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

If the goal is to stay cool without increasing your energy bills, you’ll likely rely on your ceiling fan considerably this summer. A well-known strategy is to operate a fan without AC until it gets too hot, then flip the fan off and try the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Running the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is a great way to increase comfort and energy savings. 

It can seem redundant to use two cooling methods simultaneously, but fans make your air conditioner more powerful. Consider these five tips to help you get more from your cooling system this summer. 

Install a Ceiling Fan 

First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, look into installing some. You should have the opportunity to swap out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a quiet, effective and stylish ceiling fan. 

Remember that ceiling fans function best when the blades sit 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 at least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will. 

As you might imagine, bigger fans can push more air than shorter ones. Try 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 operate in both directions. Verify yours is adjusted to spin counterclockwise in the summertime. This drives air downward to make the breeze seem more apparent. 

If you’re not sure whether your fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and stay straight below it. If the breeze feels inadequate for how quickly the blades are rotating, you potentially need to change the direction. 

Some fans have a remote control, especially if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Look 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 spin either way because pushing the air upward is useful for decreasing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, set your fan to rotate clockwise and keep it on low to disperse warm air close to the ceiling back toward the living space without creating a breeze. This strategy is very beneficial in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings. 

Turn Up the Thermostat 

You have to change the thermostat to fully appreciate energy savings from using a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t worry about feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect produced by using a ceiling fan makes the room appear up to 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter conditions unpleasant, is the answer to home comfort and energy savings in the summer. 

If you ordinarily keep your house about 75 degrees, try readjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to compensate for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, switch up 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 assumption that ceiling fans reduce the temperature in a room. Yes, 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 running in an unused room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to run as opposed to air conditioners, but every little bit helps, 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 should notice a drop in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save nearly 3 percent on your cooling costs for every degree you raise the thermostat. And by enjoying the wind chill effect formed by the ceiling fan, you can experience savings without losing out on comfort. 

Keep Cool with Help from Winnipeg Supply Service Experts 

Simply, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you need air conditioning services sometime soon, choose Winnipeg Supply Service Experts to fix your problem promptly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as effectively 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 Winnipeg Supply Service Experts.