Air Conditioning Myths That May Cost You More Money

Myth 1: Get your air conditioner technician from Craigslist.

The internet has gifted us with a variety of options to go to find an AC service technician, but proceed with caution because not all are created equal. While the Better Business Bureau gives you information on whether a business is accredited and, if so, a letter grade determined by their organization’s history and practices, other websites are accessible to anyone wanting to post an ad. For instance, Craigslist lets anyone post an ad for their services, despite whether or not they’re really qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the actual training and background.

If you decide on a company or individual without having the ability to verify their qualifications and competence, it could end up costing you more over time. If the technician doesn’t have the qualifications to properly service your actual air conditioner, you could end up needing a second, more experienced company to repair their mistakes and it could end up costing you multiple service charges.

Myth 2: Working with a small business is better.

Contracting with small businesses can be good for some odd jobs – it’s great for the local business, great for the economy, and probably even good for your wallet. But proceed with caution: small businesses or one-person businesses could leave you in a lurch. If something goes wrong, they may merely disappear and not be there to repair it, or they could not have the resources to get you taken care of quickly, which is a problem if your AC dies in the extreme temperatures of summer.

Budgeting a little bit more for a bigger, more trusted and reliable company can come with perks that help provide you with more confidence, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, expert workmanship, a large certified team of servicemen and women who provide you service 24/7/365, and the confidence that they’ll be a call away in the future if you ever need them again.

 

With the government discontinuing the making of R-22, many homeowners are noticing the fee of refilling their air conditioner’s refrigerant increasing. It may sound like an easy fix to just substitute a different and cheaper refrigerant, but if an air conditioner service technician gives you that advice, you may want to find a second opinion.

Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is designed for, and previous to 2010, it was commonly R-22. Although there is extreme decrease of the production of R-22, those air conditioners are still designed for it, and replacing R-22 with a different refrigerant may not only cause damage to your AC system, it could invalidate your warranty. A voided warranty may cost you hundreds or thousands more in future parts due to likely damage.

Myth 4: You don’t need routine A/C system maintenance.

A lot of people who don’t currently have trouble with their AC may believe they don’t truly need annual maintenance. It’s working fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Well there’s the fact that a yearly AC tune- up is priced around $79 while repairs will cost you around $500. Also, most manufacturers demand routine maintenance to maintain your warranty, so foregoing your routine tune-up could cause you to lose your warranty, meaning a big payout if your air conditioner decides to breakdown on the hottest day of the year.

 

Myth 5: Learning about the company isn’t necessary.

It’s important to ensure you do your homework before deciding on an air conditioner service business, especially if you feel a particular company is pushing you. As we mentioned in Myth #1, some domains don’t demand a contractor to be qualified to market their services. You absolutely need to know what you’re getting into so you don’t have to pay for the same service multiple times.

Social media reviews, references from friends, and an a good accreditation grade with the Better Business Bureau will all help you to understand the type of company you will be giving your business to and help you decide if they are best for you. Google+, Angie’s List, and the BBB are all great websites to start your search. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for prior customer testimonials. You might have to invest your hard-earned money with your air conditioner company, so invest a little time and research to confirm they are the right company for your home.

Myth 6: It costs you more to turn your thermostat higher while you’re out of your home.

Over time, it will actually cost you more to leave the thermostat at a lower temperature all through the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you’re away. It normally will not need an excessive amount of extra energy to get your home cooled down once you arrive, depending on the home.

A programmable thermostat allows for the temperature to be changed from a mobile device so you can easily adjust the temperature lower before returning home, so your home is cool and comfy when you get home. This saves you energy during the day, as well as lowering your cooling bills.

 

Myth 7: Constantly running ceiling fans will help lower the temperature in your home.

Fans help keep people cool, they don’t really lower the temperature of the home alone. In fact, fans (comparable to refrigerators) actually raise the temperature in your home. The motor that is forcing your fan to operate creates heat, which can add heat to the air in your family’s home. A well-working ceiling fan could help level the temperature of your room and may help to cool air by circulating, but if there isn’t a person under the fan to feel the breeze, all it’s doing is wasting energy and money, especially if the air conditioning system is already on. So keep ceiling fans off when no one is in the room and additional air circulation is not needed.

Myth 8: Where the thermostat is installed doesn’t matter.

Thermostats use the temperature surrounding it to determine whether it needs to start up the air conditioning system to cool down your home. Placing a thermostat in your bedroom will only make sure that bedroom reaches the temperature that the thermostat is adjusted to. Once the bedroom is cooled, the AC will turn off and the rest of the floor or home might be much warmer. If the thermostat is installed near a well-lit window or an appliance, it might always determine the temperature is much higher than the living area actually is and keep running your air conditioner, upping your energy bills.

 

Myth 9: Lowering your thermostat way low will help it cool more quickly.

Decreasing your air by too much may only make your air conditioning system work longer, it won’t get to a colder temperature any faster. If your thermostat is set on 77, but you really would be more comfortable at 75, then set it on 75 and it will kick on until it gets to that temperature. Lowering the thermostat to 73 won’t make it lower to 75 any faster, and it will make your system run longer, squandering money and energy.

Myth 10: It’s ok to change your air filter once a year.

Depending on respiratory or allergy issues for the residents of the home, and the kind of air filter you utilize for your air conditioning system, your air filter might need to be swapped out as often as every month. Not changing the air filter often enough not only causes your AC to work harder and decrease efficiency, it could also irritate respiratory conditions like common allergy symptoms.

 

Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today to inquire about your air conditioner or to set-up your complimentary in-home consultation.