When money’s tight, suddenly, everyone becomes an expert. Your uncle swears closing vents will save you cash. Your neighbor thinks setting the thermostat to 50 cools the house faster. Even your friend who still thinks ceiling fans cool rooms has an opinion. Somehow, the one thing everyone seems to agree on is that your AC unit is the secret to cutting energy costs.
The problem is, most of that advice is dead wrong.
In this blog post, we’re debunking the six most common air conditioner myths and explaining why the only advice you should trust is from Star Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, your go-to for AC services in Fishers, IN.
1. Bigger AC Units Work Better
One of the most common air conditioner myths is thinking more power equals better performance. It doesn’t. A properly sized unit runs longer with steadier cycles that remove heat and moisture
A larger AC unit cools fast, but it shuts off before your home cools evenly. That’s called short cycling. It leaves behind humidity, hot spots, and higher energy bills. The extra strain also wears out compressors, coils, and motors faster than normal.
Cooling capacity misconceptions like this lead to more repairs, shorter equipment lifespan, and uneven comfort throughout your home.
2. Lowering the Thermostat Cools Faster
This one’s everywhere, and it’s flat-out wrong. Thermostats don’t control how fast your AC works; they just tell it what temperature to aim for.
Cranking it down to 50 doesn’t cool your house any quicker. It just forces the system to run longer than necessary. Thermostat usage mistakes like this waste energy and often make your home colder than you actually want it to be.
Most systems cool at a fixed rate. Set the desired temperature and let the system handle the rest.
3. Turning Off the AC When You Leave Saves Energy
Shutting the system off completely may sound like a good idea, but it often creates more problems. Your home heats up, humidity builds, and the air becomes stagnant.
Energy consumption myths like this ignore how long it takes for your system to restore comfort once it turns back on. By then, your AC has to run longer and work harder just to catch up. Instead of turning it off, raise the thermostat by seven to 10 degrees. You’ll still save money while helping to prevent mold and air quality issues at the same time.
4. AC Maintenance Doesn’t Affect Efficiency
Skipping routine care is one of the quickest ways to lose performance. Dirty coils, clogged filters, and blocked drains force the blower motor to push against restricted airflow, which increases runtime and raises your energy bill. That added strain also wears down internal components and shortens the life of your system.
Maintenance requirements, such as coil cleanings, filter changes, and system inspections, help keep your AC running efficiently, prevent breakdowns, and help avoid higher energy bills.
5. You Need New Refrigerant Every Year in Fishers, IN
This is one of the more common air conditioner myths. Refrigerant doesn’t disappear or run out unless your system has a leak. Proper refrigerant levels should match the manufacturer’s specifications exactly.
Adding refrigerant without repairing leaks can cause pressure imbalances that damage your system and reduce its efficiency. Only licensed technicians have the training and tools to safely test, repair leaks, and recharge your system to the correct refrigerant levels.
6. Closing Vents Saves Money
Closing vents raises the pressure in your ducts and lowers air conditioner efficiency. It disrupts airflow, causing some rooms to heat up faster while others stay cooler. This imbalance forces your system to run longer and increases wear on parts. In some cases, it can even cause the unit to freeze. A properly balanced system cools every room according to your home’s design.
If you want to control temperatures in different zones, consider installing a system designed for zoning instead of closing vents manually.