Ceiling fans are a great way to leverage the amount that your air conditioner is working. While both have an impact on your power bill, a ceiling fan definitely gets you more bang for your buck. In fact, during the early morning and evening hours a ceiling fan is enough to keep you and your home cool without even needing the air conditioner.
But, all of this benefit and savings is contingent on the ceiling fan being properly installed and working efficiently. If there is a problem with the installation of the ceiling fan or, if something is preventing the blades from spinning freely, the fan could wind up working harder than it needs to and therefore making more of an impact on your power bill than it saves.
If you are installing a ceiling fan on your own, make sure that you thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions before doing so. It is also important that you have some experience working with electrical components before you take on a ceiling fan install. Ultimately, installing a ceiling fan is best left to a professional.
Here are some considerations for how best to use ceiling fans:
Make sure to choose the right electrical box for your fan. It should be UL-Rated and marked with a note that says ‘for use with ceiling fan’ These boxes have all of the wiring for the ceiling fan and are not interchangeable. In other words, if you currently have a light fixture in place and you would rather a ceiling fan in that place, you will likely need to change the electrical box.
It is best for a ceiling fan to be installed anchored to a joist in the ceiling. This gives the unit more stability when the blades spin at a high speed. If there is not a joist available then, a mounting bracket specifically made for ceiling fans should be installed. These brackets have spiked ends and can provide similar stability of a joist.
In the summer months your ceiling fan should spin the blades in a counterclockwise direction. This blows air down and adds to the coolness of the room. But, in the winter time you can run the blades clockwise and this will dissipate hot air and keep the room from being stuffy.
Follow these simple tips for adding a ceiling fan to your home this summer and helping to keep your power bill down.
