Try These Five Tips for Using Ceiling Fans Along with Your AC
If your idea is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A common approach is to run a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then shut the fan off and run the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is the best way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It may seem excessive to pursue two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Use these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your cooling system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, look into installing a number of them. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the center of the room for a silent, efficient and stylish ceiling fan.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans function 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 at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the same amount.
As you can imagine, bigger fans can move more air than smaller 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 set up 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 ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air back down to make the breeze feel more apparent.
If you’re unsure whether the fan is turning the right way, flip it on and sit straight beneath it. If the breeze seems 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 mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to switch 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 either way because moving the air upward is useful for cutting down heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air toward the ceiling back down to the living space without generating a breeze. This strategy is very useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You should turn up the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t stress over feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by running a ceiling fan makes the room feel up to 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter conditions unpleasant, is the key to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you generally keep your house around 75 degrees, consider setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect produced by using a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to improve comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans drop the temperature in a 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 unoccupied room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to run versus AC systems, but every little bit counts, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you adhere to the tips featured above, you should recognize a drop in your air conditioning costs all summer long. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you raise the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Truly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, look to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to resolve your problem fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works together with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Call us today to schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.