Myth 1: Get your air conditioner technician on Craigslist.
The internet has given us a variety of places to go to look for an air conditioning service technician, but be careful because not all are comparable. While the Better Business Bureau displays information on whether a business is accredited based on their organization’s history and practices, other websites are open to anyone who wants to post an ad. For example, Craigslist allows anyone to post an ad promoting their services, not requiring them to verify whether or not they’re really qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the actual training and background.
If you decide on a business or individual without being able to confirm their qualifications and capability, it could end up costing you more in the long run. If the tech doesn’t know how to properly fix your specific air conditioning system, you may end up needing another, more experienced company to repair their mistakes and it could cost you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Choosing a small business is better.
Working with small businesses can be great for some small fixes – it’s great for the local business, good for the economy, and maybe even wonderful for your bank account. But be careful: small businesses or one-person businesses could leave you in a lurch. If something backfires, they may simply disappear and not be available to fix it, or they may not have the resources to get your issue resolved quickly, which is not what you want if your air conditioning system breaks down in the dog days of summer.
Spending a little bit more for a bigger, more reputable and reliable company can come with benefits that help give you more peace of mind, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, quality workmanship, a large certified team of servicemen and women who provide you service 24/7/365, and the peace of mind that they’ll be available in the future if you ever need them again.
Myth 3: You can use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioner.
With the government stopping the manufacturing of R-22, many homeowners are noticing the price of refilling their air conditioning system’s refrigerant increasing. It may seem like an easy fix to just substitute a different and lower cost refrigerant, but if an air conditioning service technician advises you to do that, you probably want to find a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is developed for, and before 2010, it was usually R-22. Although there is extreme reduction of the production of R-22, those air conditioning systems are still designed for it, and using a different refrigerant may not only cause harm to your air conditioning equipment, it could void your warranty. A nullified warranty might cost you hundreds or thousands more in future parts due to possible damage.
Myth 4: You don’t need annual AC maintenance.
Many people who don’t currently have trouble with their air conditioner may assume they don’t actually need routine maintenance. It’s operating fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Well there’s the fact that an annual AC tune- up is priced around $79 while repairs will cost you around $500. Also, most manufacturers demand yearly maintenance to continue your warranty, so skipping your yearly tune-up could cost you your warranty, meaning a huge payout if your AC decides to go out on the hottest day of the season.
Myth 5: Learning about the company isn’t important.
It’s crucial to check that you do your research before choosing an air conditioning service contractor, especially if you feel a particular company is pressuring you. As we mentioned in Myth #1, some sites don’t demand a contractor to be qualified to place an ad for their services. You absolutely need to know who you’re working with so you don’t have to worry about paying for the same service twice.
Website reviews, references from neighbors, and an a good accreditation grade with the Better Business Bureau will all assure you of the type of company you will be offering your business to and help you choose if they are right for you. Angie’s List, Google+, and Yelp are all wonderful websites to start your homework. Also, don’t be shy to ask for prior customer testimonials. You might have to invest your hard-earned money with your AC contractor, so invest some time and research to confirm they are the ideal company for you.
Myth 6: It costs more to turn your thermostat up while you’re away from home.
Over time, it will increase your bills to leave the thermostat at a colder temperature throughout the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you are away from your home. It normally will not take an outrageous amount of more energy to cool your home once you enter, depending on your home.
A programmable thermostat allows for the temperature to be changed from a tablet or phone so you can just adjust the temperature lower before returning home, so your home is nice and comfy when you enter. This decreases your energy during the day, as well as lowering your cooling bills.
Myth 7: Continuously running ceiling fans will help lower the temperature in your home.
Fans help cool people, they don’t actually lower the temperature of the home by themselves. In fact, fans (similar to refrigerators) actually increase the temperature in your home. The motor that is forcing your fan to operate generates heat, which can put heat in the air in the home. An efficient ceiling fan can help level the temperature of the room and may help to cool air by circulating, but if nobody is beneath the fan to feel the cool air, all you’re doing is wasting energy and money, especially if the air conditioner is already running. So turn off ceiling fans when there is nobody in the room and extra air circulation is unnecessary.
Myth 8: Where the thermostat is installed doesn’t matter.
Thermostats read the temperature surrounding it to decide whether it needs to start up the air conditioning system to cool down your home. Installing a thermostat in your bedroom will only make sure that bedroom lowers to the temperature that the thermostat is adjusted to. Once your bedroom is cooled, the air conditioner will turn off and the remainder of the floor or home might be quite a bit warmer. If the thermostat is put near a sunny window or an appliance, it may continuously think the temperature is much higher than the home really is and constantly run your air conditioner, upping your energy bills.
Myth 9: Excessively lowering your thermostat will help it cool more speedily.
Turning your air down lower may only make your air conditioner run longer, it won’t get cooler any faster. If your thermostat is says 77, but you really want it to be 75, then set it to 75 and it will run until it reaches that temperature. Decreasing the thermostat to 73 won’t make it get to 75 any faster, and it will make your system run longer, squandering money and energy.
Myth 10: It’s acceptable to swap out your air filter once a year.
Depending on the health conditions of the residents of the home, and the style of air filter you have for your air conditioner, your air filter might need to be replaced as often as every four weeks. Skipping the replacement of the air filter often enough not only causes your air conditioner to work harder and reduce efficiency, it could also irritate respiratory illnesses like common allergy symptoms.
Call Church Services today for more information about your air conditioner or to set-up your no-charge in-home consultation.