Does Running the Ceiling Fan With the Furnace Help With an Electric Bill?
Running a ceiling fan can help reduce your electric bill. In additional, a ceiling fan can provide lighting and decorative flair to your living room, bedroom or any room of your choosing. Styles range from plain wooden paddles to ornate blades and include specialty fans such as an Indy 500 fan. Your individual taste and style can be reflected in every room of your house.
General Guidelines
Look for a ceiling fan that contains an "Energy Star" rating, as these fans are up to 50 percent more efficient than a conventional fan. Light kits can be included to provide ample light for the room or area. The Energy Star rating fan may save you at least $15 each year on your electric bill. To qualify for the Energy Star rating, the fan must meet certain requirements regarding the motor and blade design. Visit the EnergyStar.gov website for a listing of qualified manufacturers of Energy Star fans.
Savings
Ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioners. Consider that a central air conditioner unit can use between 2,000 and 3,000 watts, while a ceiling fan uses only 50 to 90 watts. A furnace can use more than 600 watts. Since your utility company generally charges you per kilowatt hour, decreasing the amount of energy you use will have a direct affect on reducing your energy bill. Florida Power and Light has an Appliance Cost Calculator available on their website to help you determine the potential cost of using various equipment.
Operation
Run the ceiling fan only when you are in the room. Ceiling fans are intended to keep you comfortable, not the room and its contents. If you will be out of the room for only a short period, it is not necessary to turn off the fan. Adjust your thermostat for each season. Setting the temperature a few degrees higher in summer and lower in winter will help reduce your overall utility bill. Adjusting the speed on your ceiling fan may be the only adjustment you need to make to keep the room comfortable.
Types
Use a reversible ceiling fan on a year-round basis. In the summer, you should feel a breeze when you are standing directly below the fan. During the winter, reversing the motor (counter-clockwise) will allow an updraft, which pushes the warm air down into the room. Be sure to purchase the proper size of ceiling fan to give you the highest benefit. A room that is no more than 9 feet by 12 feet is best suited with a 36-inch ceiling fan. A larger room will require a 48-inch fan, while a long, narrow room may require two fans for proper circulation.
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