When summer heat hits hard, you may wonder whether using both your AC and ceiling fan is overkill. Should you run your ceiling fan while using the AC, or is one enough? Ceiling fans help reduce the cooling load in your home during summer months, making them a valuable addition to your cooling strategy.
Yes, running your ceiling fan while using the AC is recommended—it helps distribute cool air more evenly, allowing you to raise your thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort, which can lead to energy savings.
If your home still feels unevenly cooled or your energy bills are too high, we can help. Call Neighborhood at 320-227-8386 to speak with a trusted Central Minnesota cooling specialist. With decades of experience improving HVAC efficiency, I’ll help you stay comfortable while keeping your energy costs under control.
In this article, I’ll show how ceiling fans and air conditioners can work together to keep your home cool and efficient.
Using AC and Ceiling Fan Together
The answer is yes, you can use your ceiling fan while your AC is running. Doing this is both easy and beneficial for your personal comfort and your home’s environment. However, to ensure that it stays that way, here are a couple of points to remember when you are using both at once: During summer, ceiling fans should be set to rotate counterclockwise to maximize cooling comfort.
To optimize ceiling fan performance, ensure the fan blades have at least eight inches of clearance from the ceiling and 18 inches from the walls.
- Make sure to set your thermostat 4 degrees higher than the desired temperature. This helps to save energy and keep your air conditioning unit in good condition while you use the ceiling fan with the AC running.
- Keep the interior doors of your home open. This is important for air circulation, especially when using the AC and ceiling fans together. Remembering this will keep your home cooler and maximize the cooling capabilities of your air conditioner and fan.
Keeping these suggestions in mind will help you maintain your home’s temperature and save money without losing comfort. Vacuum and dust the fan blades regularly to keep them clean and operating efficiently.
Which Way Should Ceiling Fan Turn When AC is on?
When your AC is running, set your ceiling fan to rotate counterclockwise. This direction pushes the cool air downwards, enhancing the cooling breeze and helping you feel more comfortable.
The Wind-Chill Factor
When you turn on your ceiling fan, you may think you are cooling your home when actually you are just cooling yourself. The fan blades help wick the warm air around your body via the breeze created by the ceiling fan. This is called the “wind-chill” effect. The breeze from a ceiling fan evaporates moisture from the skin, contributing to a sensation of coolness.
Ceiling fans use significantly less electricity compared to air conditioners, making them an energy-efficient way to enhance comfort. However, running ceiling fans in unoccupied rooms is a waste of energy, as their benefits are not realized without occupants.
One thing to note is that ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature of the room. But by creating a wind-chill that cools down the members of your household, you can raise the thermostat by a few degrees without compromising your comfort. The airflow from ceiling fans helps with the biological cooling systems of the human body by moving hot air away from the skin. It is important to turn off ceiling fans in unoccupied rooms to avoid wasting energy.
Save More
Does the ceiling fan help or hurt the air conditioner? It might be helpful to know that using the ceiling fan while the AC is running can actually help you save energy and money. By setting your thermostat up to 4 degrees higher while the ceiling fan is on, which helps to reduce the cost of running your unit, you can save up to 17 cents per hour.
Though it might not seem like much, it adds up over time! Additionally, by reducing the workload on your air conditioning system, ceiling fans can extend the lifespan of the air conditioner.
In short, this is a great way to save money while staying cool.
Use of Ceiling Fans in Cold Weather
Don’t limit the use of this process to just the summertime! Another way to enjoy the full benefits of your ceiling fan is by using it year-round, even during cold weather. Since heat rises, the ceiling fan can help move warm air down towards the living spaces where you are and circulate it around the room.
Ceiling fans should be adjusted to turn clockwise during the winter to circulate warm air evenly throughout a room. Older ceiling fan models may require lubrication, so check your owner’s manual for oiling requirements.
Please Keep It Safe
Remember that your unit will only be able to maintain safe air quality and the comfortable temperature you desire if it is in the best shape. Inspect your ceiling fan for any loose screws or components and tighten them as needed to maintain efficiency.
If you notice something may be wrong with your unit, you can schedule an air conditioner repair with Minnesota leading experts. And if a new unit is needed, we at Neighborhood Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical are happy to help you stay cool and guide you in choosing from our many AC options, so you can find the perfect choice for your home!
Further Reading:
How a Central Air Conditioner Works
Switching From Heat to Air Conditioning: What You Need to Know
9 Common Air Conditioner Smells and What They Mean
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ceiling fan damage AC?
Ceiling fans help ease the workload on your air conditioning unit, enabling it to operate more efficiently and lowering energy expenses.
Do fans interfere with air conditioning?
According to Energy.gov, using a ceiling fan alongside your air conditioner lets you increase the thermostat setting by approximately 4°F without sacrificing comfort.
Should we switch off the ceiling fan when AC is on?
Yes, running the ceiling fan alongside the AC is a smart choice. It helps circulate the cool air more efficiently throughout the room, allowing the temperature to drop faster. Additionally, you may not need to operate the AC at its highest setting or lowest temperature.
Is it cheaper to run fans or AC?
Operating fans costs considerably less than running air conditioners. Fans consume only a small portion of the electricity that AC units require to provide a similar cooling effect. In fact, a fan’s energy use is often comparable to that of a typical lightbulb, whereas an AC unit uses substantially more power.