Ceiling fans are common features in many homes around the Minneapolis area. While many people appreciate the extra comfort they provide, they can also help you save money on both your cooling and heating. Use this guide to learn how ceiling fans help you save energy plus what you need to know as you consider the right fan for your home and the proper way to install one.
Power of Air Movement
Air plays a critical role in heating and cooling your home. However, the use of air goes well beyond that simplicity and also works to distribute conditioned air around your home; its movement can affect how the air feels at a given temperature. Too little air movement, and then your home feels warm and stagnant. Increased movement can make it feel cooler. Effectively managing the air movement can improve your system’s efficiency, reduce the load while running heating or cooling cycles, and generally make your home feel more comfortable.
Energy Efficiency Benefits
One of the challenges facing HVAC systems is effectively distributing the conditioned air throughout the home. While the first places to improve include the air filter and the supply vents around your home, a ceiling fan can significantly help move conditioned air. Over the winter, a ceiling fan can push down warm air that has naturally risen toward the ceiling. During the hot summer, it helps provide additional air circulation to distribute the cooler air throughout your home more evenly. Helping the conditioned air move through your home reduces the work the system has to do to register the set temperature, which helps lower the heating and cooling cycle lengths.
How Ceiling Fans Reduce HVAC System Usage and Wear
The temperature in your home is more about your comfort than the specific number on the thermostat. In many cases, when someone isn’t comfortable, they’ll adjust the thermostat to try to get relaxed. By pushing warm air down in the winter, you’ll feel more of the heat your system is producing so that you don’t have to run it as much. Over the summer, the air the ceiling fan moves produces a windchill effect that makes the air temperature feel as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit cooler without the air conditioner having to work to reduce it that much further.
Homeowners reduce their energy usage by using programs to adjust the temperature of their home while they aren’t there. Over the summer, you can maximize your energy savings by leaving the temperature set higher and then running your ceiling fan to make it feel cooler. Be sure to turn off the fans when you’re not home, especially if you don’t have pets at home so that you don’t consume energy running it.
How to Adjust Ceiling Fans for Different Seasons
To get the energy savings benefit from your ceiling fan, you must run it properly. Over the winter, you want to draw air up, which will push warm air down. However, you want to do this gently to prevent the windchill effect. Make sure the fan is spinning clockwise and on low during the winter. Over the summer, however, you want the fan to spin counterclockwise, and you can run it at whatever speed provides the relief you’re seeking.
How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan
It’s important to get the proper ceiling fan for the space it’ll serve. The first aspect to consider is the size of the room the fan is in, with larger rooms needing larger fan sizes. Next, consider your ceiling height and the kind of mount needed, such as flush, standard, or extended. Also, consider the infrastructure your room has available or what may need to be installed to support your fan, such as electrical and switches. Finally, consider the room’s aesthetics and what will complement the room. You don’t want a modern fan design when the room has a warmer feel or is more traditional.
Proper Ceiling Fan Installation
If you don’t have your fan properly installed, it won’t offer the benefit you’re looking for. Plus, it could pose a hazard to your home and family. Aside from the electrical connection, which should be left to a professional electrician to ensure safety and code compliance, where you place your fan is also critically important. Start by placing your fan above the center of the room. Make sure there is plenty of room between the fan blades and the wall to provide a buffer if the fan vibrates or wobbles.
You want the fan mounted no higher than 9 feet from the floor. Raising the fan more than that diminishes the effect it’ll have where you’ll feel it. Additionally, the fan blades should be at least 8 inches away from the ceiling to allow for proper air movement. Even with a flush-mounted model, the fan motor should provide this minimal clearance. For all other models, use the proper pedestal length to keep the blades at the proper clearances.
Differences in Ceiling Fan Blade Size and Design
Fan blades range in size from 29 to 60 inches from the blade mount to its edge. Longer blades move more air but require a more robust motor because of the additional torque put on the motor. Get the proper size fan blade for your room to ensure you move enough air while not increasing your budget unnecessarily. Also, consider the fan blade pitch, design, and material. A higher pitch will move more air, as will some fan designs. Further, the materials used will affect the wear on the motor and the durability of the blades. Consider what your goals are for the fan between function, aesthetics, and investment as you consider the available fan blade designs.
Balancing Ceiling Fans With Air Conditioning
It can be difficult to determine where the balance between your ceiling fan and air conditioner is, especially if you’re used to keeping a lower temperature setting. Consider the temperature at which you seem to be most comfortable when humidity is well-controlled. Once you know that, increase the setting by 4 degrees Fahrenheit, and run your ceiling fan. If you’re too cool after a day or two, raise the temperature 1 or 2 degrees at a time until you find a comfortable balance.
Maintaining Your Ceiling Fan
One of the most important aspects of ceiling fan maintenance is keeping it clean. As dust builds up on the fan blade, it can become out of balance, resulting in excess strain on the motor. At a minimum, clean the blades every 60 days. However, there’s no harm in staying in the routine by adding it to your monthly chores when you check your HVAC air filters.
When property owners around Shakopee have needed help keeping their homes’ electrical systems safe and effective, they’ve trusted the award-winning electricians at Finch Home Solutions since 2017. Our team takes pride in providing highly rated electrical repair and installation, including electrical panels, lighting upgrades, EV charging, and fixture and outlet installation. Call to schedule your ceiling fan consultation or installation with one of our experienced electricians today.
