Always remember to turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room.
Many homeowners have ceiling fans in their home to help circulate air and cool off rooms. While a ceiling fan can be extremely effective for this purpose, it can also use up quite a bit of energy if you are not careful. Fortunately, you can cut back on the energy consumed by your ceiling fan if you keep a few basic tips in mind when installing and operating it.
Ensure That the Fan is Properly Installed
One of the simplest ways to save energy with a ceiling fan is to ensure that it is properly installed. A poorly installed fan may utilize more energy because it must run at higher speeds to effectively circulate air throughout the room. Ideally, a ceiling fan should be installed in the center of a room to ensure more efficient air circulation. For stability, it should also be secured to a ceiling joist. If a joist is not located in the center of the room, use a ceiling fan mounting bracket to help support the fan's weight. Test the fan to see if it wobbles. If the fan is wobbly, hold a yardstick vertically along the blades' edges to see if they are aligned properly. In many cases, you can simply bend a misaligned blade back into place. If the issue cannot be resolved, contact the fan's manufacturer for assistance.
Connect It Properly
To be energy-efficient, a ceiling fan must utilize a proper electrical connection. Connect your fan to an outlet box that is specifically designed for ceiling fans. These boxes contain all of the necessary wires for a proper connection and serve as the point at which the fan connects to the ceiling. When replacing a standard lighting fixture with a fan, you will probably need to replace the outlet box with one that fits your fan.
Remember to Turn It Off
One of the easiest ways to save energy with a ceiling fan is to turn the fan off when no one is in the room. Ceiling fans are designed to cool people, not rooms, so there is no reason to waste energy by cooling an unoccupied room.
Use It Year-Round
Most homeowners only think to use their ceiling fans in the summer months when the weather is warm, but using them year-round can actually help reduce energy consumption. In the summer, a ceiling fan should operate in a counterclockwise direction so individuals standing directly beneath feel a breeze. During the winter months, however, reverse your ceiling fan's motor so it moves in a clockwise direction, and run it at a lower speed. An updraft is created that pulls warm air near the ceiling down to the lower portion of the room to warm its occupants. As a result, you can lower your thermostat and use less energy to heat your home.
Tags: your ceiling, , ceiling should, center room, energy with, energy with ceiling