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Common Air Conditioning Myths That Are Costing You Money

7/3/2015

thermostat

As the summer temperatures continue to rise, and you’re willing to try just about anything to keep cool, it’s important to take home cooling advice with a grain of salt.

We’ve provided a list of popular myths and even debunked them for you!

  1. Ceiling fans cool rooms. Fans cool people, not rooms. So if you’re leaving fans on in the room when it’s empty, you’re just wasting energy. With operating costs at 2 cents per hour, however, it’s not nearly as bad as leaving your air conditioner on when no one is home (around $1 or more per hour).
  2. Drastically lowering the thermostat will cool your home faster. Because central air conditioners work at a constant pace, cranking the air conditioner down won’t cool your home any faster. Forgetting to adjust the thermostat back to normal could cost you extra money too.
  3. Keeping your A/C on all day is more efficient. If you haven’t invested in a programmable thermostat yet, you’re throwing away money. These thermostats allow the temperature to adjust when you aren’t there, saving you money annually! There are even models that you can control remotely on your smartphone.
  4. Duct tape is a great way to seal ducts. Don’t let the name fool you. Duct tape isn’t what you should be using to seal off leaks in ductwork, as it eventually cracks, breaking any seal. It lacks in durability and doesn’t stick to ill-prepared surfaces. Instead, use mastic sealant or aluminum foil tape to seal the leaks in your ducts. For professional duct cleaning and sealing in the Des Moines area, call Service Legends at 515-COMFORT.
  5. Closing vents in empty rooms will save money on energy bills. Closing registers in a room only creates more problems. Leakage from excess pressure, mold, and mildew from a lack of airflow, and increased energy use are several complications that can occur. Your central air conditioning system was specifically designed for a certain amount of rooms. Closing off the registers in one or more rooms will create unwanted pressure in your air ducts. For a more technical explanation of how this works, read this article by energyvanguard.com.

Now that you have been made aware of these popular myths, you can adjust your home cooling methods to be more cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Heating and Cooling Des Moines Since 1997

At Service Legends, we take pride in heating and cooling Des Moines and the surrounding areas. Our HVAC services include furnace and air conditioner installation, repairs, maintenance, and tune-ups. Our lineup of Indoor Air Quality solutions includes whole-home humidifiers, air purifiers, and air filtration systems. We can even help with HVAC financing.

Call 515-657-6634 to contact our Home Comfort Heroes today. We’re standing by 24/7.

515-657-6634Request Appointment Online

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