Debunking the Most Common HVAC Myths That Exist Today

Do you know that heating and cooling account for 46% of your home’s energy bill?

Because air conditioning and heating involve a lot of sophisticated equipment and procedures, there are a number of HVAC myths that circulate. As a result of these misconceptions, you may end up making bad selections about your HVAC system, which may cost you your safety, comfort, and money.

Here are some common misconceptions you should not believe as a wise homeowner if you want to maximize your HVAC system’s energy efficiency and lifespan.

You Should Only Change Air Filters Once Per Year

When you change your HVAC system filter once each year, you will have serious problems. All filters are not equal, so some will need replacement from monthly to a year.

Often, the ones that last up to a year are thick in specialized media air cleaners and not your air handler or furnace. Consider checking on the manufacturer’s instructions to know how often you need to replace your air filter.

Check your filters monthly since they may need replacing sooner than you expect. When the HVAC system is overworking during the summer or winter, you might have to change the air duct more often.

Also, it will help by changing your air filters if there is a family member with allergies or you have indoor pets.

The Best Types of HVAC Systems Should be the Biggest and Most Expensive Ones

The very expensive HVAC systems are often the highest capacity and energy-efficient. But, that doesn’t imply they fit for everyone.

When purchasing a new A/C system, go for the top options within your budget. Note that sizing is very important. So, do not go for a large unit above your home’s needs.

If you do so, you will be dealing with much-wasted energy and comfort issues in your house. Do not shop for the most expensive heating or cooling system without considering the following factors first.

A smart homeowner will ensure a professional perform a cooling and heating load calculation for their home. That way, you will know the correct size of the unit to buy.

When the energy efficiency rating on the system is high, your energy bills will be low over the unit’s life. The savings will help pay you back to cover the cost of the equipment.

Consider finding a unit that will fit well in your home. If you have an unstable duct system, buying a new heat pump or central air conditioner is more affordable.

Find the unit that will offer the right size and energy efficiency within your budget. That way, your home will be comfortable during different climatic conditions.

You Only Need Maintenance Once the System Breaks Down

There are many causes for an HVAC system breakdown. But, you have waited too long if you only schedule maintenance when the system breaks down.

By waiting too long, you will need repair services. But, maintenance services prevent HVAC system damages and breakdowns. The service is a preventative measure.

Note that this HVAC myth might cost you a great deal if you adhere to it. Ensure you schedule maintenance often to prevent your residential HVAC from damage – don’t fix it once it happens.

Consider scheduling a tune-up for the heating and cooling system each year. Regular maintenance will protect your system, lengthen its service life, and improve energy efficiency. You will also be keeping the warranty terms in check.

Sealing Your Air Leaks Is a Piece of Cake

Note that some air leaks around your house will be easy to locate and fix. But, those within the air ducts are much trickier.

A big part of the duct system is within the attic or under the floors. It becomes hard for homeowners to know areas of damage-causing energy loss.

Do not follow this HVAC myth on air sealing. You should call in a qualified HVAC technician to seal the duct in your home.

The HVAC professional will also help with the air duct replacement or cleaning. First, the technician will perform a pressure test to know where the leak is in the ductwork.

The sealing methods they will use will seal the ducts even in some hard-to-reach areas. An extra myth is that you can use duct tape to seal your ducts. That is not true.

The tape will break down over time which will only cause the air leaks to reopen.

The Temperature Reading on the Thermostat Is always Accurate

Have you ever looked at the thermostat and felt like the temperature reading is a bit off? That might be the case. The belief that thermostat readings are always true is an HVAC myth.

There are many reasons the thermostat sensors will misread temperature. Some of the reasons are recalibration, exposure to direct sunlight, or dirt on the sensors.

When the thermostat is not reading temperature fine, it will not control your HVAC system well. That way, the system will not heat or cool your rooms to the temperature it is displaying.

Speed up the Thermostat Settings to Heat or Cool Your Rooms Fast

Increasing the thermostat to a high temperature or reducing it to a very low temperature does not heat or cool your room faster.

The HVAC myth is the most common one. All it does is waste money over the years. Once you mess with the temperature settings like that, do not expect your rooms to be in comfortable conditions fast.

Also, you will likely forget you did the changes when you are comfortable. Here, you will make the system waste more energy and do more work, increasing wear and tear.

There are better ways to achieve comfort than messing with your thermostat. Consider programming your thermostat. You set it to the temperature you need about 15 minutes before arriving home.

That way, the system will heat or cool your room to comfortable conditions. Another alternative is having a Wi-Fi or smart thermostat.

The smart thermostat has geofencing technology. The tech aids in detecting your location and automatically adjusting temperatures when you are on your way back home.

Closing Vents to Save Money

Always heat or cool a room that connects to the central HVAC system even though you are not using the room. Note that the system heats and cools a specific area, so closing vents will not make the system produce less heating or cooling.

Closing the vents will trap air inside your ducts. That will then increase pressure leading to air leaks in your ducts.

Note that it may also cause overheating in your system, damaging some components. So, leaving the air vents open will be a more energy-efficient option.

A New HVAC System Will Increase the Value of Your Home

Well, that is often not the case. A home inspector who is not an HVAC expert will not be looking for the overall sophistication of the system.

The inspectors often look for two things: the brand’s popularity and if the system is old and needs replacement. What your new HVAC system does is take that off the negotiation table when deciding on a price for your home.

When the system needs urgent replacement, the buyers can use that against you. But, other differences, such as brand new vs. eight years or variable-speed vs. single-stage, will not matter.

The Less Time the Furnace Is Running, the Less Energy It Is Using

The fact is, that is true only between extreme and temperate days. Here, the extreme temperatures need a longer-running system and more energy use.

But, that is not true when it comes to the equipment itself. A variable-speed system runs for longer periods than two-stage or single-stage systems.

Note that some variable-speed systems may operate at a low of 25% capacity. That means you only use a fraction of the cost during the uptime.

But on the contrary, the frequent on/off of the HVAC system that operates at 100% capacity can have slightly less uptime. But, the system will be using more overall energy.

You Now Know the HVAC Myths That Exist Today

Our experience shows that the HVAC myths are causes of a lot of trouble for homeowners. Also, they are why we get many repair calls that are often preventable.

By learning the above HVAC myths, you now have the knowledge needed to debunk the common myths that exist today.

Did you learn something helpful from this article? If so, keep an eye on our website for more informative blog posts.