If your goal is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll probably rely on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A common approach is to operate a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then switch the fan off and try the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is the best way to maximize comfort and energy savings.
It may seem unnecessary to pursue two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Follow these five tips to help you get the most from your cooling system this summer.
First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, look into installing a number of them. You should be able to swap out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, efficient and stylish ceiling fan.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans function 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 must be at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the same amount.
As you might imagine, larger fans can move 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 larger rooms. You can also install multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Ceiling fans can move in both directions. Make sure yours is set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This forces air downward to make the breeze seem more prominent.
If you’re unsure whether your fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and stay directly beneath it. If the breeze seems weak for how rapidly 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. Check for a button on the remote to change 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 pushing the air upward is useful for lowering heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to rotate clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air near the ceiling back to the living space without generating a breeze. This technique is very beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
You must adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by running a ceiling fan makes the room seem about 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter weather miserable, is the key to home comfort and energy savings during the summer.
If you normally keep your house at 75 degrees, try setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to maximize comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
It’s a common assumption that ceiling fans lower the temperature in the room. Sure, 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 running in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to air conditioners, but every little bit counts, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
If you follow the tips outlined above, you could notice a decrease in your air conditioning bills all summer long. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without sacrificing comfort.
Clearly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, turn to Donelson Air Service Experts to resolve your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works in tandem 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 Donelson Air Service Experts.
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