Myths About Air Conditioning

We might be living in a modern world where information is easily available but many of us still fall victim to a lot of myths. Take for instance the proper usage of air conditioners. False notions continue to hinder efficiency in many homes. Owners have a number of undesirable habits that result in higher energy consumption than is truly necessary. Here are three of the most prevalent air conditioning myths:

Myth #1: Cooling happens faster when you turn the thermostat down low.

When we get home during a hot day, the first thing we reach out for is usually the A/C remote control. We crave for relief from the warm weather by turning the thermostat down low. Some even go to extremes thinking that the room will cool faster if the settings are cranked lower. This simply isn’t true. Heat will be moved out of the room at a constant rate no matter the settings so there will not be a change in speed. The air will just feel much colder than usual, to the point that it might be uncomfortable.

Myth #2: Electric fans will contribute to cooling in empty rooms.

Electric fans can be used in tandem with air conditioners to increase the cooling effect while keeping energy consumption low. Homeowners should understand how fans are able to do their job so as to use them more effectively. Many think that keeping them turned on will contribute to cooling when there’s no one in the room. This is false. To reap their benefits, a person must be in the direct line of the fans. The moving air is what causes evaporative cooling on the skin.

Myth #3: It’s better to keep the system on during idle hours than to switch it off.

Allowing the system to keep going in an empty house is wasteful. Energy is expended without anyone benefiting from it. Those who are leaving for school or work should turn the air conditioner off and just turn it back on when they get back. Better yet, use a programmable thermostat to turn the system on 15 minutes or so before the usual time of arrival for a cool welcome.

Jennifer P.