Try These Five Tips for Using Ceiling Fans Along with Your AC

If the plan is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll probably depend on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A common technique is to use a fan without AC until it gets very 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 at the same time is the best way to improve comfort and energy savings.

It might seem redundant to pursue two cooling methods at the same time, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Follow these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your cooling system this summer.

Install a Ceiling Fan

First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, consider installing some. You should have the opportunity to change out any light fixture in the middle of the room for a smooth, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.

Keep in mind that ceiling fans function best when the blades rest 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 must be at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much.

As you can imagine, larger fans can propel more air than smaller sized ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for deeper rooms. You can also install multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.

Determine the Fan’s Direction

Ceiling fans can operate in both directions. Confirm yours is set to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air back down to make the breeze appear more prominent.

If you’re unsure whether your fan is spinning the right way, switch it on and sit right under it. If the breeze appears weak for how quickly the blades are spinning, you likely 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 have a remote, run your hand along the motor housing for a reversing switch.

Ceiling fans can spin both ways because pushing the air upward is useful for reducing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to spin clockwise and run it on low to circulate warm air toward the ceiling back down to the living room without producing a breeze. This approach is especially beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.

Adjust the Thermostat

You should adjust the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by running a ceiling fan makes the room seem around 4 degrees cooler. This concept, which can make winter conditions miserable, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer.

If you typically keep your house at 75 degrees, think about readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to cover for the wind chill effect produced by running a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season allows you to enhance comfort while lowering cooling costs.

Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas

It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans drop the temperature in a room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s never a reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unoccupied room. Fans will cost pennies on the dollar to run in contrast to 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 shown above, you will observe a reduction in your air conditioning bills all summer long. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you increase the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without losing out on comfort.

Keep Cool with Help from Freschi Service Experts

Plainly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, look to Freschi Service Experts to resolve your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work 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 request an appointment with the HVAC pros at Freschi Service Experts.