Should You Use a Ceiling Fan While the Air Conditioner Is Running?

Fans and air conditioners come to the rescue when the blazing sun makes it difficult to keep cool inside our homes. There’s nothing better than relaxing in an air-conditioned room on a hot day or standing in front of a fan as a quick way to cool off. But should you use a ceiling fan while the air conditioner is running? Is it truly necessary to run both simultaneously, or does it waste precious amounts of energy?

The answer is simple. Yes, you should run ceiling fans with air conditioners. In fact, there are many benefits to keeping cool with these two go-to methods. Let’s discuss the various advantages below.

Understanding the “Wind-Chill Effect”

If you want to know why you should run ceiling fans with air conditioners, it’s important to have a decent understanding of the “wind-chill effect.” When it comes down to it, ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature inside of a room. Instead, they provide continuous air circulation that creates a wind chill.

What is a wind chill? It’s pretty easy to understand. When a ceiling fan creates a breeze, this breeze blows across your skin and makes the room feel a few degrees cooler than it actually is. This is excellent news for homeowners — especially those that don’t want to rely on their air conditioners at all hours of the day.

Why You Should Run Ceiling Fans With Air Conditioners

Should you use a ceiling fan while the air conditioner is running? If you ask this question to professionals and homeowners alike, you will likely receive a resounding “yes.”

Although fans don’t lower a home’s temperature, they are worth running during the hottest months of the year. Ceiling fans don’t cost a lot to run; in fact, they usually only cost $0.003 per hour. This is a considerably small price to pay, considering all the benefits you can reap in the long run.

Better Home Comfort

In short, you should run ceiling fans with air conditioners simply due to the comfort they can provide. AC units are great — but they’re not perfect. Sometimes, a room can have warm spots or struggle to stay cool on an extremely hot day. Ceiling fans are known to evenly circulate air throughout a room, which means they can tackle hard-to-reach spots that your AC simply can’t get to.

Improved Energy Efficiency

What’s another reason you should use a ceiling fan while the air conditioner is running? Really, it’s impossible not to mention energy efficiency. When you run your air conditioning system and ceiling fans together, you can raise your thermostat a few degrees without compromising comfort.

Adjusting the thermostat in your home, even by just a few degrees, can help you save energy. Your air conditioner won’t have to turn on and off as frequently, which can help it last longer and work more effectively in the long run.

There are also other ways to improve your air conditioner’s energy efficiency. Check to ensure that your windows don’t have any leaks, and seal your ducts to avoid any leaks. You should also prioritize regular maintenance services. Scheduling a routine tune-up in Gastonia, NC, can make a world of difference for your HVAC system’s performance.

Lower Energy Costs

Do you want to lower your monthly energy bill? If so, you should run ceiling fans with air conditioners! Since raising your thermostat while running an AC and fan together helps you save energy, it stands to reason that you can save money, too. For example, you can save ¢17 per hour when you set your thermostat four degrees higher. Although this might sound like a small number, these savings can quickly add up over the course of a season or two.

How to Set a Ceiling Fan for Summer

If you want to run your aircon and electric fan at the same time, it’s important to make sure that your fan is on the right setting. Believe it or not, ceiling fans can be adjusted depending on the season.

When you look up at the blades, check to see if they are turning counterclockwise. If they are, then you don’t have to worry about making any adjustments. This setting will push air down and create that wonderful “wind-chill effect.”

In the colder winter months, you should adjust your fan so that it turns clockwise. Letting your fan spin in this direction will help pull the cold air toward the ceiling — and far, far away from you.

Need AC Services? Schedule an Appointment With the Experts

Now that you know that you should use a ceiling fan while the air conditioner is running, you might be worried about your AC’s energy efficiency. As air conditioners get older, they can lose their energy efficiency — costing you energy, money, and comfort.

At Dilling Heating & Cooling, we’re here to help with all of your comfort needs. Whether you need a Fort Mill, SC, air conditioning repair or replacement, you can trust us to provide a reliable solution. Contact us today to learn more about our heating and cooling services!