Air Conditioning Myths That May Cost You More Money

August 08, 2016

Myth 1: Hire your AC technician on Craigslist.

The internet has gifted us with a variety of places to go to get an air conditioning service technician, but beware because not all are qualified. While the Better Business Bureau shows you information on whether a business is accredited and, if so, a letter grade based on their organization’s history and practices, other web pages are accessible to anyone who requests to post an ad. Case in point, Craigslist will let anyone post an ad providing their services, despite whether or not they’re actually qualified, licensed and bonded, or have the correct training and knowledge.

If you decide on a business or individual without being able to identify their qualifications and skill set, it could end up costing you more ultimately. If the tech doesn’t have the qualifications to properly service your particular air conditioning system, you may end up needing another, more experienced company to fix their mistakes and it could end up costing you multiple service charges.

Myth 2: Hiring a small business is better.

Hiring small businesses can be great for some small fixes – it’s great for the local business, wonderful for the economy, and maybe even good for your bank account. But beware: small businesses or one-person operations could leave you in a lurch. If something bad happens, they may merely disappear and not be around to fix it, or they might not have the workforce to get to you quickly, which is a problem if your air conditioning system malfunctions in the dog days of summer.

Spending a little bit more for a sizable, more reputable and reliable company can come with benefits that help offer you more assurance, including a one-year satisfaction guarantee, excellent workmanship, a large certified team of technicians who give you service 24/7/365, and the confidence that they’ll be there if you need them again.

Myth 3: It’s okay to use any type of refrigerant in your air conditioner.

With the government stopping the production of R-22, many homeowners are observing the cost of refilling their air conditioner’s refrigerant rising. It may seem like a simple fix to just use a different and cheaper refrigerant, but if an air conditioning service technician advises you to do that, you likely want to get a second opinion.

Manufacturers detail the exact refrigerant the equipment is designed for, and previous to 2010, it was normally R-22. Despite the extreme decrease of the production of R-22, those AC systems are still designed for it, and using a different refrigerant may not only cause destruction to your AC system, it could nullify your warranty. A voided warranty might cost you way more in future parts due to likely damage.


A lot of people who are not currently having trouble with their air conditioner may think they don’t really need annual maintenance. It’s running fine, so why spend the money on a tune-up, right? Don’t forget the fact that an annual AC tune- up is priced around $79 while repairs will run you around $500. Additionally, most manufacturers demand yearly maintenance to continue your warranty, so skipping your routine tune-up could cause you to lose your warranty, meaning a huge payout if your air conditioner decides to breakdown on the hottest day of the summer.

Myth 5: Researching the contractor isn’t important.

It’s critical to make sure you do your homework before choosing an AC service business, especially if you feel a particular company is pressuring you. As we mentioned in Myth #1, some websites don’t need a person to be qualified to place an ad for their services. You need to know who you’re working with so you don’t end up paying for the same service twice.

Online reviews, testimonials from neighbors, and an a great accreditation grade with the Better Business Bureau will all assure you of the type of business you will be giving your business to and help you decide if they are ideal for you. Google+, Angie’s List, and the BBB are all great websites to start your search. Also, don’t be scared to ask for prior customer references. You may have to invest your hard-earned money with your air conditioner technician, so invest some time and research to make sure they are the right company for your AC.

Myth 6: It costs you more to turn your thermostat up while you’re out of your home.

Over time, it will increase your costs to leave the thermostat at a colder temperature all through the day than to bump it up 10 degrees while you are away from your home. It typically will not take an exorbitant amount of extra energy to get your home cooled down once you enter, depending on variables of the home.

A programmable thermostat lets the temperature to be adjusted from a phone or tablet so you can actually adjust the temperature lower before returning home, so your home is cool and comfortable when you get home. This saves you energy throughout the day, as well as decreasing your cooling bills.

Myth 7: Continuously running ceiling fans will help cool your home.

Fans help keep people cool, they don’t truly reduce the temperature of the home by themselves. In fact, fans (comparable to refrigerators) actually heat up homes. The motor that is making your fan operate produces heat, which can add heat to the air in your family’s home. An efficient ceiling fan can help level the temperature of your room and may assist in cooling air by circulating, but if nobody is under the fan to feel the breeze, all it’s doing is squandering energy and money, especially if the AC is already working. So turn off ceiling fans when there is no one in the room and more air circulation is unnecessary.

Myth 8: Where the thermostat is installed doesn’t matter.

Thermostats measure the temperature surrounding it to determine whether it needs to turn on the air conditioning system to cool your home. Installing a thermostat in a bedroom will only help ensure that bedroom lowers to the temperature that the thermostat is set on. Once the bedroom is cooled, the air conditioner will shut off and the remaining floor or home may be much warmer. If the thermostat is placed near a warm window or an appliance, it could continuously determine the temperature is much higher than the home truly is and keep running your air conditioner, raising your utility bills.


Lowering your air excessively may only make your air conditioner work longer, it won’t get colder any faster. If your thermostat is says 77, but you really would be more comfortable at 75, then set it on 75 and it will work until it gets to that temperature. Lowering the thermostat to 73 won’t make it lower to 75 any faster, and it will result in your system running longer, squandering money and energy.


Depending on the health issues for the home’s occupants, and the type of air filter you utilize for your air conditioning system, your air filter could need to be swapped out as often as every 30 days. Not changing the air filter often enough not only causes your AC to work harder and lower efficiency, it could also exacerbate respiratory illnesses like common allergy symptoms.

Call Bob Brown Service Experts today for more information about your air conditioning system or to set-up your complimentary in-home consultation.

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