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Ceiling fans are coming back in a big way, as homeowners look for ways to live more sustainably and comfortably, too. If you don’t have ceiling fans in your home, you’re missing out.
Ceiling fans work by creating airflow that can make your home feel cooler or warmer, depending on the time of year. Yes, even in the winter, you can benefit from running a ceiling fan. You’ll cut your greenhouse gas emissions and your heating and cooling costs. You can even install ceiling fans in outdoor spaces. And you don’t need to give up a light fixture in order to install a ceiling fan – many fans come with light fixtures built in.
Ceiling Fans Create Airflow That Can Keep You Comfortable Year-Round
Ceiling fans work by circulating air, which can change your perception of how cool or warm it is in your house without actually affecting the temperature. Most ceiling fans should have a switch on the side of the motor housing. That switch controls the direction of the fan blades. Set them to spin counterclockwise in the summer – this will create a downward airflow that dissipates sweat on your skin and helps cool your body through the process of evaporation. Set them to spin clockwise in the winter – this will create an upward air flow that pushes warm air back down from the upper half of the room and pulls cold air up, making you feel warmer. When you use your ceiling fans properly, they can help your home feel more comfortable all year long.
You Can Cut Your Heating and Cooling Costs
Heating and cooling costs are getting out of control, but the cost of installing ceiling fans can be worth it for their ability to help you manage those HVAC expenses. With a ceiling fan, you can turn your thermostat up by as much as four degrees Fahrenheit or three degrees Celsius in the summer, with no change in how cool you feel. Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia have found that homeowners who have ceiling fans rely on air conditioning for climate control 76 percent less than those who do not use ceiling fans. That’s potentially a huge savings on summer cooling costs. It costs just a few dollars a month to run a ceiling fan 24/7, compared to potentially hundreds to run a central air conditioning unit. Even a window A/C can add $30 or $40 to your electricity bill each month if you rely on it solely for climate control.
The savings don’t stop in the winter, either. Part of the reason why it can be so hard to keep a home warm in the winter is that hot air from your vents rises, lingering near the ceiling where you can’t feel it, and even escaping from the home via your attic. Using a ceiling fan with a clockwise blade rotation in the winter pushes that warm air back down into the room. You’ll be able to turn your thermostat down a little and use less heat in the winter.
You Don’t Need to Give Up a Light Fixture
It’s pretty easy to install a ceiling fan if you already have a light fixture in the place where you want to install the fan. You don’t need to give up having extra ambient light in that room, which is a bonus for rooms with little natural light. You can buy ceiling fans with light fixtures – even rustic-style ceiling fans come with built-in light fixtures. You can even find fans with dimmable lights for those times when you just want to relax.
Ceiling Fans Can Be Useful Outdoors, Too
If you want to control temperature in an outdoor space, a fan is about the only effective way to do it. Save floor space on a small covered patio or porch with a ceiling fan. The breeze will not only keep you and your guests cool, but it can also keep bugs away, too. Their little wings just can’t stand up to the stiff breezes created by a ceiling fan.
Can a ceiling fan make your home more comfortable? Absolutely, yes! Ceiling fans are great for cooling off on hot summer days without cranking up the A/C. They’re also good for making the most of your heating in the winter because they can keep warm air from rising to the ceiling and even escaping through the attic. Install ceiling fans in your home now – you’ll notice a difference right away.
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