Debunking Common Myths About Air Conditioning

If there’s one thing people like to do, it’s giving advice. Come on, admit it, you know what I’m talking about. Maybe it’s your best friend who’s a little bit of a know-it-all. It could be your father-in-law, bless his heart. When it comes to things like air conditioning, however, that advice could be costing you money. Too often the information being offered about air conditioning in Redlands has no basis in fact. With that in mind, Sanborn’s Air Conditioning and Heating presents this list of five common myths about air conditioning and keeping your house cool.

A ceiling fan will cool a room

All a fan does is move the air around the room. It does not cool the air. You may feel a cooling effect as the air moves across your skin. It’s especially true if you are sweating because the breeze from the fan helps the perspiration evaporate. In an air-conditioned house, fans are helpful because they circulate the cooled air. As a result, you may be able to set the thermostat slightly higher (warmer).

Turning the air off while at work saves money

While not totally false, this statement is still a myth. The only way it would save money is if you did not turn the thermostat higher when you left home. Turning the A/C off for the entire day in our hot climate will make your house extremely uncomfortable when you return. And your air conditioner will have to work so hard to cool it back down you could shorten the life of your unit. The smart thing is to invest in a programmable thermostat and set it to increase the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re gone and cool the house back down before you get home.

Closing vents in unused rooms will make other rooms cooler

We’ve all heard this one and it seems to make sense, but most central air conditioners are sized to cool down a house. By closing the vent, all you’re doing is keeping the inside of the vent cold. The conditioned air is simply bouncing around in the ductwork. Closing some of the vents also forces the compressor to work harder. If you only want to cool a limited area, a better choice might be adding a ductless mini-split air conditioner. It delivers the cool air directly to the area where you need it.

Turning the thermostat lower cools the house faster

Sorry, it just doesn’t work that way. Most air conditioners only have two settings on and off. The A/C will run at the same steady rate until the room is cooled to the temperature set on the thermostat. Cranking the setting down colder than the desired temperature just means your A/C will run longer and waste money.

Air conditioners don’t require service until they stop working

Anyone who gives you advice like this has probably spent some time stranded by the side of the road waiting for a tow truck or has paid a lot of money for air conditioning repairs in his or her Redlands home. Just like any mechanical device, your heating and cooling systems require maintenance and tune-ups. It’s what keeps your air conditioner running at peak efficiency and keeps you comfortable. Trust us, the cost of a tune-up can look pretty reasonable if it prevents even one emergency repair.
Now that we have the myths behind us, you can depend on Sanborn’s for all of your air conditioning needs in San Bernardino, and the entire Inland Empire.