Are you supplementing your HVAC system’s output with fans? If not, you should be; using fans can allow you to turn back the thermostat and use less heating or cooling, thus boosting your energy efficiency and lowering your utility costs. There are many kinds of fans that can help you do this: floor fans, pedestal fans, tower fans, and ceiling fans. Which is best for your home?
Let’s take a look at the different models and what they do.
- Ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are perhaps the best type of fan to supplement your HVAC. In summer, the blades should be run counterclockwise, which allows the fan to push down the cool air and distribute it throughout the room. In winter, the blades should be run clockwise so that they push down the warm air from the ceiling to the occupant’s level.
Ceiling fans cost a bit more than the other types of fans, and they must be installed, but they are worth the extra expense. Ceiling fans work by creating a windchill effect. As perspiration evaporates on the skin, there is a cooling effect that will allow you to turn the AC up a few degrees, thus, saving on energy use. However, be sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room. Fans don’t create cool air; they just distribute it so you feel a cooling effect. - Floor fans. This designation can encompass a number of fan styles, but mostly these fans are larger, sit on the floor, and blow a powerful breeze across the room. Floor fans provide a breeze for cooling a large room or to dispel smoke or unpleasant odors from a shop or the house. They can be moved from room to room.
- Tower fans. A tower fan may have concealed blades or no blades; they are a safer option when you have kids or pets.
- Pedestal fans. Pedestal fans are on a stand. They project a breeze to the far reaches of a room.
For more on floor fans and other fans, contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.
