Tag Archives: ceiling fan

How Ceiling Fans Benefit Your Home

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How Ceiling Fans Benefit Your HomeDon’t take that ceiling fan whirling above your head for granted. During the cooling season, a ceiling fan offers a number of benefits in addition to helping keep you cool. An operating ceiling fan, or any fan really, creates a cooling effect for anyone in the path of the moving air. This helps relieve some of the pressure on your air conditioning system, which won’t have to work so hard to provide all the cooling in a home.

 

This cooling effect is similar to the windchill effect that a person will feel when outside on a windy, winter’s day. The big difference is that in the summertime in Georgia, you really appreciate the cooling effect.

 

Operating a ceiling fan during the summer will provide these important benefits:

  • As mentioned, the cooling effect. You’ll feel more comfortable and cooler with ceiling fans operating. While the fan doesn’t actually lower the temperature, the effect of the moving air makes it feel as if the temperature is three or four degrees lower.
  • With the air feeling cooler, you can raise the thermostat temperature by several degrees without any loss of comfort. This reduces the workload on your air conditioning system, which saves energy, lowers your energy bills, and lessens stress on system components. Your A/C will last longer and suffer from fewer breakdowns. (Fans do consume electricity but a lot less than an A/C or heat pump.)
  • You’ll help the environment when your cooling equipment isn’t operating 24/7 in the summertime.

One thing to remember, a ceiling fan operating in an empty rooms really isn’t benefiting anyone, unless you have a cat or dog hanging out in the room. A fan’s cooling effect is instantaneous rather than cumulative, so make sure you turn off the fan before leaving a room, in the same way that you turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Also, during the cooling season, make sure the fan is in default mode, with the blades rotating counterclockwise.

 

For more helpful advice on cooling your Peachtree City home this summer, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air.

 

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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Can Ceiling Fans Really Improve Cooling Efficiency?

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Can Ceiling Fans Really Improve Cooling Efficiency?A ceiling fan can give a much-needed cooling boost to your home during warm weather. Every air conditioner has finite cooling efficiency built into it. It is what it is — for better performance, extra help is required. Ceiling fans were the first home cooling device, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Now available with high-tech motors that sip electricity and efficient blades, ceiling fans play a role in 21st century cooling, too. Here’s how it can help your A/C do a better job.

Why it Works

We all know that a windy winter day feels more chilly than a calm day, even though the temperature’s actually the same. That’s a result of the chill factor: moving air feels cooler because it disperses heat from your body more effectively. A ceiling fan works the same way. By circulating air downward in an air conditioned room, the perception of coolness is enhanced even though the actual temperature is not lowered.

Ceiling fans allows you to bump the A/C thermostat up a few degrees without paying any penalty in comfort. You’ll pay less in cooling costs, though — for every degree you can move the thermostat up, you consume less electricity and lower monthly bills result.

Two Caveats

  • To get the benefit of ceiling fans in summer, rotation of the fan blades must be properly set. At the switch on the side of the fan motor — or on the remote control — set rotation to the counterclockwise direction or “summer” mode. When the fan is correctly set, you should feel a noticeable downdraft of air when standing directly underneath it.
  • Since ceiling fans only enhance the perception of coolness for humans and pets — without reducing the actual room temperature — leaving a ceiling fan running in an unoccupied room serves no purpose and simply wastes electricity.

For professional advice about installing a ceiling fan to increase comfort and lower cooling costs this summer, contact Powers Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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How to Maximize A/C Efficiency

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How to Maximize A/C Efficiency | PowersThe efficiency of your air conditioner significantly affects how well the system cools your home as well as how much it costs to produce that cooling. By taking some or all of the following steps to increase air conditioner efficiency this summer, you can have a cool, comfortable home for less money.

  • Change the filters — Air conditioner filters help keep your indoor air clean by trapping dust, pollen, fibers, and other particulates. When filters get dirty and clogