Heating your home in the winter is a no-brainer. But there are many misconceptions about the best way to keep your HVAC system operating at its peak while keeping your home comfortable and energy costs low. It’s enough to make your head spin! But Levco can help separate some common myths from “just the facts.”
Myth: Your air filter only needs to be changed once a year
Fact: Most would recommend two or three times a year, but that recommendation assumes you have no pets or seasonal allergies. Truth be told, there are even more factors to consider when answering this question.
Check out our blog: 60 seconds to Cleaner Air!
Myth: The biggest HVAC system is always the best
Fact: Bigger is not always better. An over-sized system runs inefficiently and can create humidity issues. Undersized systems overwork themselves and struggle to keep a space comfortable. When equipment is not sized properly it also threatens its manufacturers expected life span.
Myth: Your HVAC system doesn’t need maintenance unless it’s broken
Fact: When it comes to your car, you don’t wait until it’s broken down on the side of the road before you see the mechanic. At a minimum, most people change the oil on a regular schedule and check the tires to make sure they are properly inflated. Well, the same goes for your HVAC system.
It’s crucial to have regular maintenance to ensure your system is working properly and to prevent any large and expensive problems before they happen. Keeping it well maintained by an HVAC service technician can save you from costly headaches down the road.
Myth: It's most efficient to keep your thermostat set to the same temperature all day
Fact: There’s a misconception that it takes more energy to heat up a cold room than to simply maintain its temperature. But, energy experts agree that it is best to adjust the temperature in your home throughout the day, especially when you’re going to sleep or not at home. It actually takes a lot less energy to warm up a cold house in the morning than to maintain a consistent temperature day and night.
If you’re looking into purchasing thermostats that can make automatic temperature adjustments, read our blog: Home Thermostats – Is it Time to Replace or Upgrade?
Myth: Using portable electric heaters saves you money and energy
Fact: Maybe. If you stay in one spot for a long period of time, have a space heater nearby, and you turn off your central heating, you may save some money and energy. Usually though, when most people use portable heaters they also have the HVAC system running. In that case, you’re only increasing your home’s energy consumption.
Myth: Windows are the biggest source of heating and cooling loss in my home
Fact: While this can be true, it’s also likely you’re losing more energy out of your ceiling or roof. If you’ve already fixed any air leaks or replaced your windows and doors with the most energy-efficient units, you need to lookup. In a typical home, around half of all heating and cooling loss comes from air leaks and poor insulation in the ceiling or roof.
Myth: All it takes to properly size a new HVAC system is knowing the square footage of the home
Fact: There are many important factors to consider when installing a new heating/cooling system. In addition to square footage, your technician should also inspect window orientation, air leakage, existing duct-work, and insulation, as well as ventilation levels. If you only use the square footage of the home, you’ll end up with an oversized system and higher upfront costs and energy bills.
Myth: Ceiling fans are only used for cooling purposes
Fact: Ceiling fans help reduce your need for both air conditioning and heating. During the summer, your fan runs in a counter-clockwise direction. This forces the room air down, giving you a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. But during the winter, flip the switch at the base of your fan to reverse its direction. When the fan turns clockwise at a low speed, it gently draws the room air up towards the ceiling. This forces the warm air to cycle up towards the ceiling and back down the walls, thereby keeping the room warmer.
Myth: Increasing energy efficiency doesn’t increase the value of my home
Fact: Energy efficiency improvements are one of the most sought-after home features. And the demand for energy-efficient features is growing. Lowering your energy bills benefits you while you live in the home and it’s likely to be a major selling point when you sell. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, ranking the top factors influencing a home purchase showed energy efficiency ranking at number two! This was second only to having a safe community.
Myth: Closing off vents and registers will help reduce my heating and cooling costs
Fact: Even though vents and registers have levers that allow you to close off airflow, it’s not a good idea. Your central HVAC systems has been specifically designed to balance the pressure load throughout the house and duct system. If you block one or more vents, you affect the way your HVAC system operates. If you upset the balance, your system often develops airflow and pressure problems. Your HVAC system outputs the same amount of conditioned air no matter how many vents or registers are closed.
