If you’re looking for a way to keep from turning your air conditioning on, reach for your ceiling fan instead. Ceiling fans can make a room feel cooler while using 90% less energy than an air conditioner.
If you’re looking into adding a ceiling fan or replacing an old one, answer these questions first.
How big is your room? The bigger the room, the longer the blades should be. A rule of thumb: For a room smaller than 100 square feet, such as a bathroom or laundry room, buy a fan with 32- to 36-inch blades. For a medium-sized bedroom or kitchen—up to about 225 square feet—you’ll need a fan with blades measuring 42 to 48 inches. Large primary bedrooms and dining rooms up to 485 square feet: 50- to 56-inch blades. Larger rooms such as a living room—up to around 600 square feet: 60 inches or more.
How high is the ceiling? For the most comfortable results, install the fan 7 to 8 feet from the floor. If your room has a high ceiling, buy an extension downrod to lower the fan to the ideal height. Some manufacturers have special close-mount fans for rooms with extra-low ceilings.
Do you want to combine the fan with a light? Fixtures with down lighting create a traditional effect, while those with uplighting will bounce the light off the ceiling to diffuse the light and make it softer. If you do opt for lighting with your fan, be sure to look for the Energy Star label for the light. Energy Star-qualified units are more than 50% more efficient than conventional units and can save you money on your utility bills.
How do you want to operate the fan? You can pull a cord, flip a light switch or tap a remote control.
If you raise your thermostat by only 2 degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14% over the course of the cooling season. And remember: Ceiling fans cool only people, not rooms, so when you leave the room, turn the fan off.
Posted: 6/19/2023 11:20:32 PM
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