Ceiling fans are both a blessing and curse for home comfort. What does that mean? Everyone says using fans can help lower energy costs. That is true, but only if you know how to use them correctly.
There is a simple fact that escapes most people. Fans run with motors that are less than 100 percent efficient. That means they give off heat even as they move cool air around. You need to be able to offset that heat to see the savings you expect.
Here are three things you need to know when using fans to help cool your home:
- Turn off the A/C when fans will do the job – If the fans keep the house comfortable, turn off the air conditioning. This will lower your costs considerably. When the house gets a bit hotter, you can turn the A/C back on and repeat the cycle when it becomes comfortable again.
- Set the A/C thermostat to a higher temperature when using fans – On hotter days, turning off the A/C may not be possible. However, if you can set the thermostat to a higher temperature, you will use less energy. For example, if you can raise your thermostat from 23 degrees to 25, you can see a good deal of savings.
- Turn fans off in unoccupied rooms – If no one is in a room to feel the moving air, turn the fan off. The fan is using energy for no good reason and that is a pure waste of energy. We’ve had it drummed into our heads to turn off lights when leaving a room. Make it a habit to turn off fans at the same time.
If you can follow these tips, you will savings throughout during the hot season.
When you need more information on how to use ceiling fans to cool your home or have other questions about home comfort, contact us at The Furnace Company. We have proudly served the Edmonton area since 2001.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Edmonton, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ceiling fans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
