Ceiling fans can help save energy in your home, but it depends on how you use them. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with air conditioning can help increase your energy savings!
Here’s how:
When you use a ceiling fan, it creates a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. This means you can set your air conditioner to a higher temperature and still feel comfortable. Every degree you raise your thermostat saves you about 3-5% on your energy bill! (If you do that for the entire month.)
The way a ceiling fan helps circulate air depends on the season. In the winter, you want your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This pushes hot air near the ceiling down into the occupied space below. In the summer, you want your ceiling fan to rotate counterclockwise at high speed. This creates a cooling breeze and encourages good air circulation throughout the room.
To get the most out of your ceiling fan and see energy savings, use it in conjunction with your air conditioner. In the summer, set your air conditioner to a higher temperature and enjoy the cooling breeze of your ceiling fan. Set your thermostat to a lower temperature in the winter and circulate warm air throughout the room.
In short, ceiling fans can help you save energy, but only if you use them correctly. Adjust your ceiling fan based on the season and use it with your air conditioner to see the most significant savings.
One thing that limits ceiling fans’ effectiveness in helping cool down your house is their size. They only cool one room. Of course, you can’t put a ceiling fan in every room and have it make a huge impact. But if you have a ceiling fan or two in key areas, like your living room and bedroom, you can use them to supplement your air conditioning and help lower your energy bills.
Another thing to remember is that ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature in a room. They make you feel cooler. So if you leave a room and turn off the ceiling fan, the space will eventually heat up to the same temperature it would have without the fan.
Ceiling fans are a great way to save energy and money, but they’re not a magic bullet. To see the most significant savings, use them wisely and with other energy-saving measures, like setting your thermostat to a higher temperature in the summer.
And if you still have questions about saving money while keeping your home cool this summer, our team of experts at Ballard are happy to help. Just contact us online or give us a call! 909-297-1914