Myth 1: Get your air conditioning technician on Craigslist.
The internet has gifted us with a variety of options to go to look for an air conditioning service technician, but beware because not all are comparable. While the Better Business Bureau gives you information on whether a contractor is accredited based on their business history and practices, other web pages are accessible to anyone wanting to post an ad. For instance, Craigslist lets anyone post an ad for their services, regardless of whether or not they’re actually qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the actual training and knowledge.
If you hire a business or individual without being able to confirm their qualifications and capability, it may end up costing you more ultimately. If the tech doesn’t have the skills to properly fix your actual air conditioner, you could end up needing a different, more experienced company to correct their mistakes and it could cost you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Working with a small business is better.
Hiring small businesses can be good for some odd jobs – it’s good for the local business, good for the economy, and likely even wonderful for your wallet. But be careful: small companies or one-person companies could leave you holding the bag. If something goes wrong, they may simply disappear and not be around to rectify the situation, or they could not have the workforce to get you taken care of quickly, which is bad news if your AC goes out in the heat of the summer.
Paying a little bit more for a larger, more trusted and reliable company can come with benefits that help offer you more peace of mind, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, expert 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: It’s okay to use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioning system.
With the government putting an end to the making of R-22, many homeowners are noticing the cost of refilling their air conditioner’s refrigerant rising. It may seem like an easy fix to just substitute a different and less expensive refrigerant, but if an air conditioning service technician recommends this, you may want to call for a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is designed for, and before 2010, it was usually R-22. Although there is extreme decline of the production of R-22, those air conditioners are still designed for it, and replacing R-22 with a different refrigerant may not only cause harm to your air conditioner, it could nullify your warranty. A voided warranty may cost you a lot more in future parts due to likely damage.
Myth 4: You don’t need annual A/C system maintenance.
A lot of people who don’t currently have trouble with their air conditioner may assume they don’t actually 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 runs you around $79 while repairs will cost you around $500. Also, most manufacturers require annual maintenance to keep your warranty valid, so skipping your yearly tune-up could cost you your warranty, resulting in a big payout if your air conditioning system decides to go out on the hottest day of the year.
Myth 5: Finding out about the business isn’t necessary.
It’s critical to make sure you do your homework before deciding on an air conditioning service contractor, especially if you feel a specific company is putting pressure on you. As we mentioned in Myth #1, some sites don’t require a company to be qualified to place an ad for their services. It’s important to know their qualifications and history so you don’t have to worry about paying for the same service twice.
Social media reviews, references from friends, 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 figure out if they are ideal for you. Google+, Angie’s List, and the BBB are all wonderful review sites to start your homework. Also, don’t be scared to ask for past customer references. You might have to pay a pretty penny to your air conditioner technician, so invest some time and research to make sure they are the right company for your home.
Myth 6: It costs you more to turn your thermostat to a higher temperature while you’re out of your home.
Ultimately, it will increase your costs to leave the thermostat at a lower temperature all through the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you are gone. It typically will not take an exorbitant amount of more energy to cool your home once you enter, depending on your home.
A programmable thermostat permits the temperature to be changed from a tablet or phone so you can actually adjust the temperature lower before returning home, so your home is nice and comfy when you enter. This saves you energy over the course of the day, as well as decreasing your cooling bills.
Myth 7: Constantly running ceiling fans will help cool your home.
Fans help keep people cool, they don’t actually reduce the temperature of the home solo. In fact, fans (comparable to refrigerators) actually raise the temperature in your home. The motor that is forcing your fan to run produces heat, which can push heat into the air in your home. A well-working ceiling fan does help level the temperature of a room and may assist in cooling air by circulating, but if nobody is under the fan to feel the breeze, all the fan is doing is wasting energy and money, especially if the air conditioner is already working. So turn off ceiling fans when there is no one in the room and extra air circulation is not needed.
Myth 8: It doesn’t matter where the thermostat is installed.
Thermostats read the temperature near it to decide whether it needs to turn on the AC to cool the home. Installing a thermostat in your bedroom will only ensure that bedroom lowers to the temperature that the thermostat is set on. Once that bedroom is cooled, the air conditioner will shut off and the rest of the floor or home may be quite a bit warmer. If the thermostat is installed near a sunny window or an appliance, it may always think the temperature is much higher than the home truly is and keep running your AC, increasing your utility bills.
Myth 9: Excessively lowering your thermostat will help it cool more quickly.
Decreasing your air by too much may only make your air conditioner work longer, it won’t get colder any faster. If your thermostat is says 77, but you really feel better at 75, then set it to 75 and it will run until it reaches that temperature. Lowering the thermostat to 73 won’t make it cool to 75 any faster, and it will cause your system to run long, squandering money and energy.
Myth 10: It’s fine to change your air filter annually.
Depending on the health conditions of the home’s occupants, and the style of air filter you have for your air conditioning system, your air filter might need to be swapped out as often as every 30 days. Failure to change the air filter often enough not only means for your air conditioner to work harder and lower efficiency, it could also irritate respiratory conditions like common allergy symptoms.
Call Broad Ripple Service Experts today to inquire about your air conditioning system or to set-up your complimentary in-home consultation.