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The Truth Will Save You Money
A lot of people will tell you a lot of things about heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Whether it’s the pretend need for duct cleaning (in most cases) to the routines that may be costing you unnecessarily, let’s take a look at the most important things to know about your HVAC equipment.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Does Not Actually Save Energy
Surprise! Whatever your grandma may have told you, closing vents in unused rooms is not a good way to save energy. In fact, it might be costing you more in unnecessary heating and cooling bills, as well as damaging your equipment. The fact is that today’s HVAC systems are designed to heat and cool in terms of specific square footage. When you close one of your vents, you’re creating a pressure imbalance, forcing your system to work that much harder, as well as potentially creating an air duct leak. Don’t do it!
Setting the Thermostat Lower Does Not Cool Your Home Faster
Nope! A lot of people seem to think that setting their thermostat to a really low temperature will actually cool their home more quickly. This is not true. Strangely, your HVAC system works at the same speed whether you’re setting the thermostat for an extra low temperature or a more conventional one. When you set the temp unnecessarily low, you’re only forcing the system to run longer than necessary. Skip it!
AC Maintenance Is Not Just for When Problems Arise
We’re busy all year round here at Air-Tro. We like to think it’s because of our superior customer service, product knowledge and friendly HVAC staff, but it’s also because very few people out there seem to know they need regular maintenance on their air conditioning system. This results in frequent equipment breakdowns, which in turn cascade into a set of problems that can take a lot of time and money to sort out. While we love all our customers, we’ll tell you: don’t do this. Avoiding system maintenance only leads to costly repairs and premature equipment failure. Instead, take care of your HVAC and you’ll stave off potential issues before they become disasters, as well as extend your system’s lifespan. Professional maintenance twice yearly is recommended.
Bigger HVAC Systems Are Not Necessarily Better
While it may seem counterintuitive that a bigger system doesn’t work more effectively than a smaller one, it is true. Installing an oversized system is often completely counterproductive. A system too large for your space will cycle on and off too frequently, leading to temperature inconsistencies, higher energy bills, and you guessed it, excessive wear and tear. Your system needs to be properly sized to your square footage, and there’s a formula that goes with it. A competent contractor or your HVAC specialist can share more information with you.
Change Your Air Filters Frequently, Please.
We suppose if you live in the middle of a bucolic meadow in, say, rural Alaska, you may not need to change your air filters all that much. But let’s face it. Southern California is filled with pollution, smoke, pet dander, and a whole lot of hot air. All of this has an impact on your indoor air quality and system efficiency. Here in the Southland, you should be changing your air filters every three months, possibly more. Why? A clogged filter restricts airflow, forcing your system to work harder to do the same job. Plus it’s gross to breathe in all that dust and dirt from the outside!
Make informed decisions about your heating and cooling needs. Know the real deal about HVAC. You’ll keep your energy costs down, and enjoy indoor comfort all year round.
Air-Tro has been keeping the Southland comfortable since 1969. Find out why we’re the HVAC company that has been selected as the Reader’s Choice for the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Call us today at (626)357-3535.