An air conditioning system is a complex mechanism that usually requires specialists to work on, so it’s no wonder many people don’t understand exactly how these systems work. That means that there are a few misconceptions out there about air conditioners, some of which are fairly harmless. However, some common myths about AC lead homeowners to use their units incorrectly (and, consequently, raise their bills) which is why we’ve corrected a few of them here.
Myth #1: Air conditioners create cool air
It’s not exactly right to say that an air conditioner produces cool air, since “cold” is not actually an energy. You can generate thermal heat, but you cannot “create” cold; you can only remove heat. When you remove thermal energy from a space, it has a chance to cool off, and that is just how an AC works. Refrigerant absorbs heat from the air in your home and brings it to the outdoors.
Myth #2: Lowering the temperature cools the room faster
After coming home from a vacation or a long day at work, many people hope to crank up the AC by lowering the temperature in a room as much as it will go. However, this will not bring about any change to the speed of your AC. Air conditioners only cool at one speed (unless yours has variable speed settings, in which case you would turn up the fan rather than lower the temperature). Your air conditioner will cool at a single speed until it hits the set temperature, so turning the temperature below what is necessary will only raise your bills.
Myth #3: Purchasing a high-efficiency AC unit will decrease your bills
This is only partly true. While buying high-efficiency AC equipment is a step in the right direction, it must also be sized and installed properly and maintained by a professional to run at optimal efficiency. Sizing an air conditioner is more complicated than you may think, and one that is too large or too small simply will not operate properly and may fail long before its expected lifespan is up.
Call the experts at AC Designs Inc. to learn more about air conditioning or to schedule AC installation in Jacksonville, FL.