Try These Five Tips for Using Ceiling Fans Along with Your AC
If your plan is to stay cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll certainly count on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A prevalent approach is to run a fan without AC until it gets very hot, then flip the fan off and run 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 increase comfort and energy savings.
It can feel excessive to try two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Try these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your cooling system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, think about installing some. You should have the ability to swap out any light fixture in the center of the room for a smooth, reliable and fashionable ceiling fan.
Bear in mind that ceiling fans function 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 should be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.
As you can imagine, larger fans can move more air than shorter ones. Try a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for deeper rooms. You can also install multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Make sure yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This drives air downward to make the breeze appear more obvious.
If you’re unsure whether the fan is turning the right way, switch it on and stay right under it. If the breeze feels low for how fast the blades are spinning, you probably need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Search for a button on the remote to switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can spin both ways because pushing the air upward is useful for cutting down heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to turn clockwise and keep it on low to disperse warm air close to the ceiling back down to the living room without producing a breeze. This strategy is especially beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You have to adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room appear around 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter cold miserable, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you typically keep your house about 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a common misconception that ceiling fans drop the temperature in the room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan on in an empty room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to AC systems, but every little bit counts, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you use the tips detailed above, you should recognize a reduction in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Plainly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, check out Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to solve your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as effectively as possible, ensuring it works in tandem 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 & Plumbing.
