Most consumers understand the importance of their HVAC system when it comes to the environmental comfort in their home. HVAC systems ensure that you feel cool in the summer, and warm enough in winter, but for many this is the limit of their knowledge. While they may appreciate that regular servicing of their system is important for optimum efficiency and performance, there are a number of common myths that may contribute to higher energy bills and compromised performance. Here are just three of the most common and why they are just myths.
You Can Cool Warm your Home Faster With a Higher Thermostat Setting:
This is a very widespread myth, and many homeowners are guilty of cranking up the thermostat settings to try to cool their home faster. The fundamental reason this myth is wrong is that your heating system will run until it hits the correct temperature. By setting the thermostat extra hot, it won’t get your home closer to the optimum temperature. In fact, you are likely to find that your home becomes too hot, and you have to readjust the thermostat, wasting energy. If you want have confidence that your home will be at the perfect temperature when you need it, you may wish to consider installing a timer on your thermostat. The introduction of a timer will allow the system to bring the temperature up or down to your particular preferences automatically. This will ensure that the temperature is perfect as soon as you walk through the door.
When You Leave the House, You Shouldn’t Adjust the Thermostat:
Many homeowners believe that if you turn the temperature up when out of the house, when you return you will need to use more energy to bring it back down the correct temperature compared to leaving the system on the whole time. Although there is a grain of truth in this, it is not really the case. The extent of this greatly depends on how much the temperature is adjusted, the outside temperature and how often you are turning the heating on and off in a day. If you are adjusting the temperature by only a few degrees while you are out of the house, you will save energy and money. For example, if your temperature is normally set at 72º, but you are out at work all day, you should program the thermostat to be set at 58º while you are away. The system can be programmed to return to your preferred temperature just before you are due home. This will allow you to never experience a temperature difference, but save money on your energy bills.
You Can Use Duct Tape to Seal Ducts:
Although the name suggests that it is the perfect product, duct tape is not really suitable for sealing your ducts. The reason is that duct tape does not retain its sticking ability for prolonged periods. After less than a few years, you will find that the tape has lost adhesion. If you do want to seal ducts, you should use air duct mastic or metal foil tape for a more consistent seal. You may wish to consider having a professional check your ducts to see if replacing them may be a better option.