If your idea is to stay cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll likely depend on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A well-known technique is to run a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then shut the fan off and try the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the most beneficial way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It can seem excessive to try two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Use 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 in your home, think about installing a few. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, effective and stylish ceiling fan.
Bear in mind that ceiling fans run 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 must be a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the same amount.
As you might imagine, larger fans can push more air than shorter ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for larger rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Make sure yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This forces air back down to make the breeze feel more apparent.
If you’re uncertain whether the fan is spinning the right way, flip it on and sit straight below it. If the breeze seems weak for how quickly the blades are turning, you probably need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Search for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, run your hand along the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because pushing the air upward is useful for lowering heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air close to the ceiling back down to the living space without generating a breeze. This approach is particularly beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You must adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by running a ceiling fan makes the room feel up to 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter weather unpleasant, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you usually keep your house at 75 degrees, think about setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to improve your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to enhance comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a widespread assumption that ceiling fans lower the temperature in a room. Yes, 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 run in contrast to air conditioners, but every little bit matters, so shut 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 should observe a decrease in your air conditioning bills 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 enjoy savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Parker Pearce Service Experts
Truly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services at any point, look to Parker Pearce Service Experts to fix 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. Contact us today to request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Parker Pearce Service Experts.