Stay up to date with Levco by following us on Facebook, where we post home & energy tips for homeowners in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Post Views: 926
Myth: Your air filter only needs to be changed once a year
Fact: Most would recommend two or three times a year, but that recommendation assumes you have no pets or seasonal allergies. Truth be told, there are even more factors to consider when answering this question.
Check out our blog: 60 seconds to Cleaner Air!
Myth: The biggest HVAC system is always the best
Fact: Bigger is not always better. An over-sized system runs inefficiently and can create humidity issues. Undersized systems overwork themselves and struggle to keep a space comfortable. When equipment is not sized properly it also threatens its manufacturers expected life span.
Myth: Your HVAC system doesn’t need maintenance unless it’s broken
Fact: When it comes to your car, you don’t wait until it’s broken down on the side of the road before you see the mechanic. At a minimum, most people change the oil on a regular schedule and check the tires to make sure they are properly inflated. Well, the same goes for your HVAC system.
It’s crucial to have regular maintenance to ensure your system is working properly and to prevent any large and expensive problems before they happen. Keeping it well maintained by an HVAC service technician can save you from costly headaches down the road.
Myth: It's most efficient to keep your thermostat set to the same temperature all day
Fact: There’s a misconception that it takes more energy to heat up a cold room than to simply maintain its temperature. But, energy experts agree that it is best to adjust the temperature in your home throughout the day, especially when you’re going to sleep or not at home. It actually takes a lot less energy to warm up a cold house in the morning than to maintain a consistent temperature day and night.
If you’re looking into purchasing thermostats that can make automatic temperature adjustments, read our blog: Home Thermostats – Is it Time to Replace or Upgrade?
Myth: Using portable electric heaters saves you money and energy
Fact: Maybe. If you stay in one spot for a long period of time, have a space heater nearby, and you turn off your central heating, you may save some money and energy. Usually though, when most people use portable heaters they also have the HVAC system running. In that case, you’re only increasing your home’s energy consumption.
Myth: Windows are the biggest source of heating and cooling loss in my home
Fact: While this can be true, it’s also likely you’re losing more energy out of your ceiling or roof. If you’ve already fixed any air leaks or replaced your windows and doors with the most energy-efficient units, you need to lookup. In a typical home, around half of all heating and cooling loss comes from air leaks and poor insulation in the ceiling or roof.
Myth: All it takes to properly size a new HVAC system is knowing the square footage of the home
Fact: There are many important factors to consider when installing a new heating/cooling system. In addition to square footage, your technician should also inspect window orientation, air leakage, existing duct-work, and insulation, as well as ventilation levels. If you only use the square footage of the home, you’ll end up with an oversized system and higher upfront costs and energy bills.
Myth: Ceiling fans are only used for cooling purposes
Fact: Ceiling fans help reduce your need for both air conditioning and heating. During the summer, your fan runs in a counter-clockwise direction. This forces the room air down, giving you a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. But during the winter, flip the switch at the base of your fan to reverse its direction. When the fan turns clockwise at a low speed, it gently draws the room air up towards the ceiling. This forces the warm air to cycle up towards the ceiling and back down the walls, thereby keeping the room warmer.
Myth: Increasing energy efficiency doesn’t increase the value of my home
Fact: Energy efficiency improvements are one of the most sought-after home features. And the demand for energy-efficient features is growing. Lowering your energy bills benefits you while you live in the home and it’s likely to be a major selling point when you sell. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, ranking the top factors influencing a home purchase showed energy efficiency ranking at number two! This was second only to having a safe community.
