Have you ever wondered if running a ceiling fan in the summer saves energy? The truth is, using ceiling fans in the summer CAN help you save money on your electric bill – but probably not the way you think. As a trusted HVAC company in Des Moines, Iowa, Aspen Aire explains how to use ceiling fans in the summer to keep your home cool while saving energy.
Ceiling Fans Don’t Cool the Air in Your Home
As you know, running your ceiling fan helps circulate air throughout your home. However, it doesn’t actually change the temperature of the air. Instead, the increased air movement helps evaporate the perspiration on your skin, which creates a cooling effect. It’s the same reason a day with no wind feels warmer than a day with a cool breeze. Because of this, there’s no reason to use a ceiling fan when no one’s in the room.
Running Your Ceiling Fan with Your AC Can Help You Save Money – But Not the Way You Think
Using a ceiling fan can allow your central cooling system to run less, not because it cools the room, but because the cooling effect of a ceiling fan allows us to feel more comfortable when the thermostat is set higher. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that using air conditioning and ceiling fans together can allow you to raise the thermostat about 4℉ while maintaining your comfort. By keeping your home at a higher temperature in the summer, you can save money on your electric bill.
Additionally, replacing old ceiling fans with energy-efficient Energy Star ceiling fans can save energy too, as these models are as much as 40% more efficient.
Running Your Ceiling Fan 24/7 Isn’t Necessary
Since ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature of the air inside your home, and a room has to be occupied to feel its effects, there’s no reason to leave your ceiling fan on 24/7. In fact, it simply wastes electricity and adds unnecessary wear and tear to your fan motor.
When Should You Use Ceiling Fans?
You can, and should, run a ceiling fan during the summer anytime you’re in a room that feels warm and stuffy. Turning on a fan will use less energy than lowering your thermostat, and you’ll feel cooler immediately. Just be sure that the ceiling fan blades are set to rotate counter-clockwise so the air blows down onto you, and don’t forget to turn off the ceiling fan when you leave the room.
Similarly, ceiling fans are great for those in-between times before and after the hot air of a Des Moines summer has blanketed the area. Opening windows and using ceiling fans can improve comfort in your home on days when it’s not quite warm enough to turn on the air conditioner.
Ceiling fans are also helpful in winter, as long as you change the direction the ceiling fan turns. As you probably know, warm air rises. If your ceiling fan runs clockwise, it will pull the cooler air up from the floor and push the warmer air down so you can feel it. Running your ceiling fan during the winter months when your home’s furnace is running will help circulate the air throughout the room so you feel warmer.
Additional Cooling Strategies
- Whole-House Fans: Running your home’s HVAC fan can circulate air through the entire house and help you feel more comfortable on days when it’s not hot enough for the AC.
- Portable Fans: A portable box fan, floor fan or desk fan can be used to cool specific areas of a home or office.
- Programmable Thermostats: Along with a ceiling fan, a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat can help you save money on your energy bills all year by automatically adjusting the temperature throughout the day.
Now that you know how to use ceiling fans in a smart way to help your home stay cool, you can enjoy lower energy costs and improved energy efficiency for your Des Moines home. And while ceiling fans can help, don’t forget that your home’s air conditioning system will be doing most of the heavy lifting in the summer, so be sure to schedule annual AC tune-ups each spring.