If your summer air conditioning bills have been giving you the chills, you’re probably looking for new ways to keep those costs in line. Ceiling fans are one of the most cost-effective ways to trim those costs–without sacrificing any comfort. Here’s a quick guide to choosing and using fans for maximum efficiency.

Tips for choosing ceiling fans

Start shopping, and you’ll quickly find that you have a wealth of options–so many, in fact, that you might feel a bit overwhelmed. For example. should you select a model with three, four or five blades? Although you might think that more blades mean that a fan will operate more effectively, this is generally not the case. Ultimately, look for a fan made of high-grade materials. It should have a quality finish and come with a sturdy warranty. You might want to consult with your HVAC professional to determine which ceiling fans are best for your particular needs. With regard to fan size, here are a few guidelines:

  • For a room up to 400 square feet, purchase a 52-inch fan.
  • For a room up to 225 square feet, purchase a 44-inch fan.
  • For a room up to 144 square feet, purchase a 42-inch fan.

Proper ceiling fan operation

A ceiling fan doesn’t actually cool a room. A ceiling fan speeds up the process of evaporation. It removes perspiration from your skin and makes you feel cooler. This allows you to turn the thermostat up a few degrees and save some money. But because a fan cools people–and not a space–it is important to turn it off when a room is unoccupied. Running a fan in an empty space is a waste of your money.

For more helpful tips on how to lower your cooling costs this summer, contact the experts at Comfort Systems We are proud to serve residents of Wichita and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas 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.

Posted in Fans and tagged , , , , ,