Stay Cool With Ceiling Fans

We get our fair share of humid summer afternoons on the Cape Fear Coast and the gentle breeze created by a ceiling fan makes them much more bearable. The breeze created by a ceiling fan evaporates moisture on the skin and makes you feel cooler. However, your ceiling fan will only make you feel cooler if it is turning in the right direction for warm weather.

Most ceiling fans have a winter and a summer setting. Typically, you can change the direction of your fan blades with the flip of a switch. Just look for the electric switch on the motor housing. If your fan has a remote control or a control panel on the wall, you may also find the switch there. If your fan does not have a switch, you may have to remove the blades and reattach them in the opposite direction.

To see if your ceiling fan is set on the correct setting, observe it while it’s running. During the summer, the leading edges of the blades (the part that goes around first) should be higher than the trailing edge of the blades. This pushes the air down and makes you feel a breeze while you stand under the fan.

Using ceiling fans can help you save energy, even if your home has air conditioning. Most people find that when they feel cooler, they can bump the temperature on their thermostat up a few degrees while still feeling just as comfortable. According to Progress Energy, for every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat above 78 degrees, you can save 3 percent to 5 percent on cooling costs.