Even on the hottest, most oppressive days of summer, the slightest breeze can make being outdoors heating and Cooling  more bearable. The same thing can happen indoors when you have a ceiling fan or two to give your AC system a little boost.

The humble ceiling fan has been providing indoor comfort to families since its invention in the late 19th century. But this is no one trick pony. Read on to learn how a ceiling fan can provide added comfort throughout the year.

Summertime Bliss

When used in the summer, or anytime a little cool air is needed, a ceiling fan operating counterclockwise creates a current that moves down and out, sending air up along the walls and then back down again. Since warm air naturally rises and cool air hangs at floor level, the moving blades redistribute the cool air near your feet to where you can feel it.

When you feel cooler and more comfortable, you can give your central air system a bit of a breather by raising the thermostat 2 to 4 degrees F without sacrificing comfort. Doing so can shave a few bucks off your utility bills and reduce system stress, resulting in fewer repairs while extending equipment life. Just be sure to turn the ceiling fan off when leaving the room since it cools people, not spaces.

For best results and the utmost safety, only use ceiling fans in rooms with at least 8-foot ceilings, with blades hanging down 10 to 12 inches from the ceiling and 7 to 9 feet off the floor.

Winter Warmth

Once the temps dip, turn to your trusty ceiling fan again to help you feel warmer while placing a lighter load on your heating system. As we mentioned above, warm air rises. Running a ceiling fan on low speed and in reverse – that is, clockwise – creates an updraft that pulls cold air up to the ceiling and pushes that trapped warm air down toward the center of the room where you can feel it. Just like in the summer months, the fan isn’t changing the air temperature but rather how it feels against your skin. So don’t forget to turn it off when exiting the room. Some ceiling fan manufacturers claim that using a fan in reverse consistently through the heating season can reduce your heating bills by as much as 15 percent!

Still, what about those rooms where you don’t have a ceiling fan. Are they not cooling or heating as well as they once did? Then ceiling fans are only a bandage, not a cure, which means it’s time to consider purchasing a replacement system. Contact PC Plumbing, Heating, AC & Remodeling today for all the details and a free new-system proposal.