If the intent is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll probably depend on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A prevalent strategy is to run a fan without AC until it gets too hot, then switch the fan off and run the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner at the same time is the best way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It may seem redundant to pursue two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Follow these five tips to help you get more from your cooling system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, consider installing a number of them. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, reliable and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans run best when the blades will be seven to nine feet above the floor, 10 to 12 inches from the ceiling, and at least 18 inches from the walls. This means your ceilings have to be a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the same amount.
As you might imagine, bigger fans can propel more air than smaller sized ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also install multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can move in both directions. Verify yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This forces air back down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re unsure whether a fan is turning the right way, flip it on and sit straight beneath it. If the breeze appears weak for how rapidly the blades are rotating, you probably need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can spin both ways because driving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to rotate clockwise and keep it on low to circulate warm air near the ceiling back toward the living space without generating a breeze. This technique is particularly beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You need to turn up the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by using a ceiling fan makes the room appear up to 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter conditions miserable, is the key to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you typically keep your house at 75 degrees, consider readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to improve your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a common belief that ceiling fans drop the temperature in a room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s no reason to keep a ceiling fan working in an empty room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use versus AC systems, but every little bit helps, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you follow the tips laid out above, you could recognize a decrease in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save approximately 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you increase the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without giving up comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Plainly, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, look to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to solve your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works together with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Call us today to arrange an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.