If the intent is to keep cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll likely depend on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A common approach is to use a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then turn the fan off and use the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is a great way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It can seem unnecessary to pursue two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Use these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, consider installing some. You should have the opportunity to change out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a silent, efficient and fashionable ceiling fan.
Don't forget that ceiling fans work 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 should be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you might imagine, larger fans can propel more air than smaller ones. Try 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 put in multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can move in both directions. Verify yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This drives air down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re not sure whether a fan is spinning the right way, flip it on and sit right below it. If the breeze seems weak for how fast the blades are turning, you might need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re installed on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate both ways because pushing the air upward is useful for lowering heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to turn clockwise and use it on low to disperse warm air around the ceiling back toward the living room without creating a breeze. This approach is very useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You have to adjust the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by using a ceiling fan makes the room appear up to 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter cold miserable, is the key to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you normally keep your house about 75 degrees, try setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect produced by running a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a common belief that ceiling fans reduce 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 moving in an unoccupied room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to run in contrast to air conditioners, but every little bit counts, so shut off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips featured above, you could recognize a reduction in your air conditioning expenses all summer long. After all, you can save approximately 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 enjoy savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Plainly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, look to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to fix your problem fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work 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 arrange an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.