If you’re like most homeowners in St. Simons Island, Georgia, you’re constantly on the lookout for ways to save money on your monthly energy bills. Cutting back on heating and cooling costs is a great place to start since your HVAC system accounts for roughly 48 percent of your home’s energy usage. You can do just that by taking advantage of something most homes already have: ceiling fans.
What Ceiling Fans Can (and Can’t) Do
Many people’s ceiling fans sit unused for most or all of the year. Maybe you assume they’re a waste of energy when your AC is already running. Maybe you doubt they can do much to help, especially during colder months.
In reality, ceiling fans are one of your best tools to combat rising energy bills and save money. Although your fans won’t actually generate any hot or cold air, they can make you more comfortable without any changes to your thermostat settings. In fact, you may be able to dial back your thermostat when using your fans.
Using Ceiling Fans in Summer
During summer, turn your fans on a high setting to generate a breeze. The counterclockwise rotation circulates the air and provides a cooling effect. Remember, though, that the fans don’t actually make the room cooler; they just make you feel cooler. Running the fan in an empty room won’t do any good.
Using Ceiling Fans in Winter
During winter, flip the switch on your ceiling fans so they will rotate clockwise and run them on a low setting. This will draw cold air up toward the ceiling and push warm air down toward the floor, taking full advantage of the warm air generated by your HVAC system.
If you can’t seem to make a dent in your energy bills no matter what you do, it may be time to replace your HVAC system with a newer, more energy-efficient heat pump. Or your system may be in need of routine maintenance or a simple repair. Whatever the case, The A/C Guys are here to help. Give us a call at 912-268-1514.
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