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These hacks sound clever.
They seem to make sense.
But many of these popular energy-saving tricks dont actually work.
Some might even make your billshigherin the long run, or just create new headaches.
Heres a rundown of some popular but often misleading tips, plus what actually works.
It certainly seems logical.
Why heat or cool spaces youre not using?
Why it doesnt work:Your HVAC system is designed to maintain a specific pressure balance throughout your home.
If you close vents you disrupt this balance.
Your system has to work harder to push the same amount of air through fewer openings.
Youll actually be using more energy.
And the strain can damage and wear out your equipment.
What to do instead:Instead of closing vents, adjust your thermostat as needed.
If not, think about adding a programmable or smart thermostat.
These will let you set different temperatures based on your schedule like when youre home, away or sleeping.
This way its easy to save energy without putting all that strain on your system.
Why it doesnt work:Your HVAC system doesnt work like that.
It works at the same rate no matter how you set the temperature.
Turning it way up or down just makes the system run longer, not faster.
Youll end up using more energy and your home wont get to the temperature you want any faster.
What to do instead:Lower the heat at night, but dont turn it off completely.
Dropping the thermostat by just a few degrees while you sleep can still help you save energy.
Use a programmable thermostat to set a schedule, and automatically adjust the temperature each night and morning.
That way you dont even have to think about it.
Why it doesnt work:Fans on their own dont actually lower the temperature of a room.
They cool people by creating a wind-chill effect on your skin.
Running fans in empty rooms wastes electricity.
It also puts unnecessary wear on the motors.
What to do instead:Use fans only when youre in the room.
Reverse your ceiling fan direction for winter (clockwise) and summer (counterclockwise).
This changes which direction the fan pushes warm air, and will help your HVAC do its job.
you might actually set your AC to a slightly higher temperature and still feel comfortable.
The combo approach is more effective for saving energy.
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