Top 12 Facts About Your Household Ceiling Fans

Some houses have ceiling fans, often with light fixtures, in the bedrooms, living rooms or hallways. These fans provide low-cost airflow for a comfortable interior. We’ll explain the top 12 facts about your ceiling fans so that you can use them as effectively as possible.

1. Create a Wind Chill Effect in Summer

Most ceiling fans have discreet switches on their main housings. Referred to as a rotational or directional switch, it allows you to control the fan’s rotational direction. To cool off in the summer, activate the switch so that the fan spins counterclockwise.

This rotation forces air downward, which leads to a wind chill effect. In short, wind chill is the body’s perception of temperature as the skin sweats and evaporates moisture. As a result, anyone in the room feels cooler and more comfortable than without the fan on.

2. Activate the Fans in Winter to Warm Up

Although using a ceiling fan during the winter seems counterintuitive, activating it to rotate clockwise will make the room feel warmer. With this rotational direction, the fans push the airflow toward the ceiling. As the circulation continues, any hot air trapped at the ceiling level will slowly move down to the floor. Anyone in the room can feel slightly warmer as the circulation continues. Also, any heat generated by the fan’s motor is forced downward for a warmer interior.

3. Run the Fans With Your HVAC System

An intelligent way to control your indoor climate is by using ceiling fans and your HVAC system simultaneously. For example, set your AC two to four degrees higher than normal. Activate your ceiling fans for a cooling effect. As the two mechanisms work together, your entire home will feel cooler and be more efficient than if you had run the HVAC or ceiling fans alone. Some homeowners experiment with different HVAC temperatures so that they can save money as the summer wears on.

4. Install Ceiling Fans in Most Rooms

Ideally, add ceiling fans to most rooms that have enough rotational space. Every ceiling fan should hang up to 12 inches below the ceiling with a 7- to 9-foot height above the floor below. Also, the blades shouldn’t extend any closer than 18 inches from the surrounding walls. By following these guidelines, any room with a large enough space can be cooled and heated year-round with an affordable ceiling fan.

5. Shut Off the Fans in Empty Rooms

Another fact about ceiling fans is that, unlike air conditioning, they don’t cool rooms. So, leaving a ceiling fan on in an empty room is simply wasting electricity.

Ceiling fans create a cooling effect across your skin so that the room seems cooler than before. For an energy-efficient household, turn off the ceiling fans when you leave. They’re only helpful when you’re in the room.

6. Enjoy Energy Efficiency With Any Size Fan

Regardless of the ceiling fan’s blade sizes, it offers better energy efficiency than solely running the air conditioning. For instance, ceiling fans use between 41 and 180 watts per hour. When you have a larger ceiling fan, it’ll require more power to run all day, such as the 180-watt specification.

Compare these power values to a 3.5-ton air conditioner requiring around 3,000–3,500 watts per hour. Running ceiling fans creates an inexpensive way of cooling your home. Specifically, use the rotational switch to keep the fan running in the proper direction based on the season.

7. Know the Switch Position

Some ceiling fans don’t add a label to the rotational switch for aesthetic reasons. Luckily, most of the industry uses the same switch positions to make the fan’s operation more intuitive. If it’s a hot day, the switch should be in the down position.

In contrast, move the switch up on a cold day. These switch positions correspond to the fan’s wind direction, so they make logical sense. For switches with a horizontal design, the manufacturer’s instructions should indicate the rotational directions.

8. Put Safety First When Changing a Fan’s Rotational Directions

The rotational switch is normally located close to the ceiling fan’s blades. Put safety first when you access this switch. Turn the fan off before you get close to it. Climb a solid ladder, and move the switch to its proper position. Test the fan’s rotational direction by turning on the wall switch. Never try to move the rotational switch when the fan is operating. You might injure yourself and ruin the fan’s motor.

9. Upgrade the Ceiling Fan for App Connectivity

If you don’t want to manually change the fan’s rotational direction, consider a smart upgrade. Today’s ceiling fans are available with smart features. For example, you can download an app to change the fan’s speed and rotational direction from your smartphone or tablet.

Smart ceiling fans reduce the need to climb up to the fan for any changes. As a result, you might install fans in areas that are otherwise hard to access, such as a vaulted ceiling. If you have children or seniors in the household, a professionally installed smart fan makes it easy for them to stay cool or warm throughout the year.

10. Opt for Professional Installation

If you want to install a ceiling fan in your home, our Colorado team can streamline this task with attention to your electrical wiring. For example, we verify that your electrical panel can support another appliance. If not, we can upgrade your panel for safe operations.

In addition, an installation visit might include a tune-up on your HVAC system. Opting for multiple services during a single visit can provide your entire house with efficient heating and cooling.

11. Try Large Blades on the Ceiling Fan

Many standard ceiling fans come with slender blades. Typically, these styles are attractive and less expensive than models with larger blades. However, it’s best to have the larger blades if possible.

Simply put, larger blades can move more air. As a result, you can warm or cool a room more efficiently. Our team can inspect your ceiling fans to see if larger blades are possible for the motors and the room size, too.

12. Select a Low Speed

Ceiling fans have angled blades so that they can cut through the air while moving it efficiently. Ideally, select low speeds when you want to cool or warm the room, depending on the season. At a low speed, the fan uses a steady motion to push the air in a particular direction.

In contrast, faster speeds force the blades to cut through the air. They don’t move the air mass well, which leads to a perception of an uncomfortable temperature in the room. Ultimately, a slow and steady rotation offers the best wind chill or warming effect on the skin.

Your Colorado HVAC Specialists

Servicing your heating and cooling system is our specialty at Mighty Pine. Our Wheat Ridge, CO, office also offers related services, such as electrical panel upgrades, EV charging unit installations, surge protection, water heater evaluations, indoor air quality inspections and outdoor lighting services.

Call Mighty Pine Heating & Air today to schedule any of our HVAC services!