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It’s a common belief that leaving a window open at night will help your home cool down. However, this is a myth! And what other HVAC myths might you believe …
Myth #1: Opening a window at night is a good way to save on electric bills
When you open up your windows, you’re letting in outside air that can be full of pollutants, allergens, and humidity. This can cause your air conditioner to work overtime to filter out the bad air and excess humidity, which will cost you more energy.
Plus, when a window is open in your home, it creates “temperature zones” in your home, where some rooms are hotter or colder. Your thermostat is trying to reach a specific temperature for your whole house, but you’re fighting it!
Myth #2: If you have allergies, it’s better to use a humidifier
If you have allergies, using a humidifier can worsen your symptoms if you overdo it. That’s because humidifiers add moisture to the air, making dust mites and mold thrive if you’re over-humidifying.
Humidity is suitable for your lungs because respiratory dryness can also aggravate allergy symptoms, but a humidifier that isn’t properly maintained can undoubtedly worsen.
Myth #3: It’s better to leave your ceiling fans on all the time
Ceiling fans don’t cool down your home. They simply make it feel cooler. So if you leave them on all the time, even when no one is in the room, you’re just wasting energy. So the key is ceiling fans produce comfort / the “illusion” of calm, which is great if there are people around to benefit, but ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature.
Myth #4: Closing vents in unused rooms will save you money
This is false – closing vents in unused rooms can strain your HVAC system and even cause it to break down. Closing vents doesn’t make your system work less; it just redistributes the airflow in your home. Since your system is a specific size based on the square footage of your home, it’s designed to circulate the air throughout evenly. So blocking vents can end up costing you more money in repairs!
Myth #5: It’s better to set your thermostat to “on” rather than “auto.”
This is another myth that could end up costing you money! When your thermostat is “on,” your system constantly runs, even when your home doesn’t need cooling or heating. This wastes a lot of energy and drives up your utility bills.
The “auto” setting on your thermostat will save you money because it will only kick on when your home needs to be heated or cooled and then shut off once the house reaches the desired temperature.
Bonus Myth #6: It isn’t necessary to change your filter regularly.
Regularly changing your air filter is one of the most important things to maintain your HVAC system. A dirty air filter makes your system work harder. The U.S. Department of Energy says replacing a dirty filter saves you up to 15% on your bill each month!
So there you have it – five (plus a bonus!) myths about your HVAC system that you shouldn’t believe! Be sure to consult with a professional if you have any questions or concerns about your home’s heating and cooling.
Give Air Repair Pros a call anytime at 469-333-2474, and we’ll provide excellent service in a hurry. That’s NOT a myth!
