Studies Have Shown Too Cold or Too Hot Environments

Increase Mistakes, Decrease Productivity

“Over” Air Conditioning Creating “Thermal Stress”

Most, if not all, people prefer a comfortable temperature in their home or office. If it’s too humid or too cold, it can be a distraction, causing a person to spend time coping. Spending energy thinking about the discomfort of excessive air conditioning or trying to fix it takes time away from other tasks.
In fact, a study done by Cornell University found people in warmer, comfortable or more temperate offices produced more and made fewer typing errors. In fact, the sensation you may feel when entering a much cooler space triggers your hypothalamus. It may feel good at first, except the drastic changes back and forth tell your brain something is wrong and increase physical and psychological stress.
In some cases, an outdated HVAC system is to blame. When the building or home was built, it was sized for the anticipated occupancy and heat made by current appliances and lamps. With the advent of the LED, for example, the heat made by televisions and light bulbs is much less.
In others, there are too few thermostats or old ones giving faulty readings.

Fixing Air Conditioning Comfort

To address the problem of air conditioning over or under producing, consider these solutions:

Service your air conditioner. Call a trusted HVAC provider for a routine tune-up. Regular maintenance provides many benefits, including finding clues an air conditioner is working too hard or is likely to break down.
Consult with an air conditioning tech. A NATE-certified tech can evaluate if your air conditioning is appropriate for your space. If it’s too big, for example, you may experience “short-cycling,” which means the AC unit kicks on and off a lot. Also, an air conditioner overcooling the space is likely wasting money.
Update your thermostat. If you still have an older dial thermostat, you may be cheating yourself. Today’s programmable or Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats provide better readings and “talk” to your HVAC equipment for more responsive heating and cooling.
Consider replacing your air conditioning equipment. If your air conditioner or heat pump is ten years or older, talk to your local HVAC provider. The current models are way more efficient and cost less to run. Air conditioners now have 95-98 percent efficiency. It means a decrease, in most cases, of 15 to 18 percent savings in energy costs each month.
Investigate air quality products to assist. To save costs or to seal out allergens, our homes and offices are often tighter than drums. This reduces ventilation. Bringing in products such as ventilators, air cleaners or simply hiring a pro like Energy Savers to clean your ducts is a good idea. The less debris, dust and pollutants in your HVAC system, the smoother your air conditioning system works. When it has to fight through excess dust and contaminants, it has to work harder.
If your home’s design creates areas of uneven temps, consider installing a ductless unit. These modern units can provide heating or cooling, so “hot” and “cold” spots are gone. You do not need to worry about ductwork and they can be installed using a small three-inch hole. More secure, efficient and quiet than older window units.

Air Conditioning Next Steps

If you need help with heating and air, please call Energy Savers for service. For more than 40 years, we have provided quality products and great customer service in and around Columbus, Georgia and Opelika, Alabama. For better comfort and healthy air, call us for heating and cooling help today.