The truth about common HVAC myths
Homeowners around Ogden hear a lot of advice about heating and cooling. Some of it sounds plausible. Some of it came from a neighbor in East Bench who swears by a trick that “saved a bundle.” Much of it conflicts with how modern systems work in real houses across Weber County. Here is a clear look at the most common HVAC myths, how they affect comfort and bills, and what actually works in Ogden’s dry summer heat and snowy winters.
“Closing vents in unused rooms saves money”
This seems logical: block air from a guest room in North Ogden and push more to the living room, right? In practice, closing supply registers and dampers raises static pressure in the ductwork. Most furnaces and air handlers in Ogden homes use fixed-speed blowers. Higher pressure forces them to work harder, which can cause motor stress, noisier ducts, and coil icing in summer. It does not reduce the load on the system; it shifts it to weaker points.
If a room runs hot or cold, the cause is usually poor duct design, unsealed boots, or missing return air. A technician can measure static pressure, temperature split, and airflow to confirm. In many cases, adding a dedicated return, sealing leaky joints with mastic, or balancing dampers at the trunk, not the registers, corrects the issue without hurting efficiency.
“Bigger equipment solves comfort problems”
A larger furnace or AC sounds like a safety net. In Ogden’s mixed climate, oversized equipment creates new problems. An oversized AC cools the air fast but shuts off before it removes enough humidity. While Ogden is dry compared to the Wasatch Front average, monsoon weeks and shoulder seasons still benefit from steady dehumidification. Short cycles also wear out contactors and reduce efficiency. On the heating side, an oversized furnace can overshoot the setpoint, cause wide temperature swings, and stress heat exchangers.
Proper sizing uses Manual J load calculations, not square-foot rules of thumb. The load in a 2,000-square-foot home in Washington Terrace with 1990s windows, R-13 walls, and a west-facing great room can differ by more than 30% from a similar-size home in newer Riverdale builds. A right-sized system runs longer, quieter cycles and delivers even comfort.
“Replacing windows is the first step”
New windows look great and help, but they are not always the fastest way to improve comfort or reduce bills. In many Ogden houses, the attic is the weakest link. An attic with 4 to 6 inches of old fiberglass might sit around R-13 to R-19. Building science points to R-38 to R-60 for this area. Air sealing top plates, can lights, and chases, then adding blown-in insulation, often cuts heat loss more than mid-grade window swaps, and at a lower cost.
A good plan starts with a home performance assessment: blower door test, thermal imaging, and duct leakage testing. With data, a homeowner can sequence upgrades: seal attic bypasses, improve duct sealing, add insulation, then right-size equipment. Window upgrades move up the list if glass is failing or frames leak air.
“Cranking the thermostat heats or cools faster”
Thermostats are not gas pedals. The furnace or AC outputs at a fixed rate, unless the system is variable capacity. Setting the thermostat to 62 in summer does not cool the house faster than 72; it just runs longer and risks overshooting if the stat lacks proper anticipators or adaptive recovery. In winter, blasting the setpoint can spike gas use and cause wider swings.
HVAC OgdenA steady setpoint with small, timed setbacks is kinder to equipment. For most Ogden homes with central HVAC, a 2 to 4 degree setback during work hours saves energy without burdening recovery. Larger setbacks can cost more in very cold snaps because the system must run longer to catch up, and heat pumps may rely on auxiliary heat.
“Maintenance is optional on newer systems”
New gear feels like a free pass. Yet dust, cottonwood fluff, and mineral scale do not care about install dates. Without annual maintenance, even a two-year-old system can lose 5% to 15% efficiency. Dirty coils reduce heat transfer. Low refrigerant charge from a slow leak harms compressors. High static pressure due to a caked filter strains blower motors.
A proper tune-up in Ogden should include coil cleaning, refrigerant charge check by subcooling/superheat, static pressure readings, combustion analysis on furnaces, and verification of safety controls. Filter changes every one to three months matter, especially in homes near construction areas in West Haven or with pets.
“Heat pumps do not work here”
Cold-climate heat pumps have changed the game. Many modern models deliver strong heat down to zero degrees. Ogden winter nights often sit between 10 and 25 degrees, with colder snaps a few times per season. A correctly sized, variable-speed heat pump can cover the load most days. A dual-fuel setup pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace as a backup for the coldest hours. This approach lowers yearly gas use while keeping reliable heat when the mercury drops.
Ductless mini-splits also serve basements, lofts, and additions where extending ducts would be messy or costly. With proper line set insulation, vapor barriers, and defrost settings, these systems handle Weber County winters well.
“Duct cleaning solves dust and allergies”
Duct cleaning helps in specific cases: post-remodel sawdust, a rodent event, or heavy debris in panned returns. Routine, aggressive duct cleaning can damage flex duct and dislodge mastic seams. The bigger wins for air quality come from sealing return leaks, upgrading filtration, and controlling sources.
Look at the return side first. A 1-inch filter slot that bypasses the frame lets dirty return air leak around the filter. A deep 4- to 5-inch media filter with a proper cabinet seals better and maintains airflow longer. For families dealing with wildfire smoke days in late summer, a MERV 13 media filter plus a well-sealed envelope reduces indoor PM2.5 without choking the system.
