So, here are the most common misconceptions around AC usage that HVAC pros want us to stop believing.
- Rich Walker, president of Summers Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling
- Benjamin Uscilla, HVAC technician and owner of Evergreen Heating and Cooling
- Ken Nelson, group sales manager, ventilation at Panasonic North America
- Chris Hunter, director of customer relations at Service Titan
1 | Turning Down the Thermostat to “Make it Cool Faster”
It’s hard to be patient when you’re overheated and sweaty—and that leads many of us be a bit too aggressive with the AC, cranking the temperature way down and hoping for quick relief. However, HVAC pros say that is simply not how it works.
“The most common misconception with AC usage is a lot of homeowners believe that turning down their thermostat really far will make it cool faster—but the unit will run the same,” says Rich Walker, president of Summers Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling. “The unit will provide the same amount of cooling, at least on most systems, it will just continue to run until it meets that temperature. But it will not cool faster or harder.”
Benjamin Uscilla, HVAC technician and owner of Evergreen Heating and Cooling, echoes that point, emphasizing how not only is this method ineffective, but it can also be bad for the appliance. “Residential air conditioners aren’t refrigerators,” he says. “Setting them below 68 degrees is not recommended by most manufacturers and more often than not will cause mechanical failures within the system because they are simply not designed to work that well.”
2| Turning Up the Thermostat When No One’s Home to Save Money
Energy bills during the peak of summer can be pretty scary, so many of us look for simple ways to save, like turning up the thermostat while you’re out of the house. However, this common idea can actually backfire.
“A lot of people try turning the temp up during the day thinking they’ll save money, but it just means that when you get home, it’s going to take potentially hours for the house to get back to your comfort level and most likely will not save you any money in operation,” says Uscilla.
Walker explains that, during really hot periods, it’s actually better to start the day off at a lower set point (the temperature a thermostat is set to), so that the AC won’t have to work as hard to get back to a comfortable temperature when you return home. For the sake of your appliance and your bills, consistency is preferred over big fluctuations in the thermostat settings. “It’s typically better to hold a certain set point than adjusting up and down during peak usage times of year,” Walker says.
However, an energy-efficient programmable thermostat can be useful to take some of the guessing out of the temperature settings and to make sure the house is a comfortable temperature long before you return home.
3 | Turning the AC Off When You’re Away Will Save Money
Similarly to turning the thermostat way up when you’re away, turning the AC off completely during a heat wave can be an even worse idea. Doing so can bring your home to a much warmer temperature than it would be otherwise, which can put a lot of strain on your AC when you turn it back on.
Letting your home get too hot can also lead to a number of other issues, potentially damaging or warping your floors, appliances, windows, woodwork, and more. Too much heat in the home can also lead to more humidity issues, which can lead to further home damage and health problems.
4| Thinking the AC Will Fix Humidity Issues
Humidity is another reason that you may return home and decide to drastically crank down the thermostat. However, while air conditioners do naturally remove moisture from the air as they cool, they shouldn’t be your sole defense against indoor humidity. “One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking air conditioning alone will manage humidity,” says Ken Nelson, group sales manager, ventilation at Panasonic North America. “AC does help, but it’s primarily designed to cool, not dehumidify.”
So, if your home has indoor humidity issues, you’ll need to address it holistically, rather than trying to just use your AC as a dehumidifier.
5| Thinking Bigger Is Better
If you live in a super hot climate and you want an aggressive AC system to cool you down, you may think you need the biggest option on the market. However, this too can backfire.
An AC that’s too big for your space will cool your home quickly and then shut off, and all the starts and stops can can raise your bills and wear down the appliance. This hyper fast cooling can also lead to more humidity.
“If [the AC is] oversized for your square footage, it cools down too fast, never allowing the unit to run long enough to dehumidify appropriately,” says Chris Hunter, director of customer relations at Service Titan.
So, make sure your AC unit is properly sized for your space so that it can do its job right and won’t accidentally cost you more money.
But the best way to determine what’s best for you and your specific situation? Talk to a trusted local agent.
