If your plan is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll certainly rely on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A good strategy is to operate a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then flip the fan off and try the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is the most beneficial way to maximize comfort and energy savings.
It may seem unnecessary to try two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Follow these five tips to help you get the most from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, look into installing some. You should have the ability to change out any light fixture in the center of the room for a smooth, reliable and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans function 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 least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit as much.
As you may imagine, longer fans can move more air than smaller ones. Get 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 install multiple fans in a row to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can move in both directions. Verify yours is set to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This drives air downward to make the breeze feel more prominent.
If you’re uncertain whether your fan is rotating the right way, switch it on and stand exactly below it. If the breeze feels low for how quickly the blades are turning, you might need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Search for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can turn both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for reducing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to rotate clockwise and run it on low to distribute warm air toward the ceiling back to the living space without generating a breeze. This approach is very helpful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You need to turn up the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t concern yourself with feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter cold particularly bad, is the key to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you normally keep your house around 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans lower the temperature in the room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to operate in contrast 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 use the tips detailed above, you could notice a reduction in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save approximately 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without losing out on comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Fras-Air/General Service Experts
Truly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services at any time, turn to Fras-Air/General Service Experts to address your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works in tandem 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 Fras-Air/General Service Experts.