A ceiling fan can provide comfort and air circulation in almost any room in your home. Using the fan properly will reduce the cost of running it and allow you to maximize the benefits it has to offer, and it will save you money on your home heating and cooling costs.
Purchase and Installation
Choose a fan that is the right size for your room for optimal cooling. Lowes.com advises to "use a 36"-diameter ceiling fan if the largest room dimension is 12 feet or less, "use a 42"-diameter if the largest is 12 to 15 feet, and "use a 52"-diameter if the largest room dimension is 15 to 18 feet. Make sure that your fan blades are balanced and not wobbly, and if you are installing a fan outdoors, it should have a UL damp or wet rating. Energy Star-rated products are reportedly 50 percent more efficient than conventional fans, according to EnergyStar.gov.
Summer Use
Run your ceiling fans in a counter-clockwise motion during the warmer months. The downward force of air will create a cool breeze in your room, thus cooling the people in it. Turn the fan off when you leave a room; a ceiling fan does not actually lower the temperature of a room and should only be used when people are present. According to EnergyStar.gov, proper use of your ceiling fan, in conjunction with adjusting the thermostat on your air conditioner to a higher temperature, can save you up to 14 percent in energy costs during the warm months.
Winter Use
Use your fan properly during the colder months to save money on heating bills. Set the reverse switch on your fan so that it runs in a clockwise motion. Use the lowest speed setting to create an upward warming draft. The heat in your home rises and collects at your ceiling. A ceiling fan in reverse will force the heat down into your living space, where it will rise again, creating circulation that warms the room.
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