When it comes to keeping your home comfortable, it makes sense that you’d like to do so as efficiently as possible. After all, who wants to pay more than necessary to keep their home at a reasonable temperature during the summer?
However, there are a number of mistakes homeowners often make regarding their AC use, and it actually works against them. Many folks believe these myths because they have been told they can save money when the contrary is true. Read on as we uncover some of the most common cooling efficiency mistakes.
Purchasing the Biggest Air Conditioner They Can Afford
You probably already know why you should not try to use an air conditioner that’s too little for your home, or underpowered in other words. It simply won’t be able to keep up with your home’s demands and can’t effectively cool your living space. But, were you aware that too large of a system—an overpowered system—can be just as detrimental to cooling efficiency?
A system that is too big for the space it is in will begin going through a process called short-cycling, where it turns on and off rapidly and never completes a full cooling cycle. This is an issue for a couple of reasons. First off, you’ll never achieve the home comfort you desire if your system is short cycling. Secondly, short-cycling accelerates the wear and tear on an air conditioner, leading to premature replacement needs.
Leaving Ceiling Fans on When They’re Not Home
Ceiling fans effectively move air. That is their main purpose. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, which we’ll touch on in a moment. But leaving ceiling fans on all day when the home is unoccupied only uses up energy, rather than saving it. However, if you use your ceiling fans with your air conditioner while you’re at home, it will help better distribute the air and help you feel cooler, so you can turn the thermostat up a few degrees and ultimately use your air conditioner more efficiently.
Closing Vents in Unoccupied Rooms
If you’re home and need cooling in one area of the house but not the other, it makes sense to close off the vent to the room that doesn’t need it, right?
Unfortunately, your air conditioner isn’t designed to handle this. You could create an air pressure problem that might end up damaging your ductwork as a result.
The right answer here is to have a zone control system—These are systems that have dampers that can be closed off to achieve what you’re trying to achieve with the closed vents, but more safely and effectively. It is easier to install this type of system with a brand new air conditioner, though. So, what’s another option?
Upgrading to a ductless system! Ductless systems are comprised of a single outdoor unit and up to 4 indoor air handlers each, that are mounted high up on the wall in the rooms where they’ll be used. What’s more, is that each air handler can be controlled independently of the others, for zone control by default.
For expert air conditioning services in Concord, CA, contact Hometown Heating and Air Conditioning. Your Comfort is Our Business!