What are the benefits of ceiling fans?
Most fans are built for year-round use, and taking advantage of this can help homeowners improve their energy savings. According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Energy, correctly using a ceiling fan can save on both cooling and heating costs. When used in conjunction with air conditioning in summer, you can raise the thermostat 4 degrees with no loss of comfort and recoup up to 30 percent on your energy bills; in winter, you can expect to cut costs by up to 15 percent.
To fully realize the savings, you must get in the habit of turning off the ceiling fan when all the occupants have left a room. The fan operates by making people in the room feel cooler or warmer, rather than changing the temperature of the air itself. Therefore, shutting the fan off when the room is empty ensures no electricity is wasted. Installing a ceiling fan with remote control or a ceiling fan switch makes it much easier to control the ceiling fan operation, with many remotes offering fan direction changes at the tap of a button. Absent a remote or wall switch, ceiling fans have a reverse switch on the motor housing. Check the location of that switch before you purchase a new ceiling fan to be sure that it is easy to reach.
Tip: Remember that indoor ceiling fans cannot be installed outdoors because the heat and humidity can warp the blades or damage the motor.
