Don’t Fall for These 4 Energy Savings Myths in Your Houston Home This Summer

In tight financial times, everyone can be forgiven for trying to squeeze every cent from a dollar, but sometimes our efforts at saving money and energy go astray. This summer, avoid falling for these five summer energy savings myths when trying to keep cool.

The Truth About Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans cool people, not space. A ceiling fan’s motor produces heat. You feel cool under a ceiling fan because moving air removes perspiration, which cools you. Turn off the fan when nobody’s going to be occupying the room so you’re not wasting energy.

Thermostat Fables

Setting the thermostat lower than you want it doesn’t cool your house any faster. Unless you have a variable-speed air handler, your central air conditioner cools at one rate. Gain summer energy savings with a daytime setting of 76 to 78 degrees on your programmable thermostat. That strikes a good balance between keeping cool and saving money.

Closing Vents: Wrong!

Closing vents hurts the central HVAC system’s ability to cool your home and can lead to early breakdowns. At installation, the central A/C was balanced for supply and return airflow. Closing vents may cause short-cycling, which increases wear and tear, as well as energy use.

Off Is Good? Nope!

Turning the A/C off during a hot day doesn’t necessarily yield summer energy savings. Empty-house temperatures could get dangerously high, ruining medications and affecting housebound pets. The system will have to work hard and long to regain a comfortable temperature after being off all day. Instead, keep the A/C running at a higher temperature (86 degrees or so) when no one’s home. Set the thermostat to begin lowering the temperature an hour before you get home, and by the time you arrive, your home will be on its way to a comfortable setpoint temperature.

For more summer energy savings tips for your Galveston area home, please contact us at Davis Air Conditioning & Heating.

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