Try These Five Tips for Using Ceiling Fans Along with Your AC 

If the plan is to stay cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll certainly rely on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A good technique is to run a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then flip the fan off and use the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the optimal way to maximize comfort and energy savings. 

It may seem excessive to use two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Use these five tips to help you get the most from your AC system this summer. 

Install a Ceiling Fan 

First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, consider installing some. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a smooth, reliable and eye-catching ceiling fan. 

Don’t forget that ceiling fans work 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 will not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will. 

As you may imagine, larger fans can move more air than smaller sized ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for larger rooms. You can also install multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet. 

Check the Fan’s Direction 

Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Make sure yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise during summer. This forces air down to make the breeze feel more obvious. 

If you’re not sure whether the fan is rotating the right way, turn it on and sit exactly below it. If the breeze appears weak for how quickly the blades are rotating, you probably need to change the direction. 

Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, inspect the motor housing for a reversing switch. 

Ceiling fans can rotate both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for cutting down heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air close to the ceiling back toward the living room without generating a breeze. This technique is especially beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings. 

Turn Up the Thermostat 

You have to adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room feel around 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter cold particularly bad, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer. 

If you normally keep your house around 75 degrees, consider readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect produced by running a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to enhance comfort while minimizing cooling costs. 

Shut Off the Fans in Empty Areas 

It’s a common belief that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Yes, 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 on in an empty room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to operate as opposed to air conditioners, but every little bit matters, 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 expenses throughout the summer. After all, you can save up to 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 experience savings without compromising comfort. 

Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

Plainly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, check out Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to fix your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work as proficiently 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 & Plumbing.