Try These Five Tips for Using Ceiling Fans Along with Your AC
If the plan is to stay cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll probably rely on your ceiling fan considerably this summer. A well-known approach is to use a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then shut the fan off and run the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner in unison is the optimal way to increase comfort and energy savings.
It might feel redundant to use two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. 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 be able to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, efficient and fashionable ceiling fan.
Keep in mind 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 should be a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.
As you might imagine, larger fans can move more air than smaller sized ones. Go for 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 install multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Confirm the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Confirm yours is set to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This drives air back down to make the breeze seem more prominent.
If you’re uncertain whether your fan is spinning the right way, flip it on and sit straight underneath it. If the breeze feels inadequate for how rapidly the blades are turning, you potentially need to reverse the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re fitted 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 both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for reducing heating expenses in the winter. So when the seasons change, flip your fan to turn clockwise and keep it on low to circulate warm air toward the ceiling back to the living room without generating a breeze. This method is particularly helpful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Adjust the Thermostat
You need to adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t stress over feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect created by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room seem around 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter conditions particularly bad, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you normally keep your house at 75 degrees, try setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect created by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to optimize comfort while lowering cooling costs.
Switch Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a widespread assumption that ceiling fans lower the temperature in the room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unoccupied room. Fans may cost pennies on the dollar to use 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 use the tips laid out above, you should recognize a drop in your air conditioning expenses all summer long. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you adjust the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts
Plainly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, check out Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts to address your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works in tandem with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the HVAC pros at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts.