If the goal is to stay cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll likely count on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A prevalent technique is to operate a fan without AC until it gets too hot, then switch the fan off and use the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the best way to maximize comfort and energy savings.
It might appear redundant to try two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Consider these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, think about installing a few. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the center of the room for a smooth, effective and fashionable ceiling fan.
Bear 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 should be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.
As you might imagine, larger fans can move more air than smaller sized ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for larger rooms. You can also set up multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can spin in both directions. Make sure yours is set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This pushes air back down to make the breeze feel more prominent.
If you’re unsure whether your fan is spinning the right way, flip it on and stand exactly below it. If the breeze seems inadequate for how quickly the blades are rotating, you might need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Search 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 both ways because moving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to turn clockwise and keep it on low to distribute warm air around the ceiling back toward the living room without generating a breeze. This technique is very beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You must turn up the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter cold unpleasant, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house around 75 degrees, think about readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect produced by using a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a popular assumption that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is move 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 run versus air conditioners, but every little bit helps, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips shown above, you could observe a reduction in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you raise the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without losing out on comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Truly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, check out Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to resolve your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as effectively as possible, ensuring it works together with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Call us today to request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.