Myth: Closing off vents and registers will help reduce my heating and cooling costs
Fact: Even though vents and registers have levers that allow you to close off airflow, it’s not a good idea. Your central HVAC systems has been specifically designed to balance the pressure load throughout the house and duct system. If you block one or more vents, you affect the way your HVAC system operates. If you upset the balance, your system often develops airflow and pressure problems. Your HVAC system outputs the same amount of conditioned air no matter how many vents or registers are closed.
Fact: Most would recommend two or three times a year, but that recommendation assumes you have no pets or seasonal allergies. Truth be told, there are even more factors to consider when answering this question.
Check out our blog: 60 seconds to Cleaner Air!
Fact: Bigger is not always better. An over-sized system runs inefficiently and can create humidity issues. Undersized systems overwork themselves and struggle to keep a space comfortable. When equipment is not sized properly it also threatens its manufacturers expected life span.
Fact: When it comes to your car, you don’t wait until it’s broken down on the side of the road before you see the mechanic. At a minimum, most people change the oil on a regular schedule and check the tires to make sure they are properly inflated. Well, the same goes for your HVAC system.
It’s crucial to have regular maintenance to ensure your system is working properly and to prevent any large and expensive problems before they happen. Keeping it well maintained by an HVAC service technician can save you from costly headaches down the road.
Fact: There’s a misconception that it takes more energy to heat up a cold room than to simply maintain its temperature. But, energy experts agree that it is best to adjust the temperature in your home throughout the day, especially when you’re going to sleep or not at home. It actually takes a lot less energy to warm up a cold house in the morning than to maintain a consistent temperature day and night.
If you’re looking into purchasing thermostats that can make automatic temperature adjustments, read our blog: Home Thermostats – Is it Time to Replace or Upgrade?
Fact: Maybe. If you stay in one spot for a long period of time, have a space heater nearby, and you turn off your central heating, you may save some money and energy. Usually though, when most people use portable heaters they also have the HVAC system running. In that case, you’re only increasing your home’s energy consumption.
Fact: While this can be true, it’s also likely you’re losing more energy out of your ceiling or roof. If you’ve already fixed any air leaks or replaced your windows and doors with the most energy-efficient units, you need to lookup. In a typical home, around half of all heating and cooling loss comes from air leaks and poor insulation in the ceiling or roof.
Fact: There are many important factors to consider when installing a new heating/cooling system. In addition to square footage, your technician should also inspect window orientation, air leakage, existing duct-work, and insulation, as well as ventilation levels. If you only use the square footage of the home, you’ll end up with an oversized system and higher upfront costs and energy bills.
Fact: Ceiling fans help reduce your need for both air conditioning and heating. During the summer, your fan runs in a counter-clockwise direction. This forces the room air down, giving you a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. But during the winter, flip the switch at the base of your fan to reverse its direction. When the fan turns clockwise at a low speed, it gently draws the room air up towards the ceiling. This forces the warm air to cycle up towards the ceiling and back down the walls, thereby keeping the room warmer.
Fact: Energy efficiency improvements are one of the most sought-after home features. And the demand for energy-efficient features is growing. Lowering your energy bills benefits you while you live in the home and it’s likely to be a major selling point when you sell. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, ranking the top factors influencing a home purchase showed energy efficiency ranking at number two! This was second only to having a safe community.
Fact: Even though vents and registers have levers that allow you to close off airflow, it’s not a good idea. Your central HVAC systems has been specifically designed to balance the pressure load throughout the house and duct system. If you block one or more vents, you affect the way your HVAC system operates. If you upset the balance, your system often develops airflow and pressure problems. Your HVAC system outputs the same amount of conditioned air no matter how many vents or registers are closed.
LEVCO’s MISSION
TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, OFTEN BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE THEM – YOU CAN LEAN ON US!
Levco is the premier provider of heating & cooling service as well as fuel oil and propane delivery in Fairfield County, CT.
–
CT Lic. 303607
HOD 194 / DOT 663660
Copyright © 2022 Levco Tech Inc. All Rights Reserved
55 Merritt Blvd, Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: (203) 533-8249
Email: service@levcooil.com