August 19, 2021
Cooling Myths in Salem, OR

Whenever you’re looking for a way to cut down on the amount of energy that you spend on cooling your house in the summer, you might use tips and tricks that you’ve read online or heard about from your neighbors, friends, and family. Unfortunately, a lot of these tips are lacking or flat-out wrong, and they can even cost you more money if you use them. We would like to set the record straight on some of the most common myths there are when it comes to cooling strategies.

Myth 1: Appliances Won’t Add to the Heat in Your House

Lots of people think that it won’t add any extra heat to the house to have appliances on. While it makes perfect sense to have appliances that you’re using on, don’t feel like you should keep them on if you’re not using them because the amount of heat that they put out can add up. For instance, the two televisions that you’re not using should be turned off, and the same is true of computers and other electronic equipment. If you want an example of an appliance putting out so much heat that you can feel it, think about the last time you or a family member was using a curling iron in a small bathroom with the door closed. This heat production can add up and cost you more on cooling costs. Additionally, because appliances like the clothes dryer and dishwasher put out so much money, you should only run them when you’re going to be out for a few hours or in the early morning hours. As for cooking, use the grill on hot evenings to keep the heat out of the house. Or, you can make meals that don’t require that you use the oven or stovetop.

Myth 2: Your Air Conditioner Manufactures Cold Air

Some people think that an air conditioner makes cold air like how a manufacturing plant produces a variety of goods. But the reality is that an air conditioner is pulling the heat out of the air that’s already on the inside of the house. It’s also taking out the humidity and allergens in this process, and this information is important to understand when you have an air conditioning technician come over to your house to do repairs and maintenance because you’ll understand that much more quickly what’s wrong with your air conditioner and how they’re going to fix it.

Myth 3: Closing Vents and Doors Will Lower Cooling Costs

When you’re trying to save money on cooling costs, it might be tempting to think that closing doors and vents to rooms that you’re not using will save you money on your energy bills. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. When you close the vents and doors, you’re blocking the airflow. Your HVAC system was made for your house, and when you block airflow, you just make your air conditioner work harder to push the air through, which results in your air conditioner expending even more energy.

Myth 4: The Most Heat Transfer Is Around Windows and Doors

When you’re looking for ways to cut cooling costs, you want to keep the heat outside. To do this, you might think that you should put extra weather stripping around the doors and windows. While this is a good start, you might be surprised to know that the doors and windows aren’t where most of the heat transfer is taking place if you have a wood house. The walls are where most of the heat is entering your house, particularly around pipes and electrical outlets. If you have a brick house, you’re better insulated from heat transfer. But if you have a wooden house, you should have a professional go out to your house to find where the majority of the heat transfer is happening in your house.

Myth 5: Electricity Costs the Same at All Times of the Day

If you want to save on cooling costs, you should be aware of when electricity is the most likely to cost more throughout the day. Some people think that it costs the same all throughout the day, but when more people are using electricity, it’s more likely to cost more. Usually, in the early evening hours, electricity tends to be the most expensive because everyone else is using their appliances after work.

Myth 6: Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners Will Always Boost Efficiency

Energy-efficient air conditioners will always save you energy costs and money, right? Well, yes and no. To have your air conditioner be as efficient as possible, you need to have it installed and serviced regularly. An energy-efficient air conditioner will save you some money, but everything needs proper maintenance to work well over the long run.

Myth 7: You Should Turn the Air Conditioner Completely Off When You’re Out of the House

Many people think that you should turn your air conditioner completely off during the day when you’re gone for work, but this won’t save you nearly as much in cooling costs as you might imagine. When you go to work and let your house heat up, you have to expend even more energy to cool it down when you get back home. And because energy costs tend to be higher when everyone else is getting home and trying to cool down their houses, it’s going to be even more expensive to cool down your house. A better strategy is to keep the house at a slightly higher temperature than what you like it to be when you’re home. Then, when it’s time to come home, you only have to cool it down a little bit to be comfortable.

Myth 8: Bigger Air Conditioners Will Get You Better Results

It’s common to think that bigger is always better, but this isn’t true when it comes to air conditioners, which should be a size that’s appropriate for the size of your house. When you use an air conditioner that’s too big for your house, it will cool down the house quickly. But what’s interesting here is that this is actually a problem. Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool the air; it also removed humidity and allergens. But it needs more cycles to do this properly, which your air conditioner won’t go through when it removes the heat so quickly. In fact, a larger air conditioner will leave the house feeling cool but damp, which is a sensation that most people don’t like. A better strategy is to have the right size air conditioner for the space and keep your house at a somewhat even temperature.

When you’re looking for ways to cut down on cooling costs, knowing an air conditioner service company like Woodward Heating Air Plumbing in Salem, OR can help a lot. We do air conditioner and furnace repairs, installations, and maintenance for all your HVAC needs. Contact us today for any of your heating or cooling needs.

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