Back to Air Conditioning

Posted: May 3, 2022

You have probably heard a lot of different things about air conditioning in your life. If you are not an HVAC professional, you probably do not know what is factual and what is a myth. Today, our goal is to debunk some of these common myths and hopefully make more homeowners more informed about their air conditioning units. We believe the more knowledgeable you are, the better off you will be.

Myth 1: Air filters can be changed once a year.
Air filters need to be changed regularly. If you allow your filter to collect dust, dirt, and other contaminants, your filter will become clogged. A clogged filter will cause your system to work harder due to poor airflow, which means your electric bill will be higher than normal. You can also expect to have poor indoor air quality. We recommend changing your air filter once a month.

Myth 2: Preventative maintenance is not needed.
I know there are people that believe in the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. That may work for some things in life, but when it comes to your HVAC system, it simply does not. Preventative maintenance is absolutely necessary. If you are not having your unit serviced, your unit will eventually have breakdowns and it will be more frequent.

Myth 3: Thermostat placement does not matter.
This is false. Your thermostat needs to be placed in an area that is not in direct sun or close to appliances that produce a lot of heat. If it is, the thermostat will think the temperature inside your home is warm causing the air conditioning unit to run and it can run longer than it really needs to. If your thermostat is near air vents, the thermostat will think the temperature inside your home is cool and will stop cooling your home, even though your house is warmer.  

Myth 4: Turning the thermostat down will cool the house faster.
It is a common misconception that if you set the thermostat to a low temperature, it will cool the house faster. You do not need to set your thermostat to 60 degrees to get your home to cool down. We recommend adjusting the temperature to what you consider a comfortable temperature and giving it a little time to adjust.

Myth 5: Closing air vents can save you money.
The air vents allow you to control how much air comes out at one time. The system does not know that you have closed a vent and if you close it, it does not redirect the air to another room in the house. A closed vent will redirect the air back into the ducts and much of it becomes lost. If your vents are closed, it can increase the power consumption and cause damage to the system, which means more money will be required.

Myth 6: A bigger AC unit is better.
Bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to air conditioning units. If the air conditioner is too big for the space it needs to cool, the unit will cycle on and off repeatedly. Short cycling causes the parts to wear out faster, shortens the life, and increases the power consumption significantly.

At Brevard Cooling and Heating, we do not expect our customers to be the experts. We are happy to answer any questions or assist you with any issues you may have in your Cocoa, Florida home. If you want to know if something is true or a myth, please contact us here or schedule an appointment here if you require our services.