Energy Efficient Ceiling Fans
. A ceiling fan can add a special sense of nostalgia to your home, as well as being an important energy saver. By circulating the air effectively, it will make your heating and air conditioning systems operate more efficiently, thereby saving money and energy. Energy efficient ceiling fans cost far less to run than heating and cooling systems, and use less energy.
. While a ceiling fan does not necessarily alter the temperature, it does make a room feel more comfortable by enhancing the natural circulatory pattern. A ceiling fan only moves the air around, but lots of times, that's all it takes to make living spaces more comfortable.
. Ceiling fans supplement air conditioning by permitting a higher thermostat setting. Air movement from the fan evaporates moisture on the skin and makes a person feel cooler. With this cooling effect, most people can raise the thermostat and still feel just as comfortable. If the outside temperature isn’t too high, you can achieve a comfortable environment by opening a few windows and just allowing your ceiling fan to circulate the air. Effective circulation can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler, and reduce air conditioning bills by up to 40%.
. Installing a ceiling fan that can change direction helps minimize heating bills in the wintertime, too. Since hot air rises, the fan gently circulates warmer air back down to floor level. The fan will push warm air back into the living space for greater comfort and lower energy consumption. Your furnace will not have to work so hard to keep the living area warm. For each degree you lower your thermostat, you'll reduce heating costs 3 percent to 5 percent.
Make sure your ceiling fan rotates the right direction for the season!
. Remember, a ceiling fan should enhance the natural flow of air.
. Ceiling fan blades must rotate counter-clockwise for a cooling effect. You will be creating a downdraft to circulate the air, evaporate moisture, and eliminate “dead air” that makes you feel hotter. You should be able to feel the fan blowing on you if you stand underneath it.
. The blades must rotate clockwise in conjunction with your heating system so that air will be pushed toward the ceiling, which creates an updraft of the cooler air. The warm air that collects in the ceiling will be pushed down into the living space so you will feel warmer.
. Most ceiling fan switches will reflect the flow of air – up for winter and down for summer.
More Information on Ceiling Fans
Where Should Ceiling Fans Be Installed
Ceiling fans can be installed throughout your home. The kitchen, family room, den, and bedrooms are obvious choices; some people have fans in all rooms, including the workshop or garage, and even on the patio!
Ceiling fans should be installed between seven and nine feet from the floor. If you have vaulted ceilings, extensions are available for positioning fans to the correct height. Fans shouldn't be closer to the ceiling than ten inches; if the fan is too close to the ceiling, you lose efficiency because there's no room for air to flow around the blades. Blades should be at least 18 inches from the walls.
How to Select a Ceiling Fan
Fan sizes commonly range from 34" to 56" in diameter. The best size will depend upon the room where the fan will be installed. Generally, a 36" fan is suitable for rooms that measure up to 9' X 12'. A 48" fan is practical for rooms up to 12' X 15', and a 56" fan suits rooms larger than 12' X 15'. A long and narrow room may require two fans for effective air circulation.
How Much Energy Do Ceiling Fans Use?
Fans use no more electricity than light bulbs. Typical wattages for various ceiling fan sizes are:
- 36" = 55 watts
- 48" = 75 watts
- 52" = 90 watts
- 56" = 100 watts
For example, a 48” fan operating 10 hours a day would cost about 75 cents a month. For a 1,500-square-foot house with air conditioning, using two ceiling fans and raising the thermostat setting could save between $70 and $200 over a six-month cooling season.
Prices
Ceiling fans can cost anywhere from $30 to more than $1,000, but most are sold in the $50 to $100 range. You can recover your investment in a fan through the energy savings you achieve with a higher thermostat setting.
Other services offered by Dynamo Electric of Williamsburg, VA include certified electricians, electrical panel updates, wiring for residential and new construction, relocation of meter base, commercial new construction, relocation or replacement of electrical appliances circuits and receptacles, pull cat. 5 & 6 cable for computers, X10 installation, installation of whole house surge protectors, whole house generators, fire suppression systems, conveyor systems, etc..
Call our office for more information
757-220-2067
