Summer energy myths can quickly drive up energy bills and may actually hinder comfort and system efficiency. Do any of the following myths affect your Illinois or Indiana home?
- Turning the A/C Off When You Leave Home Is the Best Way to Lower Cooling Costs. It’s easy to do, but turning off the A/C system to save energy when you leave home just makes the system work longer and harder when you return to a hot house. The best solution to save energy while away from home (and during sleeping hours) is to use a programmable thermostat. It can be set 7-10 degrees higher when the house is empty, and programmed to return to a comfortable temperature before you expect to arrive home.
- Very Low Thermostat Settings Cool a Home Faster. Turning the thermostat way down does not make the A/C cool faster in most cases. Even a high-efficiency A/C with a variable-speed blower and compressor won’t cool a home of 85 degrees to 75 degrees any faster if the thermostat is set on 65. Moreover, setting the thermostat too low wastes energy if it’s forgotten.
- Closing Off Air Vents Saves Energy. This summer energy myth merely creates airflow restrictions, system wear and operational problems with your A/C. Closing vents also creates disruptive duct noise from airflow forcing its way through small openings in “closed” vents, and the open vents are noisier due to the added airflow. Consider a zoning system for conditioning rooms as needed.
- Ceiling Fans Cool a Home. Ceiling fans do not affect the temperature of a room. Instead, ceiling fans provide a wind-chill effect for occupants, which removes heat and moisture from the body more quickly. Running a ceiling fan in an empty room wastes energy.
- Running the A/C Is the Only Way to Stay Cool. Using window coverings to block sunlight into a room reduces heat gain, which lowers the need for A/C while keeping the room comfortable. Ceiling fans are excellent devices for feeling cooler without running the A/C 24/7. If you are upgrading or installing a new cooling system, remember that heat pumps provide excellent home cooling, too, and you’ll enjoy a dual-fuel heating system (paired heat pump and furnace).
If you have any questions about summer energy myths, please contact Meyer’s for the answers.