Energy myths have been floating around like old wive’s tales and sometimes permeate our minds until we believe fiction is fact. There are many common ones that might actually be costing us time and money! Learn about a few that we’ve debunked below.

Leave The A/C On All Day?

This is a common energy myth, with the reasoning rooted in the idea that if you keep your home cool, it won’t have to work harder to become cool. There are a few holes in this reasoning. Keeping your A/C running is important to keep the HVAC system from overloading when you do turn it on. Gold Star Services warns against this because it can mean, “less efficient cooling, more frequent repairs, and higher energy bills.” Your best option is somewhat of a middle ground, even better still, a smart thermostat that can be programmed and even learn your behavior so that your house stays at a comfortable temperature all day. 

Natural Gas Is Not A Good Energy Source

Natural gas is actually one of the most clean burning natural fuels. The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains, “Natural gas has fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2) than burning coal or petroleum products to produce an equal amount of energy.” This is why natural gas use has gained popularity in transportation, manufacturing, and household heating! Did you know that Michigan is also a deregulated state when it comes to energy choice? Don’t let an energy myth keep you from saving money! The customer is king and can freely choose the best plan and rate for themselves.

Wait To Turn On Your Heat

You can almost hear your parents now, congratulating themselves on holding out for so long into winter without turning on the heat. In Michigan, the temperatures can start to dip in late August, so you might be layering up sooner rather than later. But does this really save you that much? There is much risk to this reward. Waiting too long has the potential for an overnight freeze in which your pipes could free and burst. Too long in between turning on your heating system also leaves you vulnerable to a meltdown of an old system, cranking your heating 20+ degrees overnight can lead to housefires. The experts say to have a test run of your current system under your belt before the big freeze. Turn on your heat while you are awake and can notice any struggles, noises, or weird smells. This will indicate that you need a tune up before winter.

We might not be as handsome as the MythBuster team, but we still bring you information on a weekly basis that can help run your household smoothly and save you money in the process.  Keep checking back to the Kratos Gas & Power blog.