If your intent is to stay cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A common approach is to use a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then turn the fan off and try the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the most beneficial way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It might seem excessive to pursue two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Follow these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your cooling system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, consider installing some. You should have the opportunity to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a smooth, reliable and stylish ceiling fan.
Don't forget that ceiling fans work 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 at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you may imagine, longer fans can push more air than shorter ones. Go for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Verify yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air back down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re uncertain whether your fan is turning the right way, turn it on and stay straight under it. If the breeze seems inadequate for how fast the blades are turning, you probably need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re installed on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because moving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to rotate clockwise and keep it on low to disperse warm air toward the ceiling back down to the living space without generating a breeze. This technique is very helpful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You should adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room seem up to 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter conditions particularly bad, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings during the summer.
If you normally keep your house about 75 degrees, try readjusting 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 increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to optimize comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unoccupied 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 shift air around. As a result, there’s no reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unused room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to use in contrast to AC systems, but every little bit counts, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you use the tips laid out above, you will observe a decrease in your air conditioning bills all summer long. After all, you can save approximately 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without giving up comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Komfort Air Service Experts
Truly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you want air conditioning services at any point, check out Komfort Air Service Experts to address 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 Komfort Air Service Experts.