If your plan is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll certainly count on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A prevalent technique is to use a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then turn the fan off and try the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the best way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It might appear redundant to use 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 AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, look into installing a few. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the center of the room for a smooth, efficient and fashionable ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans function best when the blades sit 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 at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings will not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you may imagine, bigger fans can propel more air than smaller ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also set up multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Verify yours is ready to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This drives air back down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re unsure whether the fan is spinning the right way, flip it on and stay right underneath it. If the breeze appears weak for how fast the blades are spinning, you probably need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re installed on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can spin both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for decreasing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to rotate clockwise and keep it on low to disperse warm air toward the ceiling back to the living room without creating a breeze. This approach is very beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You need to change 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 made by running a ceiling fan makes the room seem about 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter cold unpleasant, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings during the summer.
If you normally keep your house about 75 degrees, consider readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to optimize comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Unoccupied 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 no reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use as opposed to air conditioners, but every little bit matters, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips shown above, you should observe 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 using the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Chief/Bauer Service Experts
Clearly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, turn to Chief/Bauer Service Experts to fix your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as effectively 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 Chief/Bauer Service Experts.