If your plan is to stay cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll certainly count on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A well-known strategy is to run a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then switch the fan off and try the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is a great way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It might appear excessive to try two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Consider these five tips to help you get the most from your cooling system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, consider installing a number of them. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, effective and stylish ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans run best when the blades are 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 should be a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.
As you might imagine, bigger fans can move more air than smaller ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms approximately 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for deeper rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Verify yours is set to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air downward to make the breeze appear more prominent.
If you’re not sure whether the fan is turning the right way, switch it on and stay exactly under it. If the breeze feels weak for how rapidly the blades are spinning, you likely need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, run your hand along the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can turn both ways because driving the air upward is useful for cutting down heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to rotate clockwise and keep it on low to distribute warm air close to the ceiling back toward the living room without producing a breeze. This strategy is very useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You have to adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by using a ceiling fan makes the room seem about 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter conditions particularly bad, is the key to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you typically keep your house around 75 degrees, think about setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s no reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an empty room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to run versus AC systems, but every little bit matters, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips featured above, you will recognize a drop in your air conditioning expenses all summer long. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without giving up comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Comfortech Service Experts
Plainly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, look to Comfortech Service Experts to fix your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works in tandem with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Contact us today to request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Comfortech Service Experts .