We all know that one of the keys to staying cool in the summer is to turn on your air conditioner; it’s practically a must when you live in Florida. Unfortunately, relying on your AC too much will leave you with a big electric bill every month. You shouldn’t be expected to go totally without air conditioning this summer, but you can help keep cooling costs down with the strategic use of ceiling fans.
How Ceiling Fans Help Keep Cooling Costs Down
While ceiling fans won’t actually cool the air in your home, they can help you feel cooler so you won’t have to rely so much on your air conditioner. Ceiling fans help circulate the air around a space, which helps evaporate the moisture on your skin and create a “wind chill” effect.
You may still need to have your AC turned on, but you’ll be able to raise the temperature on your thermostat by at least a few degrees and still feel comfortable. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, raising your thermostat by just one degree can lower cooling costs by as much as 8 percent. These savings add up quickly, especially when you live someplace that’s as hot as Florida can be in the summer.
How to Use Ceiling Fans Effectively
Ceiling fans can help lower your cooling costs during the summer, but they still have to be used effectively. First of all, make sure that your fans are rotating counterclockwise. This will push cooler air down and create the breeze you need to feel comfortable on a hot day. There should be a switch on a fan that controls which way it rotates, so flip it if it’s turning clockwise.
Second, try to use your ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner for the best results. Turning on a ceiling fan on a hot day when you aren’t running your AC should help you feel a little cooler, but you’ll feel even better if you actually have cool air to circulate throughout the room. A good energy-efficient thermostat setting in Florida during the summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. That may sound warm to some people, but it will feel closer to 74 degrees when you have a ceiling fan running.
It also helps to know what setting to keep your fans on. Most fans have low, medium, and high settings. Naturally, the medium and high settings will use more energy than the low setting. They might also make the space feel a little too cold if it’s not very hot outside or your thermostat is set too low. As a rule, reserve the higher settings for when it gets really hot outside, such as in the middle of the day or during a major heatwave. Most of the time, you should be fine if you keep a fan on the lowest setting.
Finally, remember to turn off a fan when you leave a room. The goal is to lower your cooling costs, and you won’t be able to do that if you keep a fan on in an empty room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceiling Fans and Cooling Costs
Do ceiling fans actually lower the temperature in a room?
No. Ceiling fans do not cool the air itself. Instead, they create airflow that helps your body feel cooler through evaporation and a wind-chill effect.
How much can I raise my thermostat when using a ceiling fan?
Many homeowners can increase their thermostat setting by about 4 degrees while maintaining the same level of comfort when a ceiling fan is running.
Which direction should a ceiling fan spin in the summer?
During the summer, ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise. This pushes air downward and creates a cooling breeze.
Should I leave ceiling fans on when I leave the room?
No. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. Turning them off when a room is unoccupied helps maximize energy savings.
Call Mister Sparky for More Information
If you want to bring down your cooling costs this summer, having a ceiling fan installed in your bedroom or living room could be exactly what you need. That’s where Mister Sparky can assist you. We install ceiling fans in homes throughout Clearwater, FL and the surrounding areas, and we’ll be happy to install the right fans for your home.
When it comes to ceiling fan installation, don’t put up with any malarky. Call Mister Sparky today.
