Don't Forget the Fans When It Comes to Low-Cost Comfort
It's possible to cut the cost of cooling your home during our hot summers by raising the thermostat and using fans to provide cost-efficient cooling. Besides moving air, a fan can also reduce the cooling load in your home. These affordable devices use little electricity and make a measurable difference in your comfort during the cooling season. Ceiling fanIf your home's ceiling plate is eight feet or higher, you can use a ceiling fan in the rooms you use the most to move the air. If you choose one with a reversing switch, it can keep the room warmer in the winter, as well. These devices need to be carefully hung from a fan-rated box that's firmly attached to the ceiling for stability and safety. The blades should be between seven or eight feet from the floor for maximum comfort.Spot fanAlmost all homes have kitchen and bathroom fans that remove heat, humidity and odors. Their small size belies their capacity at removing air, so once the air's been cleared, it's a good idea to turn the fan off to save the conditioned air you've paid to cool.Attic fanInstalling an attic fan will keep your attic cooler because it pulls cooler outdoor air inside. This cuts your cooling load, since attic temperatures go well over 100 degrees F on a sunny day in the summer. An attic fan pulls cooler outdoor air in, which replaces the heated air in the attic. As the air cools, so does the insulation and the wood framing. Less heat in the attic translates to less warmth radiating into your home.These devices plug into an outlet, or you can use a solar attic fan. If your attic doesn't have an outlet, an electrician can wire it for you. Look for a fan with a thermostatic switch that turns on when temperatures reach a specific temperature.If you'd like to learn more about fans and increasing your comfort this summer, contact Air Assurance. We've provided outstanding HVAC services for the Broken Arrow region for more than 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock