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

If your idea is to keep cool without racking up your energy bills, you’ll likely count on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A common strategy is to operate a fan without AC until it gets extremely hot, then flip the fan off and run the air conditioner when you really need it. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the optimal way to optimize comfort and energy savings. 

It may appear redundant to pursue two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more effective. Consider these five tips to help you get the most from your air conditioning system this summer. 

Install a Ceiling Fan 

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

Don’t forget that ceiling fans function best when the blades will be 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 a minimum of eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings might not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will. 

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

Check the Fan’s Direction 

Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Make sure yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This forces air downward to make the breeze seem more obvious. 

If you’re not sure whether your fan is spinning the right way, turn it on and sit directly beneath 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 fitted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t have a remote, run your hand along the motor housing for a reversing switch. 

Ceiling fans can turn in both directions because driving the air upward is useful for decreasing heating bills in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to turn clockwise and run it on low to distribute warm air near the ceiling back down to the living room without creating a breeze. This strategy is especially effective in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings. 

Reset the Thermostat 

You should adjust the thermostat to make the most of energy savings from running 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 around 4 degrees cooler. This strategy, which can make winter conditions particularly bad, is the trick to home comfort and energy savings in the summer. 

If you normally keep your house around 75 degrees, think about setting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect made by using a ceiling fan. Then, adjust your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to improve comfort while reducing cooling costs. 

Shut Off the Fans in Unusued Areas 

It’s a widespread belief that ceiling fans drop the temperature in the room. Sure, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is shift air around. As a result, there’s no reason to keep a ceiling fan on in an unoccupied room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to operate compared to air conditioners, but every little bit counts, so switch off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room. 

See Your Energy Savings Grow 

If you follow the tips listed above, you should observe a decrease in your air conditioning expenses for the rest of the summer. After all, you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you increase the thermostat. And by taking advantage of the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can enjoy savings without losing out on comfort. 

Keep Cool with Help from A1 Chesney Service Experts 

Clearly, you shouldn’t disregard the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort during summer! If you want air conditioning services sometime soon, check out A1 Chesney Service Experts to fix your problem quickly. Our technicians can help your air conditioner work as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works along 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 A1 Chesney Service Experts.