Myth 1: Find your air conditioner technician from Craigslist.
The World Wide Web has gifted us with a variety of options to go to look for an AC service technician, but proceed with caution because not all are qualified. While the Better Business Bureau gives you information on whether a company is accredited based on their organization’s history and practices, other websites are accessible to anyone wanting to post an ad. For example, Craigslist lets anyone post an ad for their services, regardless of 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 being able to verify their qualifications and competence, it could end up costing you more in the long run. If the technician doesn’t have the qualifications to properly service your actual air conditioning system, you could end up needing a second, more experienced company to repair their mistakes and it could end up costing you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Hiring a small business is better.
Contracting with small businesses can be great for some minor home services – it’s good for the local business, great for the economy, and probably even great for your wallet. But proceed with caution: small businesses or one-person companies 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 your issue resolved quickly, which is bad news if your air conditioning system 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 give you 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 peace of mind that they’ll be a call away if you ever require their services.
Myth 3: It’s okay to use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioning system.
With the government discontinuing the production of R-22, many people 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 probably want to find a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the system 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 conditioning systems 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 air conditioning system may believe they don’t truly need yearly maintenance. It’s working fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Except for the fact that an annual AC tune- up is priced around $79 while repairs will cost you around $500. Not to mention, most manufacturers demand routine maintenance to maintain your warranty, so foregoing your routine tune-up could cost you your warranty, meaning a big payout if your air conditioner decides to breakdown on the hottest day of the summer.
Myth 5: Learning about the company isn’t necessary.
It’s crucial to ensure you do your homework before choosing an air conditioner service business, especially if you feel a specific 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 who you’re working with so you don’t have to pay for the same service multiple times.
Online reviews, references from family, and an a high 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. Angie’s List, Google+, and Yelp are all good websites to start your search. Also, don’t be scared to ask for prior customer testimonials. You might have to pay a pretty penny to your air conditioner company, so invest a little time and research to confirm they are the best 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 increase your costs to leave the thermostat at a cooler temperature all through the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you are gone. It normally will not need an exorbitant amount of additional energy to get your home cooled down once you return, depending on the home.
A programmable thermostat lets the temperature to be changed from a phone or tablet so you can easily adjust the temperature lower before returning home, so your home is cool and comfy when you arrive. 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 actually 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 generates heat, which can put heat in the air in your family’s home. A well-working ceiling fan could help level the temperature of the room and may help to cool air by circulating, but if there isn’t a person below the fan to feel the breeze, all you’re doing is squandering energy and money, especially if the AC is already running. So keep ceiling fans off when there is no one in the room and extra 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 AC 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 quite a bit warmer. If the thermostat is installed near a well-lit window or an appliance, it may always determine the temperature is much higher than the home truly is and keep running your air conditioner, upping your cooling bills.
Myth 9: Lowering your thermostat way low will help it cool faster.
Decreasing your air by too much may only make your air conditioning system run longer, it won’t get to a colder temperature any faster. If your thermostat is says 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. Putting the thermostat on 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 replace 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 AC, your air filter might need to be swapped out as often as every 30 days. Failure to change the air filter often enough not only makes 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 free in-home consultation.