If your idea is to stay cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll certainly count on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A well-known strategy is to use a fan without AC until it gets very hot, then flip the fan off and use the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner at the same time is the most beneficial way to optimize comfort and energy savings.
It can appear excessive to pursue two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Follow these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, consider installing a few. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a smooth, effective and fashionable ceiling fan.
Don't forget that ceiling fans run 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 the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings will not benefit the same amount.
As you can imagine, bigger fans can propel more air than smaller sized ones. Go for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also set up multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Verify yours is set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This drives air back down to make the breeze seem more apparent.
If you’re uncertain whether the fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and stay straight beneath it. If the breeze appears low for how quickly the blades are rotating, you might need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, in particular if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate in both directions because driving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to spin clockwise and run it on low to disperse warm air around the ceiling back to the living room without producing a breeze. This strategy is particularly effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You should adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by using a ceiling fan makes the room seem around 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter weather particularly bad, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house at 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a common assumption that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is move air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan running in an unused room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use compared 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 adhere to the tips laid out above, you should observe a drop in your air conditioning expenses all summer long. After all, you can save approximately 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 Becht/Givens Service Experts
Truly, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services at any time, choose Becht/Givens Service Experts to fix 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. Call us today to request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Becht/Givens Service Experts.