Don’t Fall Prey to These 5 Summer Energy Savings Myths

If you’re like most people, you probably look for ways to lower your household expenses. One of the most effective ways is cutting back on energy use during North Carolina’s long cooling season. In an effort to figure out the best way to do this, you may have picked up some tips that are actually counterproductive and can end up increasing your costs. To avoid this happening to you, it’s vital that you bust through these myths and get to the truth about summer energy

Summer Energy Savings Myths Debunked

By learning the truth about summer energy savings, you’ll not only keep more money in the bank, but will enjoy improved home comfort and indoor air quality. Following are some common myths you don’t want to be duped by:

Myth #1: Shut off your air conditioner when you leave home.

Truth: This depends on how hot it gets outside. If your house is left to heat up all day during hot weather, it can put a lot of stress on your system when you get home and your A/C has to work longer to reach the desired temperature. Before you leave, just turn up the thermostat by seven or eight degrees rather than turning the A/C off entirely. On milder days, however, it’s fine to turn it off.

Myth #2: Close vents to increase your A/C’s efficiency.

Truth: Most central A/Cs are designed to deliver air evenly in a home, so closing a vent may just waste energy and add strain to your system.

Myth #3: The lower you set the thermostat, the quicker your home will cool down.

Truth: Cooling systems usually cool at the same rate whether you have the thermostat set where you want the temperature to end up or much lower. By setting the thermostat at a very low temperature, you might just forget about it, and really stress the system as it struggles to reach that temperature.

Myth #4: Use ceiling fans to cool rooms that aren’t occupied.

Truth: Ceiling fans are effective at making you feel cooler, but don’t actually lower the temperature, so there’s no point using them in empty rooms.

Myth #5: Turning on your A/C is the only way to feel comfortable during the summer.

Truth: Spending time in your cooler finished basement and putting cloth-wrapped ice on your wrists are just a couple no-cost ways to stay cool.

For more information on summer energy savings, please contact us at Air Experts anytime. We provide superior HVAC services to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.