Everyone who lives in the desert is interested in reducing energy costs. Installing ceiling fans is one way that you can save some money and stay cool in the summer.
Why a Ceiling Fan
Just the movement of the air inside the house in the summer may be enough to lower that thermostat for a couple of degrees, and save you money on those summertime electric bills. You might save between 10% and 40%! That means that the ceiling fans could easily pay for themselves over just one or two summers in hot climates.Ceiling fans don't lower the temperature in the room, they just provide a breeze that can make you feel at least 5° cooler. Make sure the ceiling fan blades are rotating counter-clockwise for a cooling effect. That's the direction most ceiling fans need to move to get a downdraft. To make sure the blades are moving in the correct direection, stand under the fan. If you are not feeling the downdraft, reverse the direction of the blades.
Where Should Ceiling Fans Be Installed
If you are having a new home built, don't forget to order the wiring for the ceiling fans in all the rooms where you may want one, even if you don't install them right away. It is much cheaper to have the rooms wired for ceiling fans at the outset, rather than pay an electrician to wire your home later on. Put ceiling fans in all the rooms where your family spends a lot of time. The kitchen, the family room, the den, and the bedrooms are obvious choices. Some people have fans in all the rooms, and even on the patio and in the workshop or garage.Fans should be between 7 and 9 feet from the floor. If you have vaulted ceilings, you can get extenders to lower the fan. If you don't have vaulted ceilings, your fan shouldn't be closer to the ceiling than 10 inches. If you put the fan right next to the ceiling, you won't get the anticipated energy efficiency, because there's no room for the air to flow around the fan blades. Makes sure the fan blades are at least 18 inches from the walls.
How Big a Ceiling Fan Should I Install
Go with the largest fan you can. Larger fans don't really cost more to operate, and you'll be able to have more speed settings and cover larger areas. If you have a large room like a great room, have two fans installed.
