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

If your plan is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan all the time this summer. A common approach is to run a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then turn the fan off and run the air conditioner in its place. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner at the same time is the best way to maximize comfort and energy savings. 

It might appear excessive to try two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more productive. Try these five tips to help you get more from your air conditioning system this summer. 

Install a Ceiling Fan 

First things first—if you don’t already have ceiling fans throughout your home, think about installing a few. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the center of the room for a silent, efficient and eye-catching ceiling fan. 

Remember 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 a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will. 

As you can imagine, bigger fans can push more air than shorter ones. Choose a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in a line to cool rooms longer than 18 feet. 

Confirm the Fan’s Direction 

Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Ensure yours is set to spin counterclockwise during the summer. This pushes air downward to make the breeze appear more prominent. 

If you’re not sure whether a fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and stay directly below it. If the breeze seems inadequate 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 switch the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, check the motor housing for a reversing switch. 

Ceiling fans can rotate both ways because moving the air upward is useful for reducing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to rotate clockwise and use it on low to circulate warm air close to the ceiling back down to the living space without creating a breeze. This strategy is particularly beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings. 

Adjust the Thermostat 

You should turn up the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter weather miserable, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings in the summer. 

If you ordinarily keep your house at 75 degrees, try adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect made by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to increase your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to maximize comfort while reducing cooling costs. 

Shut Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas 

It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans bring down the temperature in the room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is push air around. As a result, there’s no reason to keep a ceiling fan on in an unoccupied room. Fans will 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. 

See Your Energy Savings Grow 

If you stick to the tips featured above, you will recognize a reduction in your air conditioning expenses throughout the summer. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without sacrificing comfort. 

Keep Cool with Help from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

Truly, you shouldn’t undervalue the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, turn to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to solve your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner perform 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 arrange an appointment with the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.