A portable or ceiling fan costs 50 times less to run than central air conditioning, plus no harmful refrigerant is required. Even if you do use ACs, fans can lower their overall cost by supplementing their operation or reducing the frequency of their use.
Create a Fan Cross-Breeze With Two Fans
Move cool air into the house and hot air out simultaneously by creating a cross breeze. You’ll need two fans and two windows that open.
Create a Cross Breeze With One Fan
Even if you don’t have two fans available, one fan can still create enough of a cross breeze to push out some of the hot air.
Draw in Cool Air, Expel Hot Air
You can cool a room with just one window and one fan. Place a box fan in the window or a pedestal fan within 5 feet of the window. When the air is cooler outside than it is inside, point the air so it blows into the house. When the two temperature points reverse and it’s warmer indoors than outdoors, turn the fan around so the air is blowing toward the outside.
Properly Size Your Ceiling Fan
If the ceiling fan isn’t cooling the room, it might be because the fan isn’t the correct size. Install a ceiling fan that’s large enough for the room. Larger fan blades move more air for only a fractionally greater power draw.
Combine Fans With AC
Fans can boost your AC’s ability to cool your home. In fact, a ceiling fan allows you to raise your AC thermostat by 4 °F and still maintain the same level of comfort. Box, oscillating, or pedestal fans positioned near AC air registers help broadcast the cool air over a greater distance.
