Myths have a tendency to spread much more quickly than facts. When it comes to your air conditioner, there are all kinds of myths that have gotten around to the masses, and Cates Heating and Cooling wants to set the record straight to help you save money and keep your air conditioner running its very best.

Myth #1: You Can Save Money by Turning the AC Off or Up High When You Leave

Turning your air conditioner off while you are away—or even turning the temperature up really high—doesn’t save you any money. In fact, when you turn the air back down to a temperature that makes you feel comfortable, your air conditioning unit will have to work harder, which will not only cost you more money on your cooling bill, but it can also lead to problems with the unit that are costly to repair.

To prevent running up the bill, consider a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat will allow you to schedule temperature changes, which can be more cost-effective than constantly changing the temperature.

Myth #2: Running Fans Reduces How Much Your Air Conditioner Runs

Since fans don’t cool air, they have no bearing on how much the air conditioner runs. Fans move air around, which is why it seems cooler when fans are on in your home. Fans can actually increase the temperature of the air in your home because the motor produces warm air.

Myth #3: You Don’t Need Yearly AC Maintenance

It may seem like a huge waste of money to pay for maintenance on your air conditioning unit every year—especially when the unit is fairly new. However, yearly maintenance can prevent you from having to pay even more money for costly air conditioning repairs later on. Additionally, these maintenance visits can also tip off your service company to any of the problems your unit could soon be facing and prevent an emergency call in the dead of the summer. Regular maintenance can keep your air conditioner running more efficiently as well, which can save you big bucks on your cooling bill in the summer.

Myth #4: Turning the Thermostat Down Super Low Will Make It Cool Faster

When you decrease the air temperature by too much, all you are doing is making your air conditioning unit run longer. Just set the temperature to whatever you want it to cool to so that you don’t cause the system to run too long, which will cost you more energy and money.

Myth #5: You Only Need to Change Your Air Filter Once a Year

Air filters help keep contaminants from entering the air in your home. Replacing the air filter frequently is necessary to prevent these contaminants from causing health problems for those in your home. While you may believe that changing your air filter once a year will be good enough, you should really consider changing the filter once a month, especially if anyone in your home has health issues.

Myth #6: The Bigger the Air Conditioner, the Better the Results

The size of the air conditioner doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to get your home cooler faster. You want to get an air conditioner that is the correct size for your home because it will be more efficient than one that is too big or small for the space. You will end up paying for your air conditioner to cool a space the size of the home it thinks you have, even if your home is much smaller, so you will pay a lot more for the cool air in your home.

Myth #7: You Only Need to Call an HVAC Technician When Something is Wrong

Not to harp on the subject, but regular maintenance is a must to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently. If you are only calling out a technician when something breaks, you are likely going to end up paying far more for service. With regularly scheduled maintenance appointments, you can ensure that you are doing everything possible to prevent future problems with your AC unit.

Myth #8: Closing Vents in One Part of the House Will Push Air to Other Parts

While this may have been true in the past, modern air conditioners don’t work this way. Current air conditioning systems rely on a balance to keep the air in your home cool and closing off vents in the house upsets this balance. This unbalance will cause your system to work harder. Also, closing off the vents in one part of the house could lead to a humidity problem in that part of your home, because air conditioners also pull moisture out of the air.

If you need help with your air conditioner, Cates Heating and Cooling can either repair or replace your unit. Cates’ technicians not only repair and replace air conditioners, but they can also perform maintenance checks that will make it less likely that your air conditioner needs servicing throughout the year. To set up an appointment, or if you have any questions, contact Cates today at 913-888-4470.