If the intent is to stay cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A well-known approach is to run a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then flip the fan off and use the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner at the same time is the best way to maximize comfort and energy savings.
It might seem excessive to use two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Consider these five tips to help you get more from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, look into installing a few. You should be able to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a silent, reliable and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans work 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 must be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings will not benefit as much.
As you might imagine, longer fans can move more air than shorter ones. Choose a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 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.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can spin in both directions. Verify yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This pushes air downward to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re uncertain whether a fan is turning the right way, flip it on and stay right underneath it. If the breeze appears low for how rapidly the blades are rotating, you likely need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Search 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 in both directions because driving the air upward is useful for lowering heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to disperse warm air close to the ceiling back down to the living room without producing a breeze. This method is especially useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You should turn up the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t stress over feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room appear around 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter conditions unpleasant, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings during the summer.
If you usually keep your house around 75 degrees, consider adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect made by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a common assumption that ceiling fans lower the temperature in a room. Yes, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan running in an unused room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to operate compared to air conditioners, but every little bit helps, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you adhere to the tips featured above, you should notice a drop in your air conditioning costs for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save approximately 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you increase the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Clearly, you shouldn’t undervalue 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 fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works together with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.