Ceiling Fans AND HOW THEY WORK
How much cooler will a ceiling fan make your room? Two degrees? Five degrees? Ten?
The answer may surprise you: it is zero. Unlike an air conditioner, a ceiling fan will not lower room temperatures even one degree.
So how does it make a room feel cooler?
You are probably familiar with the idea of "wind chill." That is exactly how ceiling fans work. Instead of actually cooling the air, a ceiling fan creates a gently breeze that makes the room more comfortable. Your ceiling fan creates a fresh, pleasant "wind chill effect" inside your home.
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 IN SUMMER, the movement of air creates a cooling Òwind chillÓ effect. A room can actually feel several degrees cooler, without setting the thermostat lower. |
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Why not just use an air conditioner? Styling and cost. A Casablanca ceiling fan will accentuate your style, and beautify your decor. More important, ceiling fans are incredibly efficient. While air conditioners consume a great deal of energy, Casablanca ceiling fans use only about as much energy as a 100 Watt light bulb, even on its highest setting.
Studies show that by setting thermostats higher, and using ceiling fans, you can save as much as 40% on summer cooling bills without sacrificing room comfort. This means that instead of setting your thermostat at 72 degrees, you can set it six to ten degrees higher and the room will feel just as cool.
USE A CEILING FAN IN THE Winter?
Yes, because a ceiling fan can help make your home more comfortable and energy efficient in the winter, also.
If you live in a two-story home, you have probably noticed that, in the winter, it is usually warmer upstairs than downstairs. It is a fact of physics that warm air rises, which means that some of the warmest air in your home is trapped near the ceiling.
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 IN WINTER, hot air rises to the ceiling while cool air settles to the floor. Trapped against the ceiling, the warm air is wasted. If you turn up the thermostat, energy costs will rise. |
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 RUNNING IN REVERSE, your Casablanca fan can recirculate warm air near the ceiling down into the living area, providing even heating and comfort (with a pleasant effect on heating bills). |
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But a ceiling fan can move that warm air back to the center of the room. To do so, reverse the direction of the ceiling fan. The fan will push the warm air down from the ceiling, making your home feel warmer and more comfortable. And if you run the fan at its lowest speed, you will avoid creating a "wind chill", something you definitely do not want in the winter.
A ceiling fan can also help you reclaim heating dollars. Studies show that homeowners who use ceiling fans in the winter can save up to 10% on their heating bills all winter long. |
