A lot of summertime energy-saving myths are floating around that homeowners employ in an attempt to reduce costly electric bills. Unfortunately, a lot of the things people do simply don’t work, and could even be costing them more. Learn which myths to avoid so you can cool your home properly this summer.
- Turning the A/C off while you’re away from home will help you save money. It’s a common myth, but it’s not true during the hottest days because your A/C will have to work considerably harder and longer to get your home back to a comfortable temperature when you get home. However, running your A/C at your regular comfort level while you’re gone for eight or more hours isn’t the solution either. Your best option is to use a programmable thermostat to raise the temperature eight to 10 degrees while you’re gone and lower it again before you return home.
- You can keep rooms cool by using a ceiling fan. The fact is that ceiling fans don’t actually work to keep rooms cool; they make your body feel cooler. Ceiling fans basically work to create a wind-chill effect that cools your skin, but if you’re not in the room, the fan isn’t doing you any good. Turn ceiling fans off when you exit a room to reduce energy costs.
- Closing vents in rooms you don’t use will help save money. Unless you have an HVAC system with zone control, you’re just keeping the inside of your air ducts cool because the cool air is still being generated. The higher air pressure in dead-end ducts also will run the risk of opening leaks between duct sections. If you’re running the A/C, just keep all of your vents open and cool your entire home.
Please contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning to learn about summertime energy-saving myths, as well as ways you can keep your air conditioner running efficiently. We have been serving the greater Fresno area for nearly 40 years, and we can’t wait to help you with all of your HVAC needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy saving myths and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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