A ceiling fan is a versatile addition to any room.
During warm weather, ceiling help you and more comfortable. But ceiling fans can also be run during the winter to help keep rooms warm. Knowing position ceiling fans and operate them properly make these appliances an efficient and welcomed addition to the home.
Energy Savings
Ceiling fans cost about the same to operate as powering up a 100-watt light bulb. At just a few pennies each day, energy consumption is nearly negligible. A fan can supplement the air conditioner in summer, allowing consumers to run them less often. Fans can also distribute warm air throughout the room, causing the furnace to kick on less often in winter for additional energy savings.
Fan Size Requirements
The size ceiling fan needed depends on the length of the room's longest wall. If that wall is 12 feet or less, a 36-inch diameter fan will take care of the space. Larger wall lengths of 12 to 15 feet require a 42-inch diameter fan, and rooms of 15 to 18 feet need a 52-inch diameter unit. Large rooms need two or more ceiling fans.
Mounting Fans
Ceiling fans are heavy and they generate some torque when they are rotating. Fans must be anchored to ceiling joists, framing studs screwed into place between joists, or to a metal expandable fan support mounted between joists. Electrical boxes must be rated for ceiling fans and be capable of supporting at least 50 pounds.
Fan Rotation
In summer and during mild weather days, ceiling fans are rotated counterclockwise in order to produce the wind-chill effect necessary to make people feel cooler. A steady breeze is evident when standing directly below the fan. In winter, reverse the fan so that it rotates clockwise. The pitched blades will move warm air that rises toward the ceiling back downward, along the walls and into the lower level of the room, where people occupy the space. In summer, fans are run at medium to high speeds while in winter, they are run at low speeds.
Thermostat Settings
Ceiling fans do not actually decrease the room's temperature in summer. The wind-chill just makes it feel that way. As a result, thermostats can be turned to a higher temperature setting and the room will feel at least four degrees cooler, according to the California Energy Commission Consumer Energy Center. Since warm air is actually brought back to floor level in winter, ceiling fans do make the room warmer. The thermostat senses that warmth, so the furnace operates less frequently.
Leaving Fans Running
Since fans cool people not rooms in summer, they should be turned off when no one is occupying the space. In winter, leave fans running regardless if people are present because the fan's churning keeps warm air where it needs to be and results in an energy savings.
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