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 Dr. Clean Air wants to set the record straight to help you save money and keep your air conditioner running its very best.
Some Myths You Should Know:
Ducts only get dirty when the AC is used
Ducts only get dirty when the AC is working is a common fallacy that frequently misleads homeowners to believe their ducts will become dirty if they use their air conditioning system. However, this is far from reality, as various types of forced air systems can enter into the duct and contaminate them. Furthermore, ducts utilized for ventilation or heating are prone to dirt regardless of the nature of airflow. Therefore, if you notice your duct system getting dirty, it is imperative to contact a reputable duct cleaning expert.
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.
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.
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.
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.