Your HVAC system makes your house in Creola, AL, a comfortable home rather than just a shelter. You’ll read or hear many tips about your system, including many that aren’t exactly true. Here are some of the biggest HVAC system myths you may run across and the truth behind them.
A Bigger System Is Better
Bigger systems produce more heating and cooling capacity, making some people think a bigger system is better. However, with larger systems come higher installation and operational costs. You might also end up with a system that’s too big for your space, making it ineffective to maintain your desired temperature.
Your system depends on its ability to circulate air, and that’s a function of both your system and the size of your home. If your furnace or AC system needs more air than the house or duct system can provide, it won’t be effective.
A system that’s too large will short cycle, meaning it will start and stop frequently without conditioning the air throughout your home, leaving hot and cold spots. A system that’s too small will run constantly, driving up operating costs and increasing AC and furnace repairs.
All You Need to Size Your HVAC System Is the Square Footage
To get the right size system for your home, you’ll need to look at several factors. Having a professional determine your home’s square footage is the first step to determining the right size, but it’s not the only one.
Rather, once you have the rough size based on square footage, you’ll need to consider other factors. Do you have more than two people typically occupying your home? Does the house have many windows or large ones?
These are just two of the many factors that may influence the size of heating and cooling system your house needs. An experienced HVAC installer can easily work through all the variables to find exactly the right size system for your home.
You’ll Save Money By Keeping the Same Temperature All Day
You’ll hear some people recommend adjusting your thermostat throughout the day. Others will recommend keeping it at the same temperature to prevent the system from running longer cycles when you get home.
It’s true that keeping your thermostat at a constant temperature keeps the strain on your system consistent. However, doing so also uses more energy to warm or cool your home when you don’t need it.
The U.S. Department of Energy suggests adjusting your temperature by 7-10 degrees from its normal setting for about eight hours each day — that much warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. Doing this can save you about 10% on your annual utility bills.
This adjustment is enough to prevent major strain on your system when bringing it back to the ideal setting. It’s also enough to reduce your energy consumption when you don’t benefit from it, if you’re working outside of the home.
You Can Do Your Own HVAC Maintenance
Typically, experts recommend furnace maintenance in the fall and air conditioner maintenance in the spring. Some people believe you can save by doing the maintenance on your own, but this myth puts you and your system at risk.
Any time you’re servicing your furnace or AC, there’s a risk of causing damage or significant injury. Anyone working on these systems needs proper training to avoid these unintended consequences. A certified technician knows how to clean your system without causing damage, improving its efficiency.
Professionals also know how to inspect every element of the system to ensure it’s working optimally. When they find something wrong with a component, they can fix it before it completely fails. This saves you money on larger repair bills by dealing with problems while they’re still small.
Many manufacturers also require professional maintenance as a term of their warranty. Attempting to do the maintenance yourself may invalidate that warranty, leaving you with an expensive repair bill if something fails.
Don’t sacrifice the life of your HVAC system by neglecting regular maintenance. Call today schedule your HVAC maintenance with our expert technicians at Air Specialty.
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