If the intent is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll probably count on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A common strategy is to run a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then shut the fan off and use the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the best way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It might seem unnecessary to try two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Try these five tips to help you get the most from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
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 change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a smooth, effective and fashionable ceiling fan.
Don't forget 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 should be at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you can imagine, longer fans can move more air than smaller sized ones. Try 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.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can work in both directions. Ensure yours is set to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This drives air downward to make the breeze appear more apparent.
If you’re uncertain whether your fan is turning the right way, turn it on and stay exactly beneath it. If the breeze seems weak for how quickly the blades are turning, you might need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, inspect the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can spin either way because driving the air upward is useful for cutting down heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to spin clockwise and run it on low to disperse warm air around the ceiling back toward the living space without generating a breeze. This approach is especially useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset 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 be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by running a ceiling fan makes the room appear about 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter cold particularly bad, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house at 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect produced by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to optimize comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a common assumption that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Yes, 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 moving in an unused room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to run in contrast to air conditioners, but every little bit helps, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you use the tips featured above, you should observe a decrease in your air conditioning costs all summer long. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you raise the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without losing out on comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
Simply, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services at any point, look to 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 request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.