Standard HVAC Myths That Don’t Make Sense

Your HVAC system, which stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, is a very complicated bit of hardware that is built throughout the entirety of your home.

It’s an important component of any residence, keeping you cool during the summer, and providing warmth during our sometimes harsh Minnesota winters. But for such an essential piece of equipment, many people don’t actually know the true capabilities—or limitations—of their HVAC system. We’re here to dispel some of the myths.

A Filter Change Never Needs an Expert

In some instances, especially if you’ve got the confidence and technical familiarity, you may be fine with changing the filters on your HVAC unit yourself. But while the filter itself is a simple, one-piece unit, where it goes is not.

HVAC systems need a lot of care, and regular inspection can be an important step in preventing a big breakdown of your heating and cooling systems. Proper filter installation is an important part of prevention, and if you don’t feel confident about doing it properly, you shouldn’t. An expert installing your filter—as well as inspecting your HVAC—is the best way to ensure smooth operation.

The Best Way to Heat or Cool a Home Quickly Is To Put the Thermostat at Maximum

An air conditioner or furnace doesn’t work like a stove. There is no low/medium/high setting for the temperature of the air that it puts out. This means that if you would like to cool or heat your home faster, maximizing your thermostat setting is not going to affect that rate at all.

The time it takes your home to heat up or cool down to the desired temperature is entirely determined by physics equations that look at the current temperature versus the space to be affected.

The only way you change this rate of time is to physically shrink down the size of your home, or shut the doors on rooms you want cooled or heated first, to negate the impact of distribution.

If Nothing’s Going Wrong, Everything Is Fine

The old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” only applies to simple mechanical devices, but an HVAC is not that. Like a human body, which develop illnesses—or even cancers—with everything looking fine on the surface, you’ll only know for sure that something is wrong if you get a professional examination or inspection.

If You Use an AC, You Don’t Need a Fan

You may not “need” a fan if you have an AC unit, but you’ll want one. AC units cool the air, but don’t do a great job of circulating it throughout a space. A fan, especially an integrated home solution like a ceiling fan, can actually do this much faster.

With AC and a fan working together, you can actually leave your AC on a lower setting, as the room will feel cooler with a fan at work than it would without.

Get Professional Care

B & D Plumbing, Heating & A/C is ready to serve the needs of residents of St. Michael and other Minnesotans. Call us at 763-497-2290 for any questions, inspection requests, or repair and maintenance work that you need to keep your home safe and comfortable throughout the year.