Ceiling fans do not use as much energy as air conditioners. In fact, the average air conditioner costs 36 cents an hour to run and a ceiling fan only costs 1 cent per hour. So it seems that a simple conclusion would be running a ceiling fan instead of the air conditioner will save energy. But it isn’t as straightforward as you might think. For locals, fans alone will not provide enough cooling power to replace air conditioners. So can running a ceiling fan along with the air conditioner help cut costs and reduce frequent air conditioning repair in Los Gatos, CA? Here is what you need to know.
How Do Ceiling Fans Cool?
You may have heard that ceiling fans don’t cool homes, but they cool people. This is because fans work in the same way that the wind does. Running a fan in the room doesn’t actually change the temperature. But standing under a fan on a hot day will make you feel cooler. It is called windchill. Moving air helps with the natural cooling process of the body. More air moving over the skin speeds up the process of evaporation. And when more moisture can evaporate from the skin, the body feels cooler. This is why it isn’t prudent to leave a fan running in an empty room.
Does a Ceiling Fan Help with Air Conditioning Performance?
In the past, ceiling fans actually aided in air conditioning performance. They are almost necessary. See, early air conditioners were not very efficient. Most had poorly designed duct layouts that meant rooms were not cooled evenly. Instead, there were often cold areas right by the supply vents and stuffy areas where the cool air didn’t ever reach. In these circumstances, people used ceiling fans to help circulate the cooled air. This allowed for more even temperatures in a room and added the windchill effect so occupants felt cooler.
But now, air conditioning systems are much more efficient. The systems are designed to have proper airflow and circulation. Rooms cool more evenly and there is very little temperature variance from room to room. So the reliance on ceiling fans is not as great. That said, ceiling fans can still save energy as long as they allow you to change your air conditioning usage. With the windchill effect, you can turn up the thermostat a couple of degrees and run the ceiling fan. This will allow you to feel just as cool without running the air conditioner as much.
Does a Ceiling Fan Help With Heating?
You can use a similar strategy in winter as well. Where you run the fan counterclockwise in the summertime, you should run it clockwise in the wintertime. Most fans have a switch that allows you to change the directionality. Switching the direction will create a downdraft. It pulls the warm air from the ceiling and helps circulate it through the room. This will allow you to adjust the temperature down a couple of degrees while still maintaining the warmth.
Looking for more tips about cooling, energy savings, and air conditioning repair in Los Gatos, CA? Contact us today to set up an appointment.
The post Do Ceiling Fans Save Energy? appeared first on Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning.