Do Ceiling Fans Help Save Energy?

When it comes to finding ways to save money in your home, you want to learn all you can to make saving easy. Most people know that something that comes with summer is more use of the AC unit and all the different kinds of fans that you can find. So, the real question is if ceiling fans make that much of a difference in the cooling costs. The answer is yes! Keep reading to find out just how ceiling fans can make a difference in energy saving.

Ceiling fans help your AC

If you’re worried that you’re using your AC unit maybe a little too much, try giving your ceiling fan more of a chance! The AC will still have to run, but you can turn it down significantly. With both the AC unit working and the ceiling fan spinning, it allows the air that is coming from the AC unit to be spread around the room better than it would be if the ceiling fan wasn’t on.

Good for winter use as well

Did you know that ceiling fans are very useful during the winter months as well? With the tendency for hot air to rise to the ceiling, the ceiling fan acts by circulating the air that’s caught at the top and redirects it back down where people are usually at. By flipping the small switch found on the side of the fan’s housing, it moves the hot air down instead of letting it sit stagnant at the top.

The importance of the switch

What many people don’t seem to know is there is a switch on the side of the housing of the ceiling fan that when switched, changes the direction of the fan. For most of the fans that are equipped with the switches, the direction depends on the orientation of the switch.

For ceiling fans with a vertical switch: down is for downward airflow and up is for upward airflow.

For ceiling fans with a horizontal switch: switched to the left is for downward airflow and switched to the right is for upward airflow.

To switch the direction of your ceiling fan, make sure that the fan is always turned off and at a complete stop. By safely using a ladder or step stool, you can reach the switch that is usually located in the housing area of the ceiling fan.

So, is it worth it?

The short answer is yes. Whether you feel like it makes a difference or not, the rumors are true! Although they’re not the holy grail of energy efficiency, they can still have a significant impact on your electric bill. Ceiling fans can help save 4%-8% on cooling costs when you combine them with an air conditioner.

The professionals at Express Air Conditioning and Heating are ready to help you with any of your heating and cooling needs. If you need any assistance with your ceiling fan, contact us at Express Air for help today!