“All thermostats are the same”
Thermostats differ in staging logic, sensors, and learning behavior. A two-stage furnace paired with a basic single-stage thermostat loses the benefit of low-fire comfort and quiet operation. In an Ogden rambler with variable-speed equipment, a communicating thermostat or a quality programmable stat that supports staging keeps longer low-capacity cycles and cuts short cycling.
Placement matters, too. A thermostat on an exterior wall near a sunny south window reads high in the afternoon and shortens cooling cycles. Moving it to an interior wall, five feet off the floor, away from supply registers, stabilizes readings.
“The quoted SEER or AFUE is what you will get”
Efficiency ratings come from lab conditions. Real homes add duct losses, installation practices, and setpoints. Leaky supply ducts in a 120-degree attic can drop delivered cooling by 10% to 30%. An overcharged AC erases SEER gains. A furnace with restricted returns runs hot and may limit, reducing steady output.
What delivers the advertised performance in Ogden is proper design and install: Manual J load, Manual S equipment selection, Manual D duct design, tight ductwork, correct refrigerant charge, and verified airflow. A technician who records static pressure and temperature rise at commissioning protects your investment more than a higher brochure rating.
“Humidity does not matter in Ogden”
Ogden’s average summer humidity is lower than many cities, but it still swings. Afternoon thunderstorms can push indoor humidity above 55%. High indoor humidity increases that sticky feeling and can support dust mites in carpets and bedding. In winter, very low humidity causes dry skin, creaky floors, and static shocks, and it can make 69 degrees feel chilly.
Aim for 40% to 50% indoor relative humidity most of the year. A variable-speed AC with a dehumidification mode helps in summer. In winter, a properly set whole-home humidifier tied to an outdoor sensor maintains comfort without window condensation. Watch for signs like fogging at the bottom of double-pane windows; that means the setpoint is too high for the current outdoor temperature.
“Filters last six months in every home”
Filter life depends on dust load, pets, smoking, nearby construction, and fan runtime. A 1-inch MERV 8 filter may need replacement in 30 to 60 days in a busy Harrisville household with two dogs. A 4-inch media filter in a cleaner environment can last three to four months. A quick check matters more than the calendar: if the pleats show a uniform gray with little daylight, replace it. If edges bow or the filter whistles, airflow is restricted.
For homes near farmland or along windy corridors by the canyon, consider a deeper filter cabinet with MERV 11 to 13 media to catch finer particulates without a big hit to static pressure.
Practical checks any Ogden homeowner can do this week
- Replace the thermostat batteries and set a modest, timed program with 2 to 4 degree setbacks.
- Check the outdoor unit: trim vegetation to maintain at least 24 inches of clearance, rinse coils gently from the inside out.
- Inspect the filter size and type; upgrade to a deep media cabinet if space allows.
- Walk the house on a hot or cold day and note rooms that lag by more than 3 degrees; that points to airflow or envelope issues.
- Look in the attic for bare can lights, open chases, or thin insulation; these are high-impact fixes.
How this plays out in local homes
A bungalow near Ogden High had a back bedroom that ran 6 degrees warmer each afternoon. The owner kept closing vents in other rooms to push air. Static pressure at the blower measured 0.95 inches of water column, well above the rated 0.5. The fix was simple: seal the return drop, open all registers, add a balancing damper at the branch, and install a deeper media filter to drop pressure. The bedroom settled within 2 degrees of the hallway without touching the equipment.
A newer West Haven two-story with a 4-ton AC struggled in spring. The unit short-cycled, and indoor humidity crept into the high 50s during storms. A load calculation showed a true need of about 3.2 tons. Switching to a 3-ton variable-speed heat pump with proper charge and a communicating thermostat yielded longer cycles, better moisture control, and lower bills, while gas heat remained as a backup under 20 degrees.
The local advantage: HVAC Ogden done right
Weather along the Wasatch Front puts systems through big swings. Dusty shoulder seasons, smoky weeks, and winter inversions all show up inside if the system is mismatched or neglected. Choosing an HVAC partner rooted in Ogden means service that accounts for canyon winds, older ductwork under split-levels, and the way 1970s ranches hide return leaks in panned joists. Good design and honest testing beat myths and save money.
If a homeowner wants facts over folklore, a quick assessment can answer the big questions: Is the system the right size? Are ducts tight? Is airflow on spec? Are setpoints and controls working for or against comfort? One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning serves Ogden, North Ogden, South Ogden, Washington Terrace, Riverdale, and nearby neighborhoods with data-driven service. Schedule a visit, get real numbers, and make changes that pay off through the next heat wave and the next snowstorm.
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning provides trusted furnace repair in Ogden, UT and full-service HVAC solutions for homes and businesses. Family-owned and operated by Matt and Sarah McFarland, our company is built on honesty, hard work, and quality service—values passed down from Matt’s experience on McFarland Family Farms, known across Utah for its sweet corn. As part of a national network founded in 2002, we bring reliable heating and cooling care backed by professional training and local dedication.
Our licensed technicians handle furnace and AC installation, repair, and maintenance, heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, thermostat upgrades, air purification, indoor air quality testing, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, duct cleaning, zoning systems, and energy-efficient replacements. We stand by a 100% satisfaction guarantee through the UWIN® program and provide honest recommendations to help Ogden homeowners stay comfortable year-round.
Call today for dependable service that combines national standards with a personal, local touch.
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
1501 W 2650 S #103 Phone: (801) 405-9435 Website: https://www.onehourheatandair.com/ogden
Ogden,
UT
84401,
USA