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

If your idea is to stay cool without spiking your energy bills, you’ll certainly count on your ceiling fan a lot this summer. A good approach is to run a fan without AC until it gets excessively hot, then turn 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 optimal way to increase comfort and energy savings. 

It might feel excessive to try two cooling methods at once, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Try these five tips to help you get the most from your cooling system this summer. 

Install a Ceiling Fan 

First off—if you don’t already have ceiling fans all over your home, consider installing some. You should have the ability to switch out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a silent, efficient and stylish 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 at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit as much. 

As you can imagine, bigger fans can move more air than smaller ones. Get a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for larger 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 move in both directions. Make sure yours is set to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This drives air down to make the breeze feel more prominent. 

If you’re uncertain whether your fan is turning the right way, turn it on and stand directly underneath it. If the breeze feels low for how quickly the blades are turning, you potentially need to switch the direction. 

Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch. 

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

Reset the Thermostat 

You need to adjust the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from running 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 feel around 4 degrees cooler. This approach, which can make winter conditions unpleasant, is the key to home comfort and energy savings in the summer. 

If you generally keep your house around 75 degrees, try readjusting 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 boost your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season enables you to maximize comfort while reducing cooling costs. 

Switch Off the Fans in Empty Areas 

It’s a popular belief that ceiling fans reduce the temperature in the 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 working in an unoccupied room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to use as opposed to air conditioners, but every little bit helps, 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 outlined above, you will observe a reduction in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you adjust the thermostat. And by appreciating the wind chill effect created by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without sacrificing comfort. 

Keep Cool with Help from McKinley Heating Service Experts 

Truly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort in summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, check out McKinley Heating Service Experts to resolve your problem fast. 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 request an appointment with the HVAC pros at McKinley Heating Service Experts.