Myth 1: Hire your air conditioner technician on Craigslist.
The internet has provided us with a variety of options to go to look for an A/C system service technician, but be careful because not all are comparable. While the Better Business Bureau displays information on whether a contractor is accredited determined by their company history and practices, other sites are available to anyone who wants to post an ad. For instance, Craigslist will let anyone post an ad providing their services, despite whether or not they’re truly qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the correct training and knowledge.
If you decide on a contractor or individual without having the ability to verify their qualifications and competence, 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 actual air conditioning system, you might end up needing a different, more experienced contractor to repair their mistakes and it could cost you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Hiring a small business is better.
Hiring small businesses can be wonderful for some minor home services – it’s great for the local business, wonderful for the economy, and maybe even wonderful for your bank account. But proceed with caution: small companies or one-person companies could let you down. If something goes wrong, they may merely disappear and not be there to rectify the situation, or they could not have the workforce to get to you quickly, which is a problem if your air conditioning system breaks down in the heat of the summer.
Budgeting a little bit more for a sizable, more reputable and reliable company can come with perks that help provide you with more peace of mind, 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 a call away in the future if you ever need them again.
Myth 3: You can use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioner.
With the government stopping the manufacturing of R-22, many families are noticing the price of refilling their air conditioning system’s refrigerant rising. It may sound like an easy fix to just replace your R-22 with a different and cheaper refrigerant, but if an air conditioner service technician recommends this, you may want to call for a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is produced for, and previous to 2010, it was commonly R-22. Although there is extreme decrease of the production of R-22, those air conditioning systems are still designed for it, and replacing R-22 with a different refrigerant may not only cause damage to your AC system, it could invalidate your warranty. An invalidated warranty might cost you way more in future parts due to potential damage.
Myth 4: You don’t need yearly AC maintenance.
Many people who are not currently having trouble with their air conditioner may think they don’t truly need annual maintenance. It’s running fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Well there’s the fact that a routine AC tune- up is priced around $79 while repairs will set you back around $500. Also, most manufacturers require routine maintenance to continue your warranty, so skipping your annual tune-up could cause you to lose your warranty, meaning a huge payout if your air conditioning system decides to breakdown on the hottest day of the season.
Myth 5: Researching the company isn’t important.
It’s crucial to ensure you do your due diligence before choosing an air conditioner service business, especially if you feel a particular company is putting pressure on you. As we discussed in Myth #1, some domains don’t need a contractor to be qualified to advertise 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.
Website reviews, referrals from neighbors, and an a good accreditation grade with the Better Business Bureau will all confirm the type of company you will be giving your business to and help you decide if they are ideal for you. Angie’s List, Google+, and Yelp are all good websites to start your research process. And, don’t be afraid to ask for prior customer testimonials. You might have to invest your hard-earned money with your air conditioning technician, so invest some time and research to confirm they are the ideal company for you.
Myth 6: It will cost more to turn your thermostat up while you’re out of your home.
Over time, it will increase your bills to leave the thermostat at a cooler temperature all through the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you’re away. It usually will not take an excessive amount of extra energy to cool your home once you enter, depending on your home.
A programmable thermostat allows for the temperature to be adjusted from a mobile device so you can easily adjust the temperature lower before coming home, so your home is nice and comfy when you arrive. This decreases your energy throughout the day, as well as lowering your cooling bills.
Myth 7: Always running ceiling fans will help cool your home.
Fans help keep you cool, they don’t really decrease the temperature of the home alone. In fact, fans (like refrigerators) actually raise the temperature in your home. The motor that is making your fan run generates heat, which can put heat in the air in your family’s home. An efficient ceiling fan does help level the temperature of your room and may contribute to cooling air by circulating, but if there isn’t anyone under the fan to feel cool, all you’re doing is wasting energy and money, especially if the air conditioning system is already on. So turn off ceiling fans when there is no one in the room and extra air circulation is unneeded.
Myth 8: Where the thermostat is installed doesn’t matter.
Thermostats use the temperature surrounding it to determine whether it needs to activate the air conditioning system to cool your home. Putting a thermostat in a bedroom will only make sure that bedroom reaches the temperature that the thermostat is set on. Once your bedroom is cooled, the system will shut off and the remainder of the floor or home might be a lot warmer. If the thermostat is put near a sunny window or an appliance, it could continuously think the temperature is much higher than the rest of 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.
Turning your air down lower may only make your air conditioner work longer, it won’t get colder any faster. If your thermostat is set on 77, but you really want it to be 75, then put it at 75 and it will kick on until it cools to that temperature. Decreasing the thermostat to 73 won’t make it lower to 75 any faster, and it will cause your system to run long, costing you money and energy.
Myth 10: It’s ok to change your air filter annually.
Depending on the health conditions of the residents of the home, and the kind of air filter you have for your AC, your air filter may need to be changed as often as every 30 days. Not changing the air filter often enough not only makes your air conditioning system to work harder and reduce efficiency, it could also irritate respiratory conditions like common allergy symptoms.
Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today to inquire about your AC or to set-up your complimentary in-home consultation.