When we first went into business three generations ago, ceiling fans were the primary way that people kept their homes cool. Just because most everyone now has air conditioning, though, does not mean ceiling fans are obsolete. In fact, ceiling fans and air conditioners work quite well together, improving your comfort while lowering your electricity bills.

Whereas air conditioners literally make the air inside your house colder, a ceiling fan simply makes it feel colder without actually changing the temperature. It has the same impact as the wind chill effect outside: when air is moving across your skin, it does a better job of dissipating your own body heat.

The wind chill effect from a ceiling fan is equal to about four degrees on the thermometer. Your body literally cannot tell the difference between a room that is 79 degrees with the ceiling fan on or 75 degrees with the fan off. And that means you can turn the thermostat up by three or four degrees when you have a ceiling fan on.

Reducing your air conditioner’s load by a few degrees can significantly reduce the amount of time it stays running each day and thereby reduce its power consumption. And not only does a ceiling fan use much less electricity than an air conditioner, but the fan only has to stay on when somebody is actually in the room. Unlike air conditioning, the effect from ceiling fans is not cumulative; leaving them running when no one is present does not make the room any cooler when you return. Since the fan uses less electricity and doesn’t stay on when you are gone, the net savings on your electric bills can be significant.

If you are looking to install ceiling fans in your home, look for the energy-efficient models with the Energy Star label. Those with broader blades are also more efficient at moving air and can provide the same cooling effect while spinning at slower speeds.

If you have any questions or are interested in other ways you can save energy, contact us at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ceiling fans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!