From a very young age, we’re told not to believe everything we hear – but, somehow, we still end up believing most of what we see on the news and read about online without taking time to investigate further. When it comes to energy savings, believing all of those great “money saving tips” without doing your own research can actually hit you right where it hurts – in the wallet. Here are a few common misconceptions about home energy savings:
Myth: Turning off your air conditioner stops the appliance from consuming energy.
Truth: Research has revealed that many household devices continue to consume energy even when they are powered off. Like other electronics and appliances in your home, your system likely will continue to draw a small amount of power unless you unplug it completely.
Myth: Closing the vents always cuts down on your HVAC system’s energy consumption.
Truth: While closing the vent in a room may stop the blast of warm or cool air in that particular room or area of your home, it only re-directs it elsewhere. In fact, closing one vent may build up pressure and force the system’s fan to work harder and, over time, wear out faster.
Partial myth: Investing in an energy-efficient heating and cooling system will result in energy savings and lower utility bills.
Truth: It’s true that energy-efficient systems use less power than their non energy-efficient counterparts or older systems. However, there are also other factors to consider – such as HVAC system installation. For example, if the system is improperly installed or not correctly sized, it can waste about one-third of the energy used by the appliance. If this is the case, you may not see any reduction in cost at all. You may also notice that you were accustomed to a certain amount on your energy bill, and have simply increased your comfort by setting a lower set-point in the summer or higher set-point in the winter.
Myth: Any heating and cooling specialist can assist you with your home comfort needs.
Truth: While many air conditioning professionals may be able to answer your questions and help you choose the right system for your home, Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning has been serving the Fresno area for over 40 years and has all of the experience required to solve your heating and cooling issues fast. Contact us today!
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 savings tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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