If your plan is to keep cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll probably depend on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A good technique is to use a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then shut the fan off and use the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is the best way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It may appear unnecessary to pursue two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Use these five tips to help you get more from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, think about installing some. You should be able to swap out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a silent, efficient and stylish ceiling fan.
Keep in mind 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 have to be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings will not benefit the same amount.
As you might imagine, bigger fans can push 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 put in multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Make sure yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This drives air back down to make the breeze appear more prominent.
If you’re not sure whether a fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and stay exactly under it. If the breeze seems weak for how rapidly the blades are spinning, you probably need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, in particular if they’re installed on a vaulted ceiling. Search for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because moving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to spin clockwise and keep it on low to circulate warm air toward the ceiling back to the living room without generating a breeze. This strategy is especially useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You should adjust the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by running a ceiling fan makes the room seem about 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter weather miserable, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you usually keep your house around 75 degrees, consider setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect produced by using a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to enhance comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a common misconception that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in a room. Yes, 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 might cost pennies on the dollar to run in contrast 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 stick to the tips laid out above, you could notice a decrease in your air conditioning bills for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Plainly, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, turn to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to address your problem fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as efficiently 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.