Summer’s here and things are heating up! As the temperatures rise, you want nothing more than to crank up the A/C and cool down your home.

But before you go flipping switches and fiddling with dials, stop and think things through. Many of us make some wrong assumptions about how to use air conditioning. And those mistakes cost us cold, hard cash!

Want to stay chill this summer without getting burned by high electric bills? Then keep reading, friend. It’s time to deep-six those air conditioning myths!

“The lower I set the temperature, the faster my house will cool!”

We do feel your pain. Coming home from the blazing heat outside to a steamy indoor sauna is no fun at all! Your first instinct is probably to crank the thermostat down as low as it can go – like maybe 62°F if you could.

The logic makes sense – lower setting equals colder air, right? But here’s the deal: no matter how low you set that sucker; your A/C system will blow at maximum capacity. It’s either 100% on or 100% off.

So if you’re roasting inside, dropping the temperature to the North Pole won’t hurry the cooling one bit. You’ll just make the A/C work harder when it cycles on again.

Instead, set the AC to a reasonable temp when leaving the house. Then maybe give the A/C a little boost once you’re home to offset the heat you brought in the door with you. Your system will hum along at a nice, efficient pace.

“An oversized A/C unit means serious cooling power!”

When it’s time to replace that ancient relic of an air conditioner, it’s natural to think bigger is better. You imagine some industrial-sized beast chilling your home to frosty perfection.

But again, looks can be deceiving. Oversized units cost you more in the long run. Here’s why:

A unit way too big for your house powers up, blasts out cold air until the place is an ice box, then shuts off. Lather, rinse, repeat. That’s a ton of wear and tear.

A properly sized system, on the other hand, runs long, gentle cycles. It maintains a stable temperature more efficiently without the extreme ups and downs.

So don’t get duped by visions of gigantic vents gusting arctic breezes. Right-sized systems save the day on hot summer afternoons.

“I’ll save money by turning the A/C off when I leave!”

Okay, we admit it – this one sounds logical at first blush. After all, if no one’s home, why chill an empty house? Just shut the darn thing down! Conserve that electricity!

But remember what we said about moisture buildup? Shutting the A/C off completely allows humidity to accumulate quickly, especially in muggy climates.

So now you come home to a hot, sticky, swampy mess. The AC has to run like crazy to lower the temp while also removing all that mugginess from the air. Cha-ching go your utility bills!

Instead, before heading out, bump the temperature up several notches, maybe around 78°F. This leaves the A/C on minimally to handle humidity control. You come home to cooler comfort without the moisture.

“My sinuses are blocked – the A/C must be dirty!”

Allergy sufferers know the misery of summer colds and sinus troubles. When pollen and mold are at their peak, coughing and sniffling abounds.

It’s natural to assume cranking up the AC spreads those sneeze-inducers right into your home’s air. After all, air conditioners circulate inside air, right along with whatever allergens it holds.

But here’s the real reason behind your summer sniffles: viruses. Runny noses and chest colds come from contracting a viral infection, not from the A/C itself.

Now, a unit that’s poorly maintained can disperse dust and mold into the air. So changing filters and regular cleanings are still important for indoor air quality. But don’t blame every summer cold on the AC!

“I’ll just change the filter when I remember to…”

Most of us are pretty neglectful when it comes to this one. Out of sight, out of mind! Once you pop that filter into place, it’s quickly forgotten.

But much like dirty socks under a teen’s bed, that filter collects gunk over time. Dust, pet hair, pollen – you name it, it’s in there. Before long, you’ve got a nasty clogged filter.

What’s the big deal, you ask? Restricted airflow from a filthy filter makes your system strain to push out air. That means it works way harder than necessary trying to cool your home. Cha-ching again!

Instead, mark your calendar and check or swap the filter as often as the manufacturer recommends, usually every couple of months. You’ll keep air flowing freely through a sparkling clean system.

“My old A/C still runs – no need to replace it yet!”

