3 Heating and Cooling Myths You Probably Believe

In many parts of the country, homeowners have discontinued the use of their air conditioning unit and are starting to turn up the heat. You may not currently require air conditioning services, but you certainly want to keep HVAC systems in check to optimize performance during the colder months. Throughout the year, your heating and cooling systems keep your home and family feeling comfortable. But if you don’t have the correct information, you may soon require unanticipated air conditioning repair or emergency furnace repair. That’s why we’re setting the record straight on these three common heat and cooling myths.

MYTH: Covering your vents will reduce heating or cooling costs

REALITY: Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, blocking your vents will just throw your HVAC system out of balance. It forces your heating and air conditioning system to work overtime to compensate, which will likely end up costing you more money on your monthly bill. It can also cause problems that require costly repairs. To limit your need for repairs for your heating and air conditioning services, make sure you leave all vents uncovered. It’s actually the most energy efficient practice because heat or cool air will distribute evenly throughout your home without interruption.

MYTH: Setting your thermostat at an extreme temperature will heat or cool your house much faster

REALITY: That’s not how HVAC systems work. Your heating or cooling system will work at the same rate, regardless of the temperature you’ve set. In other words, it takes just as long for your home to heat up by two degrees as it does for 10 degrees. Essentially, you’ll just end up wasting energy (thus costing you more money) because you’ll end up with a room that’s boiling or freezing — which will cause you to adjust the temperature yet again. Give your system and your body time to adjust to the new temperature before making adjustments.

MYTH: If your system is running fine, you don’t need yearly maintenance

REALITY: Not true. Although furnaces typically last anywhere from 15 to 18 years, that doesn’t mean you’ll be good to go until then. Yearly maintenance can catch little issues before they turn into big problems. Those big problems can mean big costs. While an annual checkup can cost less than $100, emergency air conditioning services or furnace repairs can cost $500 or more. Skipping your annual tune-up can be a huge hit to your yearly budget. Plus, certain warranties require regular maintenance; if you opt out of your annual system check, it could invalidate your warranty — which could land you in deep trouble if your system stops working at a pivotal time. Include a yearly maintenance check in your budget to prevent unexpected costs later on.

When you have the 4-1-1 on the best practices for maintaining your heating and cooling systems, you’ll be less likely to encounter an A/C or heating emergency. If you require heat or air conditioning services at any point during the year or simply want to schedule a yearly check-up for your HVAC system, please contact us today.