The Truth Behind Common Air Conditioning Myths

If you live in the greater Columbia, South Carolina area, you know how hot and humid the weather can get here. At E.F. Martin, we are all about saving our customers, friends & family some money and providing tips and tricks when it comes to keeping your home cool and comfortable in the Columbia, SC heat. Below, we will talk about some of the most common air conditioning myths that we hear from our customers and debunk them. We hope by doing so that our customers are using “best practices” when using your air conditioner at home to stay cool & comfortable this summer.

Ceiling Fans Cool Homes

Your ceiling fans are there for a reason, but the reason is not to cool down your home in replace of your air conditioning unit. This long time myth really does make sense on the surface, but it is far from the actual truth. Fans cool people down, not your entire home or even a room for that matter. Fans help to circulate air inside your home and cool your skin which is caused their cooling effect. The cooling effect that fans provide don’t actually reduce the temperature in your home so in order to save money on your electricity bill, make sure you turn your fans off when you are not present in the room to enjoy the cooling effect from your ceiling fans. 

Bigger is Better

When you think about this idea, it makes sense. If you buy a bigger AC unit for your Columbia, South Carolina home, your home will cool faster and more efficiently. But the opposite is actually true – a bigger air conditioner doesn’t necessarily mean it will cool your house better because of its size. If you purchase an over sized unit for a home that is too small for its cooling capacity, it can actually cost you more money to operate by expending more energy than needed. It will cycle on and off repeatedly which adds unnecessary wear and tear to your AC unit.

Close Off Vents in Unused Rooms

Just because a room in your home does not get used much does not mean that you need to close off the vents in said room. Your air conditioning system is designed to cool your entire home, including those unused rooms. If you close an air vent, you are not actually improving the efficiency of your HVAC system. All you’re doing is cooling the inside of your air ducts. Closing off parts of your Columbia, South Carolina home can even cause your AC unit to work harder to compensate for the imbalance. Make sure you keep all of your air vents open, even in the rooms you don’t use as much. 

Regular AC Maintenance Is a Waste of Money

Finally, this is a heating and air conditioning myth that we hear all too often – HVAC maintenance is not necessary and is a waste of money. This could not be farther from the truth. Regular air conditioning maintenance is in fact extremely necessary and a great investment, especially if you want an AC unit that is reliable and lives a long life. Regular HVAC maintenance can help keep your air conditioning unit running smoothly and efficiently for a long time!
Just like dental checkups, regular HVAC maintenance check-ups need to happen at least twice a year. It allows for technicians to catch any problems with your equipment that might have developed since the last maintenance service. If you’re in the greater Columbia, South Carolina area and are in need of a heating and cooling company you can trust to provide you comfort this summer, give E.F. Martin a call today