With warmer weather on the way, any opportunity to keep cool without cranking on the A/C is a win. To keep your home comfortable and energy bills in check, nothing quite beats the ceiling fan. Today’s ceiling fans are affordable, easy-to-install and quieter than ever. Plus, they can help you save up to 40% on your energy bills in the summer. It’s no wonder we’re such fans!
Shopping for a new fan? Want to get the most from your home’s existing ceiling fans? Here are some tips for savings throughout the seasons:
1. Size Up Your Fan. Rooms up to 75 square feet, like a bathroom, do best with a fan 36″ or smaller. Medium-sized rooms up to 144 square feet can fit ceiling fans from 36″- 42″. Larger bedrooms and family rooms around 225 square feet are most efficient with fans that are 50″- 54″.*
2. Choose the Right Downrod. Downrods are used to position a fan for optimal efficiency and stability. As a general rule, blades should be positioned eight to nine feet from the floor. That means that ceilings higher than nine feet will require a downrod extension.
3. Enjoy Year-Round Comfort. In the summer, operate your ceiling fan in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind chill factor. In the winter, operate it at a low speed in the clockwise direction to force warm air near the ceiling down into the room.
4. Buy with Confidence. The key to a long-lasting ceiling fan is a quality motor. Look for one with a manufacturer’s warranty. Blade pitch and construction are also important. Go for more angled blades (12 to 15 degrees or greater) constructed of hardwood.
5. Turn It Off. Ceiling fans don’t alter a room’s temperature; they just create a wind chill that makes it feel that way. When you leave the room, there’s no need to keep your fan running. Turn it off to save energy.
For more on getting the most from your ceiling fans, the lighting experts at Yale Lighting Concepts & Design are here to help. Stop by one of Yale Lighting Concepts & Design’s seven showrooms throughout Central and Southeastern PA, Northern DE, and Southern New Jersey or browse our huge selection of ceiling fans and fan accessories.
* Source – American Lighting Association