You know that fans help you stay cooler in the summer. That means you don’t have to turn down the air conditioner as low as you would otherwise. But do you understand how you can maximize cooling savings with fans? Let’s have a look at what and how fans do what they do to keep you cool.
Ceiling Fans
Any kind of fan stirs the breeze around and makes you feel cooler, just like when you’re outside and the wind blows. Well, here’s what actually happens: When you’re warm, you start to perspire. If there’s no breeze, you may end up feeling clammy because the moisture on your skin doesn’t evaporate. That sends you to the thermostat, where you crank the AC. When you turn a fan on, the moisture on your skin evaporates and cools you off.
Any type of fan on can keep you cooler. But here’s what a ceiling fan does: In the summer, you should set your ceiling fan’s blades to run counterclockwise. This helps push the cool air from the air conditioner down to the level of the room’s occupants. What’s more, the blades help lift the warm air in the room to the ceiling. Reverse the direction of the blades in winter and they help push down the warm air from the heating system so the room’s occupants are more comfortable. They also help push cold air in the room against the walls and away from the room’s occupants. Please note, though, that ceiling fans do not reduce the temperature, so don’t leave them on when a room is unoccupied.
The cooling savings from fans will depend on several factors, including climate, the size of the rooms, and how much electricity costs. A study by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service says ceiling fans can reduce energy bills by as much as 8%.
If you haven’t invested in ceiling fans, you probably should, installing them in the most occupied rooms at the very least to help with cooling savings.
For more on cooling savings with fans, contact Ace Hardware Home Services.
