AC Repair: Home Heating Myths You Should Avoid | Grapevine, TX

AC Repair: Home Heating Myths You Should Avoid | Grapevine, TX

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With winter steadily approaching, your home’s heating and air conditioning system need to be in perfect working condition. It can be frustrating when your heating system stops working in the middle of winter, forcing you to call for emergency AC repair. To quickly spot heating problems and practice proper AC habits, you need to have a basic understanding of how home heaters and air conditioners work. Unfortunately, plenty of Grapevine, TX homeowners harbor some beliefs about their home heaters that are potentially harmful.

If you don’t know how your heating system works or which practices are harmful, you are more likely to miss warning signs or unknowingly damage the system. In a worst-case scenario, you may require urgent AC repair in the dead of winter because of these few false beliefs.

In this article, we will cover some of the most common heating myths.

Cranking Up the Thermostat Will Warm Your Home Faster

It makes sense, doesn’t it? Turn the thermostat up, and your heater will generate heat faster and heat your home in no time. However, the reality is that your furnace cannot suddenly increase its heat energy output; it works at a constant, steady pace and gradually heats the home over time. If you have a modern heating system, it is likely designed to regulate its heating based on the room temperature.

Cranking up the thermostat will force the system to generate excess and unneeded heat, wasting energy and increasing your utility bills. You may also forget to dial the thermostat back down and keep your furnace, providing unnecessary heat for even days or weeks. Most AC repair professionals would advise you to be patient and let the furnace work at its own pace.

Ceiling Fans Work Best in Warm Weather

Many Grapevine, TX homeowners only use their ceiling fans over the summer. Since fans generate cold air, why would you turn the ceiling fan on when it’s cold? Well, hot air rises, and cold air sinks. Activating the ceiling fan in reverse will distribute the warm air to the ground, reducing some of the strain on your heating system. The reverse direction switch is on the side of the motor and will make the blades spin clockwise at a low speed, pulling up cold air from the ground and displacing the warm air at the ceiling.

Running a Space Heater Will Reduce Your Heating Costs

Space heaters consume less energy than gas furnaces and can be a great way to warm up a room. However, natural gas can cost up to three times less than electricity, and modern electric furnaces tend to be even more energy-efficient than space heaters. You won’t get much utility from a space heater if you warm a large room or multiple rooms. Additionally, space heaters can also be a fire risk. A professional AC repair service can help you determine how efficient your heating system is and offer you tips on making it even more efficient.

Replacing Your Windows Will Save You a Ton of Money

Yes, windows can spring leaks and let warm air out of your home. Usually, this happens when the connection between the window frame and the wall breaks down. Replacing windows is a significant investment, and chances are any energy savings you make won’t offset the investment. If your windows are leaking warm air, you can use seals, insulation, and weather strips to seal the leaks.

Lighting a Fire in the Fireplace Will Reduce Your Heating Bill

While the fire is a great way to keep warm, it doesn’t make sense if your home is air-conditioned. Fire needs plenty of oxygen, and when it is lit indoors, it will draw this oxygen from the already heated air in the house. The air pressure in the room will drop as the fire pulls oxygen from the air, pulling cold air from the outside through cracks, openings, and doors.

This will cause indoor temperatures to drop, forcing the heating system to work harder to keep your house warm. Wood isn’t cheap, and unless you have access to a steady firewood source, you’ll spend quite a bit on firewood, especially over winter.

Closing Vents and Registers in Rooms That Aren’t In Use Will Save Money

Modern air systems rely on balanced air pressure to distribute warm air properly. Most AC repair professionals advise against closing vents and registers as it disrupts this pressure and makes it harder for the heating system to maintain its cycle of pulling air in and out. Generally, the furnace will increase its performance to try and maintain its rhythm, essentially consuming more energy to do the same amount of work.

Some heating units even end up breaking down and requiring extensive AC repair. To keep your heating system functioning efficiently, refrain from blocking vents and registers.

I Don’t Need To Have My Furnace Serviced If It’s Working

On average, you should have your furnace serviced by a professional AC repair service at least once a year. Furnaces are complex devices, and it can be difficult to spot potential issues without technical knowledge of heating systems. The fact that your furnace is working perfectly fine doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get regular tune-ups.

An AC repair technician might discover a dormant issue that would have acted up later.

AC Repair in Grapevine TX

Myths and misinformation about home heating will not only increase your energy bills but also cause extensive damage to your AC system over the long term. Differentiating what’s true from false about heating systems will allow you to prepare your home for the cold months ahead adequately. If you are in the Grapevine, TX area, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth is the best AC repair service to start your winter preparations. We’ve been in the heating and air conditioning game since 1988, and our HVAC contractors are skilled in heating and air conditioning service, replacement, and repair. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and for more information about our services.