If your intent is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll certainly rely on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A prevalent strategy is to run a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then flip the fan off and run the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner at the same time is the optimal way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It may feel unnecessary to use two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Follow these five tips to help you get the most from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, look into installing some. You should have the ability to change out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a smooth, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Bear in mind that ceiling fans run best when the blades rest 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 will not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you may imagine, longer fans can move more air than smaller sized ones. Go 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 install multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Make sure yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air back down to make the breeze seem more apparent.
If you’re not sure whether a fan is rotating the right way, turn it on and stay right below 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, 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, inspect the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate in both directions because pushing the air upward is useful for cutting down heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to rotate clockwise and use it on low to circulate warm air near the ceiling back to the living space without generating a breeze. This method is particularly beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You have to adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by running a ceiling fan makes the room seem around 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter conditions unpleasant, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you usually 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 using a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to improve your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a popular assumption that ceiling fans reduce the temperature in a room. Yes, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s never a reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unoccupied room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to operate compared to AC systems, but every little bit helps, so shut off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you adhere to the tips outlined above, you could observe a reduction in your air conditioning bills throughout the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Clearly, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services at any time, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to solve your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works along with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Contact us today to arrange an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.