Undoubtedly you would like to save energy dollars whenever and wherever you can. Sometimes doing so will require a bit of creative thinking. It is important to be wary of common home cooling myths that could either have no effect, or could actually turn out to be quite costly.
The following are common myths that many mistakenly believe to be accurate. Changing your thinking can make a huge difference in home comfort and energy savings.
Turn Off the A/C to Save Energy When You Are Away
In the Fairfax area, a home can become extremely hot in a short time. If the A/C is turned off, a great burden will be placed on the system to restore comfortable temperatures when you return. It is certainly not efficient to keep the A/C running throughout the day when no one is home. The ideal solution to help you save energy and enjoy a nice cool home when you return is to install a programmable thermostat.
Cranking the Thermostat Way Down Cools the Home Faster
The A/C removes heat from your home at a steady rate, so no matter how low you adjust the thermostat, your home will not cool any faster. Set a programmable thermostat to turn the A/C on 30 minutes to an hour before you are due home.
Ceiling Fans Cool Down a Room
That’s not exactly the case. Ceiling fans make you feel up to four degrees cooler because of the wind chill effect. It is the effect of sweat evaporating from the body, a process enhanced by the air from the fan, that provides the sensation of coolness, rather than the actual fan providing the cool air. Turn on the ceiling fans in occupied rooms and turn up the thermostat to save cooling dollars. When you leave the room for extended periods, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.
Upgrading to a Bigger A/C Delivers More Efficient Cooling
Oversized A/Cs cycle on and off too frequently, preventing them from reaching peak efficiency and adequately dehumidifying the home. When you are upgrading, make sure your HVAC technician uses HVAC industry best practices for load calculations and system selection.
To learn more about home cooling myths or about systems to make your home more energy-efficient, call Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning at (703) 763-0399. We provide a range of services and products to make your Fairfax-area home more energy-efficient this summer.
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