Should You Have Ceiling Fans Running in Every Room?

cool in summer with celing fans

It’s another boiling hot day in Georgia, and in the quest for relief, you switch on all the ceiling fans in your home. Toasty temperatures sure are exhausting- but not only for you and your family. Your AC unit is likely overworked and hardly keeping up, as well.

Maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures can be challenging. However, many of us are lucky enough to have fans throughout our homes. This leads us to a highly debated question:

Should you run the ceiling fans in every room of your home?

Some people claim that running ceiling fans while working your AC is a waste of energy and money. Yet, in reality, they work together to produce a cooler and more suitable living environment. In fact, learning how to use both properly may save you some cash.

Continue reading as TRUST Heating & Air debunks common myths and provides you with all the correct information on using your ceiling fans the right way.

Do Ceiling Fans Cool Your Home?

Answer: No, but ceiling fans certainly make it feel cool.

When the breeze produced by ceiling fans brushes over your skin, you feel cool and refreshed. However, the temperature of the surrounding air remains the same.

This is called the “wind chill factor.” In other words, it may seem like the temperature has dropped, but it’s merely perception.

Nevertheless, perceived cooling may still significantly impact your energy bill. If you use ceiling fans throughout your home, the environment feels chilly, and you won’t need to adjust your temperature setting on the thermostat.

In fact, you can use the wind chill factor to your advantage. For example, if you are most comfortable at 72 degrees, bump up the AC by a few degrees and switch on the ceiling fan. You’ll quickly realize that you are just as comfortable as before. And what’s more is you’re saving money, too!

ceiling fans in the home

Do You Need Ceiling Fans in All Rooms?

Answer: Perhaps, but you should generally have ceiling fans in all rooms where the most time is spent.

Determining whether you’d like to install ceiling fans in every room of your home is mainly a matter of preference. However, remember that fans shouldn’t be placed in a room under seven feet tall. It is a safety hazard to hang a fan on a low ceiling.

Beyond height limitations, installing ceiling fans all throughout the home can be very beneficial. And this is especially the case for those living in hot and humid climates.

In all, it is best to hang the fans in the areas of your home where the most people gather and where the most time is spent. For instance, the living room is an excellent spot for one. The bedroom, too, can benefit from a ceiling fan. In fact, running a fan while you sleep can improve your rest. 

And if you work from home, having a ceiling fan in your office does wonders. Imagine how much you can save on energy bills by running the fan in your home office rather than cranking down the AC all day long.

When Should Your Ceiling Fans Be Running?

Answer: Only if someone is in the room.

Your ceiling fans certainly shouldn’t be running 24/7. That is unless you have a person in every room of the house for each second of the day. Of course, this is probably not how your home operates.

So, it is best to stick to the “golden rule” of ceiling fans- If there is no one in the room, don’t run the ceiling fan.

This is because of what we have mentioned earlier in this article. The wind chill factor is what makes the temperatures feel cooler. And without a person to experience the breeze, the fan does no more than waste energy and money.

Below, we have provided some additional tips on when you should run the ceiling fans in your home.

By the Season

For winter, we want our homes to be toasty-warm and comfy. And once summer rolls around, we become desperate to beat the heat.

But did you know ceiling fans keep your home feeling cozy for the cold and refreshing for summer? Indeed, it can assist in both.

Here’s how to use your ceiling fans for winter and summer.

In Winter:

To create a warm and welcoming winter home, locate the reverse switch on your ceiling fans. The switch will cause the fan to run clockwise rather than counterclockwise. As a result, warm air is pushed to the ground, as cool air is swept to the ceiling.

During Summer:

For the hottest time of year, you want your ceiling fans running counterclockwise. This way, cold air flows to the ground as warm air moves to the top. And in turn, your AC unit will work more efficiently without battling the heat.

By the Time of Day

Running your ceiling fans during the warmest parts of the day can help, too. More specifically, from 2 pm to 8 pm is a perfect time to switch on the fan.

Additionally, if you enjoy drawing the curtains to let in the daylight, using your fan in the afternoon will help keep you cool. So, rather than cranking down the AC while savoring the sunlight, save some cash and use your fans instead.

ceiling fans

So, is it Best to Run Ceiling Fans in Every Room?

The short answer is no.

In all, you should only be running ceiling fans in the spaces where people are present.

However, you now know there is much more to it than that:

  1. The wind chill factor is responsible for the cooling sensation you feel underneath a ceiling fan. Therefore, the temperature does not actually drop even though you feel colder.
  2. You may want ceiling fans in every room in your home, although it’s only necessary for the spaces where the most time is spent.
  3. Running a ceiling fan in an empty room is pointless unless there is someone there to feel the breeze.
  4. Maximize your fan’s efforts by setting your thermostat a few degrees above your optimal temperature and saving on energy bills while staying cool and refreshed.

Keep Your Home Cool with TRUST Heating & Air

Ceiling fans can certainly do wonders for your Georgia home. Nevertheless, if your HVAC system isn’t keeping up with the heat, there may be more significant problems. In this case, you’ll want to reach out to the experts at TRUST Heating & Air.

Our customers have called TRUST Heating & Air one of the highest rated repair & service companies in the Loganville, Walton & Gwinnett counties. We respond quickly to all your needs, even in the hottest times of the year. Call TRUST Heating & Air to find out why our customers call us one of the best in Walton County.

Plus, You can’t go wrong with a regularly scheduled preventative maintenance contract with our friendly and knowledgeable technicians. Contact TRUST Heating & Air to talk about the services we provide in greater detail and to schedule an appointment for an estimate.

Keep your AC and heat running in tip-top shape with TRUST Heating & Air.