Use Ceiling Fans to Make Your Home Feel Cooler
In a lot of homes, the occupants take their ceiling fans for granted. While they have a vague notion that the fans are helping to move air around and create a breeze, they may not realize that ceiling fans reduce the need for air conditioning.
That means less energy used — and more money saved — while extending the service life of your cooling equipment. However, there are some caveats, which will address later in this article.
Do ceiling fans actually cool a room?
The first answer is no, and the second answer is who cares if they don’t actually lower the temperature? What a fan does, when blowing air at a person, is create a cooling effect.
When air moves past your body, it can waft away your body heat quicker than air that’s not moving, a process that cools your body. In addition, your body may release perspiration as a cooling strategy through evaporation. This effect is hastened by moving air.
With a fan blowing on your body, you’ll feel cooler even if the temperature hasn’t changed one degree.
This means that without surrendering any comfort, you can raise the thermostat temperature three or four degrees when a ceiling fan is operating. You’ll may need to do this to avoid feeling too cool.
Your AC will kick on less frequently, you’ll save energy, and your equipment will get a break from constant operation. During mildly warm weather that’s not too humid, you probably can just turn off the air conditioning if ceiling fans are keeping rooms comfortably cool.
If your cooling system breaks down, make sure you operate your home’s ceiling fans until your favorite Cincinnati air conditioner service can perform an effective repair.
But don’t leave fans on
A ceiling fan is only accomplishing that cooling effect when there’s one or more people (or pets) to feel the effect. If a room is empty of living beings, the temperature won’t get any lower while the fan is operating, and the only thing it will accomplish is wasting energy.
Learn to reflexively turn off the fan when leaving a room empty, just as you would the lights. An exception to this rule is a fan that’s actually circulating air from one room to another, or pulling or exhausting air between the inside and outside. That’s a different function from a typical ceiling fan. (A simple box or portable fan will have the same cooling effect as a ceiling fan, just in a more targeted area.)
It’s important to remember with ceiling fans that they can be adjusted to spin the fan blades either counter-clockwise or clockwise. The default setting, intended for warm-weather use, is counter-clockwise. The switch is usually found on the fan housing.
Some people use the clockwise blade rotation to better circulate warm air during cold days. If you do adjust your ceiling fans seasonally, don’t forget to readjust them when the seasons change.
It is fun, however, when at other homes or businesses, to spot ceiling fans that are turning the wrong way for the season. You can impress friends with your sharp perception!
Ceiling fans have different effects on the people feeling the air depending on placement in a room, ceiling height and fan speed. The trusted electrician or HVAC contractor installing your ceiling fans should be able to advise you on the best strategy for enjoying the full benefits of the ceiling fan.
Buy quality fans
Just like with anything else, ceiling fans come in a wide range of qualities and styles. Do your research ahead of time in order to choose the fan (or fans) that have positive reviews and fit your preference for a style that dovetails with your home design.