Do you have a favorite myth? Friday the 13th means bad luck? Throwing a pinch of salt over your shoulder will end bad luck? There are a lot of superstitions and myths out there, but the ones Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is concerned about the myths surrounding your furnace or other home heating system. Here are a few examples:

• You can save money by using portable space heaters
  • If you spend virtually all of your time in one location inside your home AND you shut off your central heating system, then using a space heater in that single location could save money. But those circumstances are so rare they are hardly worth talking about. What really happens is most people use a space heater while continuing to run their central heating system. In that case you are only increasing the energy use in your home. And don’t even get us started on the fire dangers posed by space heaters.

• Closing vents in unused rooms will save money
  • Your mind is likely telling you this one makes sense so why is it a myth? Well, your furnace is designed to distribute warmed air evenly throughout your home. When you have something covering your HVAC vents or you close them, you create airflow problems. Because of that your system actually has to work harder to keep the house warm.

• The house will warm up faster if you crank the thermostat WAY up
  • Sorry, it just doesn’t work that way. The rate of warming is unchanged whether the thermostat is set at the desired temperature, or 10 degrees higher. Many people who believe this forget to turn the heat down until the house is too warm. All you’re doing is wasting energy.

• Bigger is better
  • Americans like to do things big. Big homes, large SUV’s, and big trucks are a few examples. But a larger HVAC system is not necessarily better. During the installation process your system needs to be tailored in size and efficiency to fit your home and installed correctly. If it has too large a heating capacity it will actually result in inefficiency and higher utility bills.

In one way, shape, or form all of these myths are about trying to make your home more comfortable and save money on utility bills. The best way to do that is to take care of the things that really matter:

Regular furnace tune-ups

Regular furnace filter changes

Annual furnace maintenance

There are many other heating and cooling myths out there when it comes to your home in Waterford, MI so make sure you are getting advice from someone you can trust. Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has been taking care of furnace repairs in Clarkston, Royal Oak, and the surrounding areas for nearly nine decades. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.