Frank Gay Commercial has been working with HVAC systems for decades so we made a list of 5 common air conditioning myths:
- All air filters are the same
- Air filters have a numerical rating that is a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV rating. This number measures a filters ability to capture large particles. The numbers range from 1-16 and Frank Gay Commercial recommends an air filter with a rating of around 13 to best protect you from bacteria. An air filter with a rating of 13 can filter out virus and bacteria particles while one with a rating of 6 can only filter out dust and pollen.
- Changing your air filter once or twice a year is enough
- Replacing your air filter is essential for the health and comfort of employees and customers. For offices, it is best to change it every 2-3 months. For restaurants, it is important to have a clean atmosphere for food prep, so we recommend changing it every 4-6 weeks. For retail stores, around every 3 months is good.
- To save money, close off vents
- Closing off vents in an unused room can cause the air pressure in the air vents to build, which may damage your system in the long run. Since HVAC systems are built to cool a specific area, it is best to let the system work the whole building.
- Turning your HVAC on and off saves money
- It may seem like a money-savvy move to turn on your AC when needed and off when you don’t, but HVAC systems use the most energy as they turn on. Constantly turning the A/C on and off can actually increase energy bills.
- Ceiling fans can help cool a room
- While a ceiling fan does provide a cooling breeze that can help if you are hot, it does not actually change the temperature of the room.
