Myth 1: Get your air conditioner technician on Craigslist.
The interweb has given us a variety of options to go to look for an A/C system service technician, but be careful because not all are created equal. While the Better Business Bureau displays information on whether a company is accredited depending on their business history and practices, other web pages are accessible 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 really qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the correct training and experience.
If you decide on a business or individual without getting to verify their qualifications and capability, it might end up costing you more ultimately. If the technician doesn’t know how to properly service your actual air conditioning system, you might end up needing a second, more experienced technician to correct their mistakes and it could end up costing you multiple Trip Charges.
Myth 2: Hiring a small business is better.
Working with small businesses can be wonderful for some odd jobs – it’s good for the local business, great for the economy, and likely even wonderful for your pocket book. But use caution: small companies or one-person businesses could leave you holding the bag. If something backfires, they may merely disappear and not be there to fix it, or they could not have the workforce to get to you quickly, which is not what you want if your air conditioner malfunctions in the heat of the summer.
Paying a little bit more for a bigger, more established and reliable company can come with advantages that help offer you more assurance, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, quality workmanship, a large certified team of technicians who give you service 24/7/365, and the peace of mind that they’ll be a call away if you need them again.
Myth 3: You can use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioner.
With the government putting an end to the manufacturing of R-22, many people are noticing the cost of refilling their AC system’s refrigerant going up. It may sound like an easy fix to just replace your R-22 with a different and less expensive refrigerant, but if an air conditioning service technician recommends this, you may want to find a second opinion.
Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is developed for, and previous to 2010, it was commonly R-22. Although there is extreme decrease of the production of R-22, those AC systems are still designed for it, and using a different refrigerant may not only cause destruction to your AC system, it could void your warranty. An invalidated warranty may cost you a lot more in future parts due to possible damage.
Myth 4: You don’t need yearly A/C system maintenance.
A lot of people who aren’t having trouble with their air conditioner may assume they don’t actually need yearly maintenance. It’s working fine, so why waste the money on a tune-up, right? Don’t forget the fact that a yearly AC tune- up costs around $79 while repairs will set you back around $500. Also, most manufacturers instruct you to receive yearly maintenance to maintain your warranty, so skipping your routine tune-up could cost you your warranty, resulting in a large payout if your air conditioning system decides to die on the hottest day of the year.
Myth 5: Researching the business isn’t necessary.
It’s important to make sure you do your homework before picking an air conditioning service company, especially if you feel a single company is intimidating you. As we discussed in Myth #1, some sites don’t demand a person to be qualified to place an ad for their services. You need to know what you’re getting into so you don’t have to worry about paying for the same service twice.
Social media reviews, referrals 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 choose if they are right for you. Yelp, Angie’s List, and Google+ are all wonderful review sites to start your research process. Also, don’t be shy to ask for past customer referrals. You might have to pay a pretty penny to your AC contractor, so invest the time and research to ensure 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.
Over time, it will increase your costs to leave the thermostat at a lower temperature over the course of the day than to raise it 10 degrees while you are gone. It typically will not require an exorbitant amount of more energy to cool your home once you arrive, depending on your home.
A programmable thermostat permits the temperature to be changed from a mobile device so you can actually adjust the temperature back down before arriving home, so your home is cool and comfortable when you get home. This decreases your 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 you cool, they don’t really reduce the temperature of the home solo. In fact, fans (comparable to refrigerators) actually heat up homes. The motor that is forcing your fan to run creates heat, which can add heat to the air in your home. An efficient ceiling fan could help level the temperature of your room and may contribute to cooling air by circulating, but if there isn’t anyone beneath the fan to feel cool, all the fan is doing is squandering energy and money, especially if the air conditioning system is already running. So leave ceiling fans off when there is nobody in the room and extra air circulation is unnecessary.
Myth 8: Don’t worry about where the thermostat is installed.
Thermostats use the temperature around it to determine whether it needs to activate the air conditioner to cool down your home. Installing a thermostat in your bedroom will only help ensure that bedroom cools to the temperature that the thermostat is set on. Once your bedroom is cooled, the air conditioner will go off and the remainder of the floor or home may be quite a bit warmer. If the thermostat is put near a warm window or an appliance, it may continuously determine the temperature is much higher than the home really is and constantly run your air conditioner, increasing your energy bills.
Myth 9: Lowering your thermostat way low will help it cool faster.
Turning your air down lower may only make your air conditioner run longer, it won’t get colder any faster. If your thermostat is says 77, but you really would be more comfortable at 75, then set it to 75 and it will kick on until it cools to that temperature. Lowering the thermostat to 73 won’t make it lower to 75 any faster, and it will result in your system running longer, wasting money and energy.
Myth 10: It’s fine to change your air filter once every twelve months.
Depending on respiratory or allergy issues for the home’s occupants, and the style of air filter you use for your AC, your air filter might need to be swapped out as often as every four weeks. Not changing the air filter often enough not only makes your air conditioner to work harder and reduce efficiency, it could also aggravate respiratory illnesses like common allergy symptoms.
Call Midland Air Service Experts today for more information about your AC or to set-up your no-charge in-home consultation.