The internet is both a blessing and a curse. With the internet being so accessible that anyone can post anything onto it, it is sometimes easy to believe the wrong information. With so much information at your fingertips, all it takes is a little research to find all the right answers to any questions you may have. Today we have put together a list of common HVAC myths and the truths to these myths.
*Myth 1-Closing certain vents in certain rooms will help reduce the load on your system and to save money and energy.
*Truth– For homes that have a modern forced air system closing vents is not a good thing, it can actually be bad for the system. The modern systems were made to have a certain balance including all rooms of your home to work at its best. When you close some vents you are throwing the system off balance. This can actually make your system work harder and break sooner.
*Myth 2– Leaving your ceiling fan on when you are gone will help cool the room.
*Truth– The fan will not help cool an empty room. The fan makes you feel cool because it is blowing over your skin. The room temperature is not changing though so you would just be wasting energy and gaining a higher electricity bill by leaving the fan on in an empty room.
*Myth 3– You need to change your filter once a year.
*Truth– NO way! You should be changing your filter every 30-60 days depending on your home. Take a look at the filter each month and see if it is dirty, if it is then change it. The filter is there to protect the HVAC system by keeping dirt and debris out of the sensitive parts. The filter also helps keep the air you breathe cleaner too. If your filter gets too clogged and dirty, the debris can get into the sensitive parts of the system which can cause it to break. It can also cause it to restrict air flow to your system causing issues and possibly damaging it.
*Myth 4– Turning the thermostat all the way down will help cool your room faster.
*Truth– Not true. The air conditioner cools your home by taking hot air out of it at a set rate which you cannot speed up. All you will be doing by turning the thermostat way down is making the AC work harder.
*Myth 5– You only have to get the system looked at when there is an issue.
*Truth– Not true. Your air conditioner should be cleaned and checked each spring. Bartlett Heating and Air comes out and does a 28 point inspection on the AC and cleans it out. We make sure everything is running the way it should be. The same goes with your furnace but that is cleaned and checked each fall. We have maintenance plans you can purchase that cover both systems and come with extra perks such as a percentage off parts and priority service hours.
Hopefully this blog has helped clear up some myths. Call Bartlett Heating and Air for all your HVAC Needs.
