A/c Myths & Misconceptions

With the hot summer days now upon us. It's time for you a/c system to be cut on. However, your air conditioner isn’t just a matter of flipping a switch on the thermostat.They need preventive maintenance, cleaning and an annual inspection before you turn it on. You wouldn’t abuse your car for years and expect it to keep running without oil changes or air filters.Regardless, experts say homeowners often labor under misconceptions about how to get the best A/C performance throughout the summer.
1. There's no need to clean my outdoor unit
FALSE.
The outdoor unit and condenser fan move air through the coils, and it doesn’t take much cottonwood, mud, grass or dirt to get inside and gunk up the works. This decreases your A/C efficiency and spikes your electric bills, but fortunately, cleaning the outdoor unit is a simple  job. If you plan to fire up your A/C soon, you might want to clean the components first.

2. I need to check my air filters frequently
TRUE.
Your HVAC filter serves as the first line of defense against contaminants getting into your HVAC system and clogging up the works, but it needs to be monitored frequently. This is the most commonly forgotten about step in keeping your HVAC running smoothly.

3. I can fix my HVAC unit on my own
FALSE.
Unless you know what you’re doing, you run the risk of an expensive error once you start getting into the nuts and bolts of the system. A part may be cheap online but, if it isn't installed properly that $6 dollar part online could turn into a couple thousand dollar problem. Leave the diagnostics & installation to the professionals.

How Much Does Installing New A/C Cost?
That all depends on the type of system you need in your home. 

4. I should leave my thermostat fan setting on "auto"
False
In the summer, the ducts that run through your attic or close to your walls can heat up, filling with warm air. Without the AC to cool it down, the fan just blows hot air into your house. You end up running the AC more, not less, to counteract all that extra heat.

5. I should set my thermostat to a higher temperature while I'm away during the day
​FALSE.
Instead, you should find the temperature you’re comfortable with and leave the thermostat there. When you do this it overloads your HVAC whenever you come home & turn it down.