Myth 1: Get your AC technician on Craigslist.
The World Wide Web has provided us with a variety of places to go to look for an A/C system service technician, but be careful because not all are comparable. While the Better Business Bureau provides you with information on whether a contractor is accredited depending on their company history and practices, other websites are available to anyone who requests to post an ad. Case in point, Craigslist will allow anyone to post an ad providing their services, not requiring them to verify whether or not they’re truly qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the correct training and experience.
If you choose a contractor or individual without being able to confirm their qualifications and skill set, it could end up costing you more in the long run. If the serviceman or woman doesn’t have the knowledge to properly service your particular AC equipment, you may end up needing another, more experienced contractor to correct their mistakes and it could cost you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Choosing a small business is better.
Hiring small businesses can be wonderful for some odd jobs – it’s wonderful for the local business, good for the economy, and probably even wonderful for your bank account. But beware: small companies or one-person businesses could let you down. If something goes wrong, they may simply disappear and not be there to rectify the situation, or they may not have the resources to get to you quickly, which is a problem if your AC dies in the dog days of summer.
Spending a little bit more for a bigger, more trusted and reliable company can come with perks that help provide you with more confidence, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, quality workmanship, a large certified team of technicians who give you service 24/7/365, and the assurance that they’ll be there if you ever require their services.
Myth 3: You can use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioner.
With the government discontinuing the making of R-22, many families are noticing the cost of refilling their air conditioning system’s refrigerant rising. It may seem like an easy fix to just replace your R-22 with a different and less expensive refrigerant, but if an AC service technician recommends this, you likely want to get a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the air conditioner is developed for, and previous to 2010, it was typically R-22. Despite the extreme reduction of the production of R-22, those air conditioning systems are still designed for it, and substituting a different refrigerant may not only cause damage to your air conditioning equipment, it could void your warranty. A nullified warranty could cost you way more in future parts due to likely damage.
Myth 4: You don’t need routine A/C system maintenance.
A lot of people who aren’t having trouble with their AC may think they don’t truly need annual maintenance. It’s working fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Don’t forget the fact that an annual AC tune- up costs around $79 while the cost of a repair averages around $500. Not to mention, most manufacturers instruct you to receive yearly maintenance to continue your warranty, so skipping your routine tune-up could cost you your warranty, which means a big payout if your air conditioning system decides to breakdown on the hottest day of the year.
Myth 5: Researching the business isn’t valuable.
It’s critical to check that you do your due diligence before choosing an air conditioning service contractor, especially if you feel a single company is pressuring you. As we said in Myth #1, some sites don’t require a person to be qualified to advertise 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 again.
Social media reviews, references from neighbors, and an a great accreditation grade with the Better Business Bureau will all help you to understand the type of contractor you will be giving your business to and help you decide if they are right for you. Yelp, Angie’s List, and Google+ are all great places to start your research process. And, don’t be afraid to ask for previous customer testimonials. You may have to invest your hard-earned money with your air conditioner company, so invest some time and research to make sure they are the best company for your home.
Myth 6: It costs you more to turn your thermostat up while you’re out of your home.
Ultimately, it will increase your costs to leave the thermostat at a colder temperature throughout the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you’re away. It normally will not need an outrageous amount of more energy to get your home comfortable once you return, depending on your home.
A programmable thermostat permits the temperature to be changed from a phone or tablet so you can actually adjust the temperature lower before coming home, so your home is cool and comfortable when you enter. This reduces your energy during the day, as well as decreasing your cooling bills.
Myth 7: Continuously running ceiling fans will help cool your home.
Fans help keep people cool, they don’t truly decrease the temperature of the home alone. In fact, fans (comparable to refrigerators) actually increase the temperature in your home. The motor that is making your fan run generates heat, which can add heat to the air in your family’s home. An efficient ceiling fan can help level the temperature of the room and may assist in cooling air by circulating, but if there isn’t anyone beneath the fan to feel the cool air, all the fan is doing is blowing through energy and money, especially if the AC is already on. So turn off ceiling fans when there is no one in the room and additional air circulation is not needed.
Myth 8: Where the thermostat is installed doesn’t matter.
Thermostats read the temperature surrounding it to choose whether it needs to turn on the air conditioner to cool down your home. Placing a thermostat in a bedroom will only ensure that bedroom cools to the temperature that the thermostat is set on. Once that bedroom is cooled, the air conditioner will turn off and the remaining floor or home may be much warmer. If the thermostat is put near a well-lit window or an appliance, it could always determine the temperature is much higher than the rest of the home actually is and constantly run your AC, raising your cooling bills.
Myth 9: Turning your thermostat down much lower will help it cool more speedily.
Turning your air down lower may only make your air conditioner run longer, it won’t get to a colder temperature any faster. If your thermostat is set on 77, but you really feel better at 75, then set it on 75 and it will kick on until it gets to that temperature. Decreasing the thermostat to 73 won’t make it get to 75 any faster, and it will cause your system to run long, wasting money and energy.
Myth 10: It’s fine to change your air filter once a year.
Depending on the health conditions of the people living in the home, and the type of air filter you use for your air conditioner, your air filter may need to be replaced as often as every 30 days. Skipping the replacement of the air filter often enough not only makes your air conditioning system to work harder and reduce efficiency, it could also exacerbate respiratory illnesses like common allergy symptoms.
Call Komfort Air Service Experts today to inquire about your air conditioning system or to set-up your complimentary in-home consultation.