If the intent is to stay cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll likely depend on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A good strategy is to operate a fan without AC until it gets very hot, then turn the fan off and use the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the most beneficial way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It may feel excessive to use two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Use these five tips to help you get more from your cooling 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 be able to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a smooth, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans run best when the blades will be 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 must be at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the same amount.
As you might imagine, bigger fans can move more air than shorter ones. Choose a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Ensure yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This pushes air down to make the breeze appear more prominent.
If you’re unsure whether your fan is rotating the right way, turn it on and sit right underneath it. If the breeze seems inadequate for how rapidly the blades are turning, you probably need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because driving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to rotate clockwise and use it on low to disperse warm air close to the ceiling back to the living room without generating a breeze. This strategy is very beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You should adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by using a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter cold unpleasant, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you generally keep your house about 75 degrees, think about setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect made by using a ceiling fan. Then, switch up your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to optimize comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a popular belief that ceiling fans reduce the temperature in a room. Yes, 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 will cost pennies on the dollar to operate compared to AC systems, 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 will observe a decrease in your air conditioning costs throughout the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you increase the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Truly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, check out Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to fix your problem fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work 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 arrange an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.