If your goal is to stay cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll certainly depend on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A common technique is to operate a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then turn 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 a great way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It might feel unnecessary to try two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. 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 throughout your home, think about installing some. You should be able to change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a silent, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Remember that ceiling fans work 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 the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings will not benefit as much.
As you can imagine, bigger fans can propel more air than smaller sized ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also set up multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Check the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can work in both directions. Verify yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This drives air down to make the breeze seem more prominent.
If you’re not sure whether your fan is turning the right way, flip it on and stay right below it. If the breeze feels weak for how rapidly the blades are rotating, you probably need to change the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, particularly if they’re fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t have 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 cutting down heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to spin clockwise and keep it on low to circulate warm air toward the ceiling back down to the living space without producing a breeze. This technique is very helpful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You need to adjust the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by running a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter cold unpleasant, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you generally keep your house around 75 degrees, try setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect produced by running a ceiling fan. Then, change your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to improve comfort while minimizing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a popular assumption that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in a room. Yes, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is move air around. As a result, there’s never a reason to keep a ceiling fan running in an empty room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to run versus air conditioners, but every little bit matters, so turn off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you follow the tips featured above, you will notice a decrease in your air conditioning costs all summer long. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Stark Services
Truly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, choose Stark Services to resolve your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works in tandem 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 Stark Services.