If the goal is to stay cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll probably rely on your ceiling fan considerably this summer. A well-known strategy is to run a fan without AC until it gets too hot, then shut the fan off and use the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the best way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It may seem redundant to pursue two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Follow these five tips to help you get more from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, consider installing a number of them. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the center of the room for a smooth, effective and fashionable ceiling fan.
Bear in mind that ceiling fans run best when the blades sit 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 a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you can imagine, larger fans can propel more air than smaller ones. Choose a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms approximately 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 spin in both directions. Make sure yours is ready to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This forces air downward to make the breeze feel more apparent.
If you’re unsure whether the fan is turning the right way, switch it on and stand right beneath it. If the breeze seems weak for how fast the blades are turning, you potentially need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re installed on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can turn both ways because driving the air upward is useful for lowering heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air close to the ceiling back to the living room without generating a breeze. This strategy is very useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You should change the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t stress over feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by using a ceiling fan makes the room appear up to 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter weather miserable, is the key to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house about 75 degrees, consider adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to improve comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a popular belief that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Sure, 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 empty room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to operate as opposed 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 follow the tips shown above, you will notice a drop in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you increase the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without losing out on comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from A-PLUS Service Experts
Simply, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, turn to A-PLUS Service Experts to address your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works along 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 A-PLUS Service Experts.