If the plan is to keep cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A well-known approach is to operate 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 may seem redundant to pursue two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Try these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your AC system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, look into installing a few. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a silent, efficient and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Don't forget 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 have to be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the same amount.
As you can imagine, bigger fans can push more air than smaller sized ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also put in 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. Verify yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air downward to make the breeze feel more obvious.
If you’re unsure whether your fan is rotating the right way, flip it on and stay exactly under it. If the breeze feels weak for how rapidly the blades are turning, you potentially need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re put in on a vaulted ceiling. Look for a button on the remote to reverse the direction. If your fan doesn’t use a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can turn in both directions because driving the air upward is useful for cutting down heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to spin clockwise and use it on low to circulate warm air near the ceiling back down to the living room without producing a breeze. This technique is very useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You need to turn up 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 produced by using a ceiling fan makes the room seem around 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter weather particularly bad, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.
If you typically keep your house about 75 degrees, try adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect produced by running a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to optimize comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Shut Off the Fans in Empty Areas
It’s a common belief that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Of course, 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 working in an unoccupied room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to operate compared to AC systems, but every little bit matters, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
Watch Your Energy Savings Grow
If you stick to the tips detailed above, you should observe a decrease in your air conditioning costs throughout the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you raise the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from Norrell Service Experts
Simply, you shouldn’t overlook the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you want air conditioning services at any point, look to Norrell Service Experts to resolve your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as efficiently as possible, ensuring it works together 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 Norrell Service Experts.