Ceiling fans are an attractive addition to most rooms. But aside from circulating the air and creating a pleasant breeze, are they really useful for lowering your utility bills? Before you install that fan, take some time to find out whether or not it’s worthwhile, and get some tips for using fans to their best advantage.
Cooling
Of all the types of fans you can have in your home, a ceiling fan is the most efficient in most cases. The breeze they create causes a wind-chill effect on your skin and can allow you to increase your thermostat setting up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit without any reduction in comfort. Since ceiling fans use only 15 to 90 watts of electricity per hour, a fraction of what it takes to run an air conditioning unit, this can save you a significant amount of money over time.
Heating
Using a ceiling fan during cool weather may seem illogical; however, it can also help keep you warm. Modern ceiling fans have a switch that reverses the direction that the blades spin. Set in this way, the fan pulls up air from the center of the room. Since heat rises, this mixes the warm and cool air and keeps the room at a steady temperature, keeping you more comfortable and reducing the energy consumed by your furnace.
Tips for Efficient Ceiling Fan Use
- Select a fan with at least a 12-degree blade angle, and choose one that is the right size for your room. Buy a 36- to 40-inch fan for small bedrooms, a 44-inch fan for an average-sized room, and a 50- to 54-inch fan for large kitchens and family rooms.
- Choose a ceiling fan that is ENERGY STAR-certified.
- Don’t forget to set the thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer to take advantage of the energy savings.
- Turn the ceiling fan off when nobody is home.
For information about ways to save energy and increase your home’s comfort any time of the year, give Senica Air Conditioning, Inc. a call at 866-881-5935.
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