If your intent is to keep cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll certainly depend on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A well-known strategy is to operate a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then switch the fan off and run the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the optimal way to optimize comfort and energy savings.
It may appear excessive to pursue two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Follow these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, think about installing some. You should have the opportunity to swap out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a silent, efficient and stylish ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans work 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 have to be a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.
As you might imagine, longer fans can move 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 install multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can move in both directions. Make sure yours is set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This forces air back down to make the breeze seem more prominent.
If you’re not sure whether the fan is rotating the right way, turn it on and stand exactly beneath it. If the breeze feels weak for how rapidly the blades are spinning, you probably need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, in particular if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Check 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 turn either way because pushing the air upward is useful for lowering heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to spin clockwise and run it on low to distribute warm air toward the ceiling back to the living space without generating a breeze. This strategy is especially useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You must change the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from using 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 feel up to 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter cold particularly bad, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you usually keep your house about 75 degrees, try adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect made by running a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to improve comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a widespread misconception that ceiling fans lower the temperature in the room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s never a reason to keep a ceiling fan on in an empty room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to operate versus air conditioners, but every little bit counts, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you adhere to the tips featured above, you will notice a decrease in your air conditioning bills all summer long. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Simply, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, check out Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to address your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run 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 schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.