Given the hot, dry desert climate, cooling efficiency is always a concern for Yuma-area residents. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with your A/C system can improve cooling efficiency in your home, which can yield significant savings on your energy bills. However, realizing those savings means knowing how to use your ceiling fan to your best advantage. Here’s what you need to know to help you do that.
Ceiling fans work to increase cooling efficiency by creating better airflow. That enhanced airflow creates a wind chill effect that makes people feel cooler at warmer temperatures. In fact, proper use of a ceiling fan can make it possible to raise your thermostat’s temperature setting by about 4 degrees without reducing your comfort – which translates into less energy use and lower energy bills.
Choosing and Using Your Ceiling Fan
The first thing to look for when choosing a ceiling fan is the Energy Star label. Fans that have been certified by the federal Energy Star program move air an average of 20 percent more efficiently than fans that have not. Quiet operation is another important quality, as is proper sizing and installation.
Ceiling fans can be safely installed in rooms with ceilings at least eight feet high. However, they are most beneficial when blades are placed between 7 and 9 feet from floors and 10 to 12 inches from ceilings. Larger is better for increasing cooling efficiency, but there should be at least 18 inches of clearance between fan blades and walls. Fans with a diameter of 36-44 inches will provide adequate cooling for rooms up to 255 square feet in size, while larger rooms will require a fan that measures at least 52 inches. Rooms more than 18 feet long need multiple fans.
Lastly, if increased cooling efficiency is your goal, it is important to remember that fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off in empty rooms. For more information on the best way to improve cooling efficiency with ceiling fans, please contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We’ve been serving customers throughout the Yuma area since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona 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 Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
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