If your plan is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll probably depend on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A prevalent approach is to operate a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then turn the fan off and run the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the most beneficial way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It may seem unnecessary to use two cooling methods simultaneously, 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—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, look into installing a number of them. You should have the ability to change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a quiet, efficient and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans work 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 have to be a minimum of 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 smaller ones. Go for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for larger rooms. You can also install multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can spin in both directions. Verify yours is ready to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This pushes air back down to make the breeze seem more obvious.
If you’re not sure whether a fan is spinning the right way, switch it on and stay straight under it. If the breeze appears inadequate for how quickly the blades are rotating, you potentially need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, especially 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, run your hand along the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for cutting down heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to spin clockwise and keep it on low to disperse warm air close to the ceiling back down to the living room without creating a breeze. This technique is especially beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You should adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room appear about 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter conditions particularly bad, is the key to home comfort and energy savings during the summer.
If you usually keep your house around 75 degrees, consider readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect produced by using a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to improve your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to optimize comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a common misconception that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Of course, 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 on in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use as opposed to AC systems, but every little bit matters, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips featured above, you will recognize a reduction in your air conditioning expenses all summer long. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Eveready 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 point, turn to Eveready Service Experts 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 request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Eveready Service Experts .