Everyone is looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient these days. When it comes to your heating and cooling system, there are definitely ways to ensure that you’re saving energy and cutting down on your monthly utility bills.

That said, there are also a lot of myths about the ways you can actually conserve energy in your home, and you might think that by implementing these “tricks” you’re improving your home’s energy efficiency.  We are here to debunk some of those energy efficiency myths and share the correct way to get the most out of your heating and cooling system.

Myth #1: Keep your thermostat at the same temperature throughout the day and night.  Why this is false:  It actually will require less energy to warm up or cool down your home in the morning than it does to keep it at a constant temperature. Plus, setting the temperature back by around 10 degrees at night or when on one is home (for at least an eight hour stretch) can help reduce your energy bill by 10-15%.

Myth #2: There’s no need to perform annual maintenance checks on your HVAC system.  Why this is false:  To keep your system working properly, it’s important to maintain it through routine checks annually. Problems tend to occur at the worst times, like that first chilly fall day or hot, muggy summer night due to the fact that you haven’t been maintaining your system through an annual check-up. Preventative maintenance will help lower your bills in the long run, because you’ll potentially save on the high costs of parts and labor or even an entire system replacement.

Myth #3: A fan is all you need to keep a room cool all day long.  Why this is false:  Fans are great to cool you off on a warm day, but they actually only cool the surface of your skin.  They don’t lower the temperature of the room.  To save on your energy bills, make sure you’re turning off ceiling fans or stand or floor fans when no one is using them in a particular room.

Myth #4: Sealing off or closing vents and registers will help reduce your energy bill.  Why this is false:  Blocking vents can actually throw your system out of balance, which can cause problems with how the system is working and even affect its lifespan. Rooms with closed vents will be colder and draw from heat in other rooms, which in turn can make the entire house feel colder!

Myth #5: Set your thermostat up higher or lower to warm or cool off your home quickly.  Why this is false:  Your HVAC system will work at the same level, putting out the same amount of air to cool or heat your home no matter what the temperature is set to.  What will actually happen is that your system will run for a longer period of time to try to reach the temperature you set it to, and this will end up costing you extra money.

Myth #6: It doesn’t matter where your thermostat is installed in your home.  Why this is false:  Location absolutely matters. If your thermostat is located on an outside wall, near a drafty window, in direct sunlight, or next to your fireplace, it can be tricked into thinking it needs to run more or less often.

Now that you know that truth about these HVAC myths, we hope you feel more confident about how to make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible.

Have questions about making your home more energy efficient? If you’re in the Cleveland area, give us a call at 216-663-6462.