Ceiling fans are one of the most common household appliances, often being used in almost every room of a home. While we may typically see them as something that uses energy, they can actually save energy with the proper usage, lowering your monthly bills and increasing your home’s energy efficiency. Here are some ways ceiling fans can save you energy.
Ceiling Fan Direction
Ceiling fans move air around the room to ensure proper ventilation and even heating and cooling, but they only work when you understand how to use them properly. Fans rotate counter-clockwise to force air down, creating a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler than you would with just air conditioning. During warmer months, fans can allow you to raise your home’s temperature without discomfort, lowering your AC costs.
Similarly, you can flip a switch on your ceiling fan to reverse its rotation to clockwise during the winter. This will suck cool air up, forcing warm air (heat rises) down and warming you more effectively. By flipping your ceiling fan switch at the change of seasons, you can get more out of your HVAC system without paying for it.
An Empty Room Does Not Need a Fan
A common myth about fans is that they have a cooling function, which leads many to keep their fans on at all times to keep their homes cool. However, their air circulation only creates a wind-chill effect, meaning you only reap the benefits of ceiling fans when you’re in the room. This means every fan running in an empty room is virtually useless, spending electricity for no good reason. Make sure you turn off the fan when you leave the room to save energy, just as you would the lights.
Other Energy-Saving Tips
Here are some more tips to help you get the most out of your ceiling fans:
- Install fans at least one foot below the ceiling and seven to nine feet from the ground for maximum efficiency.
- Bigger fans are better, if possible. Longer blades cool more at a slower rotation.
- Work with the sun to cool and heat rooms. During summer, close blinds and curtains. During winter, let in natural light.
- When buying a fan, invest in a more efficient model that spends less electricity over time.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Champion AC today.
Ben Hubbert
Ben is a retired Combat Controller with the United States Air Force. He started Champion AC in 2007. Ben is originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He is happily married and an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Saints.
