If you’re like many people, you probably wonder whether a ceiling fan is a good investment for your home and if you should run your ceiling fan alongside your air conditioner.
These are great questions to ask yourself when thinking about your overall home and your heating and cooling needs. The short answer is that ceiling fans are the perfect solution to help with energy efficiency and complement your AC to keep your home comfortable when the temperature rises.
Let’s look at the main reasons a fan is useful, what to look for when choosing a ceiling fan, and its best placement for optimal performance.
Utilizing a Ceiling Fan with Your Air Conditioner
A ceiling fan is a good investment for a number of reasons, including:
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Helps you stay cool when the weather is hot or humid by running a reversible fan to pull the cool air up. It can also direct warm air down in the heating season.
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Using a ceiling fan allows you to reduce your need for air conditioning/heating, so that you save money without sacrificing any of your comfort.
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An AC system runs about 3 kilowatts and costs approximately 36 cents per hour, whereas a ceiling fan runs at 30 watts, costing about 1 cent per hour.
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By using your ceiling fan as a teammate to work alongside your AC unit, you can turn up your thermostat while saving energy and money at the same time. Turning your thermostat up 4 degrees can reduce your AC costs by up to 17 cents per hour.
What Size Ceiling Fan Should I Get?
The size of the fan has the most effect on how well it can cool down your room. Simply measure your room and use the following guide to look for a fan that will work for your space:
- Rooms up to 64 square feet = 29” fan
- Rooms up to 100 square feet = 42” fan
- Rooms up to 225 square feet = 52” fan
- Rooms up to 400 square feet = one 56”, one 60” or two 52” fans
Remember to also look for an Energy Star ceiling fan/light combination model, which are 60% more efficient than conventional fan/light units.
Where Should I Put My Ceiling Fan?
To make sure your ceiling fan is working at its optimal best, placement is key. Here are a few things you should think about:
- Place your fan as close to the center of your room as possible. Irregular shaped rooms (such as L-shaped) could be split to address both sides of the room, with two fans sized for each space.
- Fan blades should be at least 18” from the nearest walls.
- The minimum height for a ceiling fan is 7 feet, but hanging it 8 – 9 feet above the floor will allow you to enjoy better airflow.
Above all, always measure your space and work with what you have to get the best from your ceiling fan. Using the above steps for your ceiling fan, in tandem with your air conditioner, will help you save in the long run.
Looking for more tips or product information for your home cooling needs? Contact ClimateCare with all of your questions.
