If the plan is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A prevalent technique is to use a fan without AC until it gets too hot, then shut the fan off and use the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Having the ceiling fan and air conditioner together is a great way to optimize comfort and energy savings.
It can appear unnecessary to use two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Use these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, consider installing a number of them. You should have the ability to swap out any light fixture in the center of the room for a quiet, reliable and fashionable ceiling fan.
Don't forget that ceiling fans work best when the blades will be 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 same amount.
As you might imagine, bigger fans can move 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 put in multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Ensure yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This forces air downward to make the breeze seem more prominent.
If you’re unsure whether a fan is spinning the right way, switch it on and sit exactly below it. If the breeze feels weak for how quickly the blades are rotating, you might need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can rotate either way because pushing the air upward is useful for decreasing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to turn clockwise and use it on low to distribute warm air around the ceiling back toward the living room without generating a breeze. This method is particularly effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Turn Up the Thermostat
You need to turn up the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using 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 approach, which can make winter cold miserable, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house about 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect made by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to optimize comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unusued Areas
It’s a popular misconception that ceiling fans reduce the temperature in the 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 running in an unused room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to operate in contrast to AC systems, but every little bit counts, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you adhere to the tips laid out above, you could notice a decrease in your air conditioning costs for the rest of the summer. 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 experience savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Rolf Griffin Service Experts
Plainly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, check out Rolf Griffin Service Experts to solve 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 Rolf Griffin Service Experts .