Your ceiling fans aren’t just for decoration. Use them hand-in-hand with your HVAC system, and you’ll see big savings on your electric bill.
The savings won’t be direct, of course, because you’re still running an appliance. Ceiling fans cool your skin by blowing air on you while your AC lowers the temperature of the room you are in.
You don’t need to cool your room so aggressively when your ceiling fan runs. You can turn your thermostat up, just a little, without losing your comfort.
Here are a few tips for making the most of this trick.
#1) Use ceiling fans only when you’re in the room to enjoy them.
If you’re not in the room, ceiling fans don’t save you a thing. There’s no skin to cool! So turn them off when you leave, but make turning them on your first step when you get a little warm, rather than turning down the temperature on the thermostat.
#2) Try raising your temperature by 5 degrees.
A two or three-degree change won’t do much for your energy bill, but a 5-degree change will.
You can save $120 to $300 a year that way!
#3) Install ENERGY STAR® ceiling fans.
Energy inefficiencies in your ceiling fans won’t save you any money. If you have an ancient fan, consider swapping it with an energy-efficient model.
You should also take this opportunity to choose a fan that’s the appropriate size for the room. A 225-square-foot room needs a fan 36 to 44 inches in diameter. Larger rooms need fans that are 52 inches in diameter or larger.
You can also supplement with stick fans that sit on the floor.
#4) Address insulation and air leaks.
Insulation can help you maximize your savings. Improper insulation can cause you to lose much of your cold air. It slips outside, where it doesn’t do any good. It also helps to mitigate the warming from the outdoors.
Sealing air leaks achieves the same results: keeping your cold air inside, with you, where it belongs.
#5) Keep your AC in great shape.
You won’t see many savings if you have an old, inefficient AC. You also won’t see much in the way of savings if your AC isn’t working properly.
Schedule monthly maintenance with Dalton Air and Heat to make sure your AC continues to work correctly. Otherwise, it will continue to eat energy as it attempts to cool your house.
Get Help Today
Are you running fans and an AC only to find that your house still isn’t as cool or as comfortable as you’d like?
Call Dalton Air and Heat to schedule an AC check-up! We’ll address all of your cooling issues and ensure that your system can keep your home comfortable.
We even offer financing! Contact us today to schedule a free estimate!
