9 air conditioning myths you shouldn’t believe

Air conditioning systems are a god-send during the sweltering summer months when it seems like nothing else is effective enough at cooling your home. While the technology for air conditioners have had a couple of breakthroughs in recent years, there are still some myths about the equipment that continue to hang around. Quality Air has gone through the top myths, and paired them with the facts you need to know to keep you cool this summer.

 

Myth: You can save on your electricity bill by constantly running your unit, instead of switching it on later and having to re-cool the house all over again.
Fact: This is one of the most common myths about air conditioning. The fact is you can save on electricity bills when you switch off your air conditioner. The trick is to keep the room insulated to prevent the cool air from escaping. Keep your windows closed and curtains drawn when you’re away from home. Using a programmable thermostat can let you have your system off during the day, then start up again at a selected time before you get home. This allows your unit to take a break when it doesn’t need to use energy.

Myth: Your air conditioner will run efficiently, no matter where and how you install it.
Fact: If you believe that installing an air conditioning unit anywhere in the room can give you the same results, think again. The efficiency of an air conditioner depends a lot on where it is installed. Never install the thermostat close to light fixtures or electrical appliances, as the heat emitted from these can affect its accuracy in sensing the temperature of the room. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, and ensure that nothing obstructs the air flow from the vents.

Myth: Ceiling fans keep a room cooler.
Fact: Fans move air in a room, creating a wind-chill effect, however, they do not affect the air temperature. While a ceiling fan can make the people in the room feel cool, it does nothing to lower the temperature of the room. It is recommended that you turn off the fans before leaving the room, if you wish to save energy. However, it can be a solution to use the fan for when you want to cool down your body temperature without lowering the thermostat.

Myth: Air conditioners only cool the air.
Fact: Air conditioners condition the air. This means that it cools the air, but also removes excess humidity from the air at the same time.

Myth: Upgrading to a bigger air conditioner provides better results.
Fact: Having a big air conditioner is like having a car with a big engine, while having an air conditioner that is the correct size for your home is like having a car with good fuel economy. Obviously both cars will do the job they need to do, but the bigger engine will always use more energy.

Air conditioner units are designed to work at a specific rate, so when you have a unit that is too big for your home (even if it has a high efficiency rating), the unit will not know the space in your home is smaller. Instead, it will work as though you have a bigger home, consuming more energy to produce the same results as a correctly sized air conditioner.

Myth: Lowering the temperature will cool the house faster.
Fact: It is a common belief that you should set the thermostat to a temperature a few degrees lower than you would want, but nothing could be further than the truth. As mentioned before, air conditioners operate at a consistent rate to reach the temperature that was set. Lowering the thermostat drastically will not cool your house faster. It will cool at the same rate, and ultimately waste energy.

Myth: Air filters don’t matter.
Fact: The air filter is like a sieve. It will let the air through, whilst trapping the dirt and dust particles. As an air filter accumulates dirt, the unit will have to work harder to draw in clean air and keep your house cool. Cleaning or changing the filter media as often as recommended can reduce wasted energy.

Myth: Spending too much time in air conditioned environments can make you sick.
Fact: This is completely false. People used to believe that we could catch a cold when exposed to low temperatures, but we now know that colds are caused by virus’. However, accumulation of dust or mould in filters and vents can trigger allergic symptoms. This can be avoided by cleaning them as recommended.

Myth: Air conditioners are only meant for the summer.
Fact: Modern air conditioners come with modes for different seasons of the year, so the assumption that air conditioners are only meant to be used during hot weather has become a myth of the past. Today there are units with hot and cold modes, allowing air conditioners to double as heaters, therefore making them suitable for use in cold climates too.

 

There are quite a few myths that people mistakenly consider to be facts. Don’t let air conditioning myths tip you in the wrong direction. If you have any more questions about air conditioning myths, contact the friendly team at Quality Air today.