Save up to 30% on Cooling Costs: How to Run Your Ceiling Fan with AC

Having the air conditioner running throughout the day can be a costly expense. During the summer, the air conditioner might have to work harder if the temperature outside is hotter than indoors.

You might ask "Do ceiling fans help the AC?" The answer is yes, ceiling fans do help the air conditioner. To lower AC costs and prevent more work, we recommend running a ceiling fan with the air conditioner.

Ceiling fans help to circulate the air while also creating a cool feeling for the occupant. By having the ceiling fan work with the AC, you can save about 17 cents per hour.

This article discusses how to run a fan with AC to cool your home.

Ceiling fans and air conditioning fans work together to cool the room temperature. Ceiling fans provide the wind chill effect in the room. Choose between the "Auto" and "ON" function of the thermostat to create a more energy efficient way of cooling.

Wind Chill Effect

When functioning correctly, ceiling fans cause air circulation throughout the room. Depending on the fan speed, you'll experience the room feeling cooler. This is due to the wind chill effect.

The wind chill effect occurs when sweat on the skin evaporates and heat from the body releases. This process creates the feeling of cooling. However, most of the time, the temperature of the room is still the same as before.

The benefit of wind chill is that occupants can feel around 4 degrees cooler than actual room temperatures. While the room might be warmer, your perception of the area will feel cooler.

"Auto" vs. "ON" Fan Settings

Air conditioners typically have fan settings to help cool the area. The fan settings control the HVAC blower. HVAC blowers circulate hot or cold air into the residence until the desired temperature is reached. The two settings used to control the blower are – auto or on.

The “Auto” setting turns the fan on automatically only when the system is heating or cooling. The system turns off when the desired temperature is reached until the next cycle. This function is the most energy-efficient option and results in better dehumidification. Unfortunately, with this setting, there is not an even distribution of cool air in the area.

The “ON” setting has the fan constantly blowing air even when the HVAC system is not heating or cooling air. By having the fan constantly blowing, there is an even distribution of cool or warm air throughout the home. However, running the fan for a long period of time is costly. Additionally, constantly running the AC might lead to more part replacements.

Choose the best thermostat setting to keep comfortable in your residence!

Optimal fan speeds

In most residences, each room has a different size and shape. The different shapes and sizes make it important to measure the size of the room. The measurements of the room help determine the optimal speed for your ceiling fan.

Bedrooms or offices should have between 50 and 100 rpms. This range keeps the range cool but does without being overbearing.

Larger spaces like dining rooms and living rooms require higher rpms ranging between 200 and 300 rpms. Higher rpms are needed to cool larger rooms. The higher rpms help to disperse fumes and odors.

For even larger spaces with higher ceilings, a ceiling fan can have an rpm of 300 to 380 rpms. If the area needs a stronger breeze, this range of rpms is great for providing that.

Having the optimal fan speed helps you choose a ceiling fan for energy savings in the future!

Thermostat Programming Tips

Throughout the year, it is important to change the thermostat to help reduce your energy bills. When you are away from your residence, we recommend setting the thermostat back to increase energy savings. Smart thermostats learn your routine and over time adjust the settings according to your routine.

You can also make some changes to the thermostat during the seasons. For example, if it is spring or fall, we recommend setting a temperature that is either 68 or 78 degrees during the day. At night when you are sleeping, it is best to turn the thermostat to a colder setting to stay cool.

Another example is changing the settings during the summer and winter months. During the summer months, when there are no occupants in the residence, it is best to have the thermostat at 78 degrees. With scheduled settings, thermostats can turn on when you are heading home to cool the house down. This process of cooling down is more efficient than turning the air on when you get home.

The winter months bring cooler temperatures. To prevent your residence from getting too cold, put the thermostat at 68 degrees. Having the temperature at around 68 can keep other occupants comfortable.

Shop ceiling fans and thermostats at HomElectrical today. We offer a variety of ceiling fans including:

• Royal Pacific 52-in Aldea IX Ceiling Fan #[RPC-1069OBOB]
• HomEnhancements 52-in UFO Fan #[HME-18923]
• Craftmade 52-in Sebastion Ceiling Fan #[CTM-SBN52FB4]

We also offer a variety of thermostats as well to pair with the ceiling fans. These thermostats are:

• Stelpro Line Voltage Thermostat #[STP-SWT1F]
• King Electric Smart Programmable Thermostat #[KNG-K902B]
• Qmark Heater Wire Programmable Thermostat #[QMK-TL8230A1003U]

Disclaimer: The products listed above are not explicitly compatible with each other. Check with the manufacturer for thermostats and ceiling fans with interconnectivity.

While some of these products are not compatible, you can still get all the benefits of using a ceiling fan and AC together. Instead, use the two separate systems simultaneously.

By running your ceiling fan with your AC, you can save on energy costs. You won't overwork the air conditioner because the fan creates a wind chill effect. Find ceiling fans and thermostats at HomElectrical to have that AC fan combo!