When it comes to surviving scorching summer temperatures in Arizona, your HVAC system is probably running on overdrive to keep your home comfortable. But did you know that you could be reducing the workload on your air conditioner while trimming energy costs just by utilizing ceiling fans throughout your living spaces? Fans offer an economical and eco-friendly way to enhance overall cooling and air flow.
Air Circulation Benefits
The key benefit of ceiling fans is their ability to circulate the air and create a wind chill effect that makes you feel several degrees cooler. As the moving air passes over your skin, it increases the evaporation of perspiration and helps you feel more refreshed. This allows you to raise the AC thermostat by a few degrees while still feeling just as comfortable. For every degree you can bump up the temperature, you can save 3-5% on cooling costs.
AC Cooperation
Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature in a room – their secret is helping the cool air your HVAC system produces get dispersed more evenly throughout that space. Fans push down a concentrated flow of air to prevent hot and cold pockets. This allows your air conditioner to cycle off sooner since it won’t need to work as hard to overcome heat stratification.
Summer and Winter Help
Most quality ceiling fans feature a reverse switch that allows you to alternate the blade rotation direction between seasons. In summer, blades should spin counterclockwise to push air straight down in a cooling breeze. In winter, switch to clockwise rotation which pulls cooler air up from the floor and circulates the rising warm air outward.
Energy Savings Potential
Just how much energy and money can ceiling fans save? Most models use about the same wattage as a single LED light bulb. Running continuously during peak cooling seasons, ceiling fans only cost $40-$80 annually in added electric costs. However, they can slash your air conditioning energy usage by 25-35% by reducing run time and allowing you to nudge the thermostat upward.
This summer don’t just rely on air conditioning to stay cool in Arizona’s triple-digit heat. Ceiling fans are invaluable at making your HVAC system work smarter, not harder. At Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we are experts at repairing, maintaining, or replacing your cooling and heating equipment. Call us today at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment. It’s always cool with Bruce’s!
