If your goal is to keep cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll certainly depend on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A well-known strategy is to use a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then turn the fan off and run the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is a great way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It can appear redundant to try two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Follow 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 all over your home, look into installing a number of them. You should have the ability to swap out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a silent, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Bear in mind that ceiling fans run best when the blades are 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 a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the same amount.
As you may imagine, bigger fans can push more air than smaller sized ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms approximately 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.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Confirm yours is set to spin counterclockwise during summer. This drives air down to make the breeze feel more prominent.
If you’re uncertain whether the fan is spinning the right way, switch it on and stand directly below it. If the breeze appears weak for how rapidly the blades are turning, you likely need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, in particular if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Search for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, inspect the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because pushing the air upward is useful for lowering heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to rotate clockwise and run it on low to disperse warm air toward the ceiling back toward the living space without creating a breeze. This strategy is especially beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You should turn up the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t stress over feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by running a ceiling fan makes the room feel around 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter weather particularly bad, is the key to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you usually keep your house around 75 degrees, try setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect made by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a popular 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 no reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unused room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use compared to AC systems, but every little bit matters, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you follow the tips listed above, you should observe a decrease in your air conditioning costs throughout the summer. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without sacrificing comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Broad Ripple Service Experts
Truly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services at any time, check out Broad Ripple Service Experts to resolve your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works together with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Broad Ripple Service Experts.