You might have heard at some point that ceiling fans do very little to actually lower the temperature of the air in the room in which they’re running. So leaving the ceiling fan on all day when you’re not home won’t actually help the room feel that much better when you do come back.
Therefore, is using a ceiling fan pointless? Absolutely not! But it’s important to know that there are correct ways to use this appliance, just as there are wasteful ways. If by the end of this post you decide that ceiling fans are worth the investment for your home, be sure to contact a professional electrician in Waterloo, IA, such as any of the members of our team!
Understanding Ceiling Fans and Air Movement
As we stated above, ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature of the air in the rooms they’re installed in. Instead, they create a cool breeze—which will feel even cooler if you use the fan with your air conditioner (not to mention, then help with AC efficiency, which we’ll get to in a moment).
Running your ceiling fan all day in an unoccupied room is wasteful. Since it doesn’t actually cool the air around it, you’d essentially be running an electric device for no reason. While these appliance don’t eat up a significant amount of energy, they do still contribute to the cost of your electricity.
Plus, running the motor of your ceiling fan can actually add heat to the room. So even though you may feel a cool breeze when you walk into the room, if your air conditioner was off all day then the temperature of the room may actually be warmer than it would have been had you just left the ceiling fan off.
Why They’re Worth the Investment
Ceiling fans help your air conditioner operate more efficiently. True, they do not decrease the temperature of the room on their own, but they do circulate the cool air coming from your air conditioner, enabling you to turn the temperature up by as much as 10 degrees. This can save you a hugely significant amount of money off your monthly energy bill as a result.
Ceiling fans also give you versatility. They can be installed in just about any spot in your living space. This includes bedrooms, kitchens, screened-in porches, and more. These appliances can be attractive looking as well as functional—adding to the overall appeal of your home.
Let’s not forget to mention their wintertime benefits, either! That’s right, your ceiling fan can help you save on your heating costs. When you switch your ceiling fan in reverse using a button located near the center of the fan, it pushed the hot air that’s risen to the ceiling down, which decreases your energy usage.
Therefore, ceiling fans present an excellent way to enhance the year-round comfort of your home. Other ways to contribute to this year-round comfort, and save energy, is to be sure you keep up on HVAC maintenance so that your air conditioner and heating systems don’t have to work harder than they should have to in order to do their job.