Today’s machines really take the convenience factor up a few notches. Everything’s Bluetooth enabled, touchscreen controlled, wi-fi connected. It’s easy to think older appliances still work just fine.

But heating and cooling technology has come a long way. Those newer systems hog way less energy than the dinosaurs from 10 or 20 years ago.

So even if that old window-shaker clunks along for now, it’s still gobbling up more power than a newer model. The savings on monthly bills will astound you once you upgrade.

Keep tabs on repair costs and energy usage as your old unit ages. When the time feels right, get a quote on replacement. We bet you’ll be amazingly pleased with how efficiently modern A/Cs run.

“Any old spot is fine for the thermostat…”

Remember the game Hot and Cold as kids? “You’re getting colder…warmer…now you’re hot!” Finding the best location took patience.

Choosing the right thermostat spot in your home is actually kind of similar. You want it centrally located but away from windows, drafts, lamps, and appliances.

If placed wrong, your thermostat gets a skewed reading of the actual household temperature. The A/C then strains to heat, cool, and dehumidify inaccurately. More waste, more money flying out that window!

Test different spots and see which one provides the best average reading of comfort. Take your time playing Hot and Cold to find thermostat nirvana. Your utility bill will thank you!

“Ceiling fans cool rooms, not ACs!”

Raise your hand if you crank up the ceiling fan and then bump the thermostat up a few degrees. Feels pretty brilliant, right? In cooler temps you can avoid blasting the A/C!

Except fans don’t actually lower air temperature – they just circulate the existing air to create a wind chill effect. So if it’s 90°F in the room, the fan just blows around 90° air, even on turbo mode.

Fans do allow you to feel comfier at slightly higher temps. But don’t kid yourself – you still need the A/C’s cooling power when it’s crazy hot out.

Use both fan power and A/C in tandem to maximize comfort while keeping energy use in check. And make sure the blades push air downward to reach your skin.

“Closing extra vents will save money!”

Quick question – do you close the vents in unused rooms during the summer? Spare bedrooms, basement, that kind of thing? If so, we’ve got some myth-busting to do.

Blocking vents might seem smart – why cool rooms no one uses? But your A/C system relies on balanced airflow through the ducts. Cutting off vents disrupts this balance.

The end result is the rest of your vents work overtime to compensate. Your unit strains to keep up with the uneven temperatures and humidity. Energy bills, prepare for liftoff!

For ideal comfort and efficiency, leave all vents open, even in unused areas. Control temperatures through smart thermostat use instead – it’s a much better way to save.

“Fans reduce how much my A/C runs!”

By now you get the gist – fans chill people, not spaces. So it stands to reason that simply running a ceiling fan won’t lessen how much your air conditioner cycles on.

But here’s the kicker: combine a circulating fan with your central A/C, and you can bump up the thermostat a tad while still feeling comfy. This combo lets you run the A/C a bit less as the temperatures rise.

The breeze from the overhead fan lets you tolerate slightly warmer indoor temps when you’d normally need the A/C blasting. Just make sure it pushes air down onto your skin for maximum effect.

Work this fan/AC tag-team to maximize savings while still beating the heat. A few simple equipment tweaks goes a long way!

“Newer units don’t need annual check-ups!”

When your A/C system is shiny and new, it seems like it should just run forever without issues. You might think tuning it up yearly is overkill.

But even new units need occasional maintenance to spot minor problems before they become major repairs. Here are some benefits of a yearly AC wellness visit:

• Ensures the system wasn’t damaged by cold weather over winter
• Technician cleans components like coils and drip pans
• Checks refrigerant charge and seals for leaks
• Confirms proper airflow through vents
• Verifies drainagesystem prevents clogs and backups
• Lubricates moving parts
• Diagnoses issues before failure or breakdown

Just like changing the oil in a new car, a tune-up keeps your system humming along at peak efficiency. Don’t skip these just because you have a newer unit. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pricey HVAC repairs!

Got all that? Great!