As temperatures across the northern hemisphere reach their peak during the summer months. Maintaining comfort — not to mention an affordable energy bill — climbs the list of priorities for home and business owners everywhere.
At Big Ass Fans, optimizing comfort with minimal energy expenditure is one of our specialties. To help you get the best possible use out of your ceiling fans this summer, here are a few tips you’ll want to know.
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5 Professional Tips for Summer Fan Usage
Once you’ve installed a Big Ass Fan to cool and ventilate your space, you’ve already gone a long way toward improving comfort and energy efficiency during the summer. Still, there are a few more things you can do to really tap the potential of your fans. Here are some you can implement right now:
1. Set the Proper Fan Direction for Summer Heat
The first step you’ll want to take is to ensure your fan is turning in the right direction for the kind of airflow you want. The correct fan direction in summer is counterclockwise. A counterclockwise rotation creates a downdraft, pushing air downward to create a refreshing breeze for the people below.
To check your fan’s direction, stand directly underneath it and set it to a low speed. If your fan is turning in the proper direction, you should feel a cool draft moving down on you. If not, it will need to be adjusted. Simply find the switch located on your fan’s motor housing to change the direction (or, if your fan model is operated by a remote or control panel, switch the spin direction there). Though small, this simple adjustment can have a major impact on your comfort.
2. Combine Airflow With Air Conditioning
Ceiling fans are designed to cool people, not rooms—at least, not on their own. Fans can also enhance the use of air conditioning, allowing you to run your AC at a higher temperature and save money on your utility bills. They achieve this by distributing the cool air more evenly throughout the room.
The added airflow of a sizable fan can lead to significant improvements in energy savings while maintaining the comfort and functionality your home or business needs.
3. Optimize Airflow Patterns
To maximize the benefits of your ceiling fans, install them in areas where they’ll be most effective and provide the most noticeable benefits. Larger rooms like living rooms are ideal locations for fans in residential environments.
For commercial environments, especially sizable ones such as showrooms or restaurants, multiple fans may be necessary to provide the level of circulation needed to make a noticeable difference. Strategic placement can allow fans to combine their individual forces to produce a large, cohesive, free-flowing movement of air.
4. Take Advantage of Natural Ventilation
During mornings, evenings, and any time when the air outside takes a substantial dip in temperature, you can enhance the usage of your fans by leveraging natural ventilation. With your fans on, open up nearby doors and windows to circulate fresh, cool air in and through your building. This can help to reduce your dependence on utility-generated cooling during these key hours.
While we’re on the topic, let’s not forget about outdoor spaces. As you’ve probably gathered, Big Ass Fans are known for their large size—and there’s a good reason for that. A substantial portion of our products belong to a category called HVLS fans (high volume, low speed).
These fans move large amounts of air with minimal energy draw, making them ideal for outdoor locations, including patios, porches, and pavilions. They’re sturdy and are capable of withstanding the wear and tear of the elements far better than typical fans.
5. Remember to Perform Regular Maintenance
Keeping your fans clean and well maintained is an essential ingredient to optimal performance, especially during the summer months when usage hits its peak. Dusty and dirty blades can reduce airflow efficiency, which in turn puts more strain on the equipment, uses more energy, and provides less desirable cooling results.
Big Ass fans are designed for durability and ease of maintenance, so even a little effort can go a long way. Regularly cleaning off the blades and checking the components for debris can ensure your fan stays in peak condition for many summers to come.
Make the Most of Your Fans This Summer
By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to a cool, comfortable, and affordable summer. From something as simple as proper fan direction for summer to more active processes like cleaning, there’s a lot you can do to make the most of your summertime fans.
Looking for more professional tips and tricks for your fan use?
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