The Facts and Fallacies Around Ceiling Fans for the Home

Most of today's modern households have at least one ceiling fan, if not two or three. The funny thing is that there's a lot of misconceptions about how they work. We'd like to set the record straight, so here we discuss a couple of facts and fallacies about ceiling fans.

Fact: Ceiling Fans Cool People

The most important thing to remember is that fans cool people, not rooms. This means that if you're running a ceiling fan in your bedroom all day just to keep it cool for when you go to sleep, that's not going to work. It's just a waste of energy.

Myth: They’re Not Useful in Winter

Walk into any household in the country during the summer and you're likely to see at least one ceiling fan running. Walk into the same home during the winter season, and they'll be off. This is unfortunate, because fans that are equipped with a reverse function are useful in winter too. If you set the fan to rotate in the clockwise direction, this will keep heat from rising completely so that your room is a bit warmer.

Fact: Wobbling Isn’t a Huge Deal

Chances are, you've seen a ceiling fan wobble or shake before. This won't really happen on the lower speeds, but it's common on higher speeds. No, the ceiling fan isn't going to fall or fly off. This usually indicates that's something is loose or unbalanced. In most cases, tightening the screws where the blades connect to the base will fix it.

Myth: Ceiling Fans Can Cut Off an Appendage 

It seems outlandish to envision someone's arm flying off after coming in contact with a ceiling fan, but that's what a lot of people believe could happen. Unless you're going to install a powerful motor and replace the fan blades with knives like MythBusters once did, you have nothing to worry about.

If you'd like to know more about ceiling fans or need any type of HVAC servicing, contact the professionals at Air Assurance today. We've been servicing the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

The Facts and Fallacies Around Ceiling Fans for the Home

Most of today's modern households have at least one ceiling fan, if not two or three. The funny thing is that there's a lot of misconceptions about how they work. We'd like to set the record straight, so here we discuss a couple of facts and fallacies about ceiling fans.

Fact: Ceiling Fans Cool People

The most important thing to remember is that fans cool people, not rooms. This means that if you're running a ceiling fan in your bedroom all day just to keep it cool for when you go to sleep, that's not going to work. It's just a waste of energy.

Myth: They’re Not Useful in Winter

Walk into any household in the country during the summer and you're likely to see at least one ceiling fan running. Walk into the same home during the winter season, and they'll be off. This is unfortunate, because fans that are equipped with a reverse function are useful in winter too. If you set the fan to rotate in the clockwise direction, this will keep heat from rising completely so that your room is a bit warmer.

Fact: Wobbling Isn’t a Huge Deal

Chances are, you've seen a ceiling fan wobble or shake before. This won't really happen on the lower speeds, but it's common on higher speeds. No, the ceiling fan isn't going to fall or fly off. This usually indicates that's something is loose or unbalanced. In most cases, tightening the screws where the blades connect to the base will fix it.

Myth: Ceiling Fans Can Cut Off an Appendage 

It seems outlandish to envision someone's arm flying off after coming in contact with a ceiling fan, but that's what a lot of people believe could happen. Unless you're going to install a powerful motor and replace the fan blades with knives like MythBusters once did, you have nothing to worry about.

If you'd like to know more about ceiling fans or need any type of HVAC servicing, contact the professionals at Air Assurance today. We've been servicing the HVAC needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

Are Ceiling Fans in Winter Useful?

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As winter approaches, you might think you don't need that ceiling fan anymore. All summer, you had it on to augment the air conditioning, lifting up the hot air so it would rise to the ceiling while pushing down the cool air to occupant level. But hold on. Ceiling fans in winter can actually help make your heating efforts more efficient, keeping you warmer without having to turn up the thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can cut energy use by as much as 15% in winter and by even more in the summer.

Here's how a ceiling fan can work to make you warmer this winter.

Reversing the Blades of Fans in Winter

It sounds counterintuitive, but the fact is that reversing your fan blades can increase the warmth the occupants of your home feel at ground level. In the summer, the blades should be running counterclockwise. If you have the type of blades that can be reversed with a switch, do so in the winter so they are running clockwise. This will push the warm air down from the ceiling, along the walls, and down to floor level. When the warm air is pushed down, it helps to muscle aside the colder, denser, heavier air that can be lingering at foot level.

• Fans in winter are particularly helpful in pushing down warm air when you have high ceilings.

• Always run the fan in winter at its lowest speed so you don't feel any windchill.

• Be sure that whenever you're replacing a ceiling fan, you get the type with two-way action.

Taking Care of the Ceiling Fan

Always check the fan blades to make sure the edges are clean. Dirty edges will increase the air drag on the blades, and the fan will work less efficiently.

Clean blades either with a vacuum wand attachment or by wrapping an old pillowcase around the blade, wiping it off and then emptying the pillowcase.

Most modern ceiling fans do not require oiling, nor can you change the bearings, as the motors are sealed.

For more on running ceiling fans in winter, contact Air Assurance.

Using Ceiling Fans To Enhance Heating

You should be using ceiling fans to enhance heating just as much as you use them to provide a cooling breeze. Fans are very efficient and can help you lower your energy costs all year, but only if you use them correctly.Here are some tips for using ceiling fans to enhance heating:

• Change the blade direction. In the winter, heat rises to the ceiling and sits there, leaving the living space below cold. You need to find the switch on your fan motor and flip it so that the blades will rotate clockwise. This will blow air up toward the ceiling and out to the exterior walls so the heat near your ceiling circulates around the room.

• Use a low speed setting. You are simply trying to circulate the heat that is already in the room. Low speeds are better for balancing the airflow evenly without the cooling breeze that high speeds provide.

• Turn them off when the room is empty. It is important to remember that fans distribute heat throughout your living space; they don't actually change the temperature or create heat. If you run them when nobody is in the room you are doing nothing more than wasting energy.

• Set your thermostat accordingly. If you are warm, don't turn the fan off. Instead, lower the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees because your heating system takes much more energy to operate than your ceiling fans.

• Check the balance and size. If your fans are knocking or clicking when they rotate, you need to add fan weights or tighten the blades to keep the fan balanced. Also, make sure the blades are large enough for the space. 48 inches or less is usually sufficient for smaller bedrooms, while 48-60 inches are needed for large spaces.

If you want more information about using ceiling fans to maximize savings and comfort, contact Air Assurance. With over 25 years of service in Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas, we can help you with everything from sizing and installing new fans to programming your thermostat for increased efficiency during the winter.

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

How To Use Your Ceiling Fans And Your Air Conditioner To Keep Cool

We tend to think of a wind chill factor as being a winter event. However, using ceiling fans creates a wind chill factor as well. Ceiling fans allow you to keep your A/C thermostat set about four degrees cooler than normal, with an an identical cooling effect.Ceiling fans can do more than just help your family keep cool in the summertime; they can also help conserve energy and reduce your utility bill. You can count on saving about one percent of your total energy costs for every degree you alter your thermostat setting, assuming you also use an eight-hour set-back period during working/sleeping hours each day.To maximize the cooling effect of ceiling fans and air conditioners, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Install fans properly. Ceiling fans are only beneficial when installed on a ceiling that is at least eight feet high. Make sure the fan is mounted at least 12 inches from the ceiling for adequate airflow. If you are not able to accomplish this in your home, you are better off buying a table or floor fan for proper air circulation.

• Turn the fans off when you aren't in the room. Fans do not reduce the air temperature in a room. They create a draft, which moves the air along your skin, providing a cooling effect. For that reason, fans should always be turned off if people have left the room.

• Make sure the fan size is adequate for the room/space. Larger fan blades move more air; 36-44-inch blades accommodate rooms that are four to six feet in diameter. Fan blades measuring 52 inches can be effective up to about 18 feet. Depending on the size of your space, you might consider two fans for optimal cooling.

• Don't forget to look for the Energy Star label. Fans bearing the Energy Star label are up to 20 percent more energy efficient than their standard counterparts.

For more tips to stay cool on a hot Oklahoma summer day, Contact Air Assurance. We've been keeping homeowner's cool since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     

Get The Efficiency Of HVAC Systems To Increase With Ceiling Fans

Are you interested in improving the efficiency of your HVAC system? Have you tried running your ceiling fans? While ceiling fans don’t actually cool your home, their wind chill effect does enhance the comfort of household occupants. In fact, running a ceiling fan often allows Oklahoma homeowners to set their thermostats an average of four degrees higher without any noticeable difference in comfort.How does this improve HVAC efficiency? By running ceiling fans when you’re in the room and turning them off when you’re not, you can raise thermostat settings, conserving energy without sacrificing comfort. On cooler days, you may not have to run the air conditioner at all. For every degree you raise the temperature during the cooling season, you experience a significant reduction in cooling costs.If your home doesn’t currently have ceiling fans but you wish to enjoy the added comfort and energy savings they provide, you must first determine whether you have the amount of space necessary for proper installation. Ceiling fans should be installed in rooms with a minimum ceiling height of eight feet, hanging a minimum of:

• Seven feet above the floor

• Eight inches below the ceiling

• 18 inches away from surrounding walls

Other factors to consider when purchasing a new ceiling fan include:

• Noise – Some fans are louder than others. To ensure that the fan you choose will provide the comfort you desire without becoming an auditory distraction, ask to listen to the fan during operation before making a purchase.

• Size – While larger fans are often necessary for larger rooms, they can be an eyesore in smaller areas. If you feel you need additional comfort at lesser velocities, instead try installing a fan with larger blades.

While ceiling fans can certainly complement the efficiency of your cooling system, nothing ensures system efficiency like annual system maintenance. If you've been neglecting your system, a routine professional maintenance checkup can often provide the comfort and efficiency boost that your household needs. For an expert consultation regarding all of your heating and cooling needs, speak to one of our trained technicians. ContactAir Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!      

Innovative Tips That Make Home Comfort And Savings A Priority

Home comfort and energy savings should be a priority in every Tulsa area household. To help you get optimal performance from your cooling system this summer, we’ve compiled this list of innovative energy-saving tips.

• Raising temperature settings at the thermostat is a surefire way to reduce monthly cooling bills. To maximize savings without sacrificing home comfort, try keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees when you’re in the home and raising thermostat settings as high as 85 degrees while you’re away. But don't do this when it's over 95 degrees outside. That can actually cause energy bills to rise while the unit tries to catch up.

• One way to take advantage of higher temperature settings without sacrificing home comfort is to utilize household ceiling fans. While ceiling fans don’t actually cool your home, running them while you're in the room can create a wind chill effect that will help you remain comfortable, even when thermostat settings are increased by as little as four degrees. Just remember to turn ceiling fans off when you’re not in the room.

• Clogged air filters are notorious for restricting airflow and putting unnecessary strain on your air conditioner. Inspect filters monthly, cleaning and replacing as necessary.

• Another cost-effective means of improving household energy efficiency is to address air leaks using caulking, seal and weather stripping. Common leakage points include areas around doors and windows, and gaps around lights, wiring, ductwork and plumbing.

• Inadequate attic insulation can be a major drain on monthly energy costs. For an additional 10 percent savings, try boosting attic insulation to a minimum R-value of 30. If you can see your attic rafters, you are wasting lots of money on energy.

• It also pays to properly seal ductwork. If your ducts leak, you could be losing as much as 20 percent of the air you pay to condition. While accessible ductwork can be addressed using metal tape or duct mastic, a professional can ensure that your entire duct system is sealed properly.

• If your air conditioner is over ten years old, upgrading to a high-efficiency Energy Star-qualified model could save you as much as 10 percent.

• In fact, Energy Star-qualified products are an ideal means of long-term energy savings. Look for products ranging from water heaters to light bulbs.

For a more customized assessment of your household energy efficiency, consult our NATE-certified technicians. Contact Air Assurance today!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.