If your goal is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll certainly rely on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A good approach is to use a fan without AC until it gets really 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 simultaneously is the most beneficial way to optimize comfort and energy savings.
It might feel excessive to pursue two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Follow these five tips to help you get more from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, look into installing a few. You should be able to switch out any light fixture in the center of the room for a silent, efficient and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans function best when the blades sit 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 might not benefit as much.
As you may imagine, bigger fans can propel more air than shorter ones. Go for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms approximately 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.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Confirm yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This pushes air down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re unsure whether a fan is turning the right way, turn it on and sit exactly beneath it. If the breeze appears weak for how rapidly the blades are turning, you probably need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, inspect the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can spin both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for reducing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to spin clockwise and use it on low to disperse warm air around the ceiling back to the living room without producing a breeze. This strategy is particularly beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You must 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 made by running a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter cold miserable, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you typically keep your house about 75 degrees, consider adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to enhance comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a popular belief that ceiling fans lower the temperature in a room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan running in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to operate as opposed to air conditioners, but every little bit helps, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you use the tips listed above, you should observe a drop in your air conditioning bills for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without giving up comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Climate Control Service Experts
Plainly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you want air conditioning services at any point, turn to Climate Control Service Experts to address your problem fast. 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. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Climate Control Service Experts.