desired temperature until the home cools off.

FACT: Lowering the temperature on the thermostat does not make the air conditioner work any faster when cooling off your home. An air conditioner extracts the hot air in a home and replaces it with cold. An air conditioner only replaces a given amount of hot air with cold in a particular time frame.

MYTH: An efficient AC unit is all you need to save money on your electricity bill, the size doesn’t matter.

FACT: Size is actually very important to both the effectively of the system and the price of your electrical bill. Installing a unit that is larger that you need will only add to your electricity bill and won’t be effective in removing humidity. This is why we do load calculations, in order to calculate the proper sizing.

MYTH: An AC unit will run efficiently no matter where you install it.

FACT: The efficiency of your AC unit has a lot to do with where you install it. In fact, some homes end up needing multiple systems in order to ensure that the whole home is cooled properly.

MYTH: Leaving the fan on when you leave the room can keep the room cool.

FACT: Fans circulate air, making you feel cool but doesn’t actually lower the temperature. In fact, we recommend turning fans OFF when you leave a room to save energy.

MYTH: If an AC is working there’s no need for maintenance.

FACT: Having maintenance done on your AC regularly is recommended in order to prevent future (costly) issues. Also, many warranties require routine service in order to keep the warranty in effect. For example, Trane requires servicing once a year to keep warranties active.

Be sure to have your air conditioner properly checked by a certified HVAC specialist. Ensure that they are licensed, familiar with your type of home cooling system, and will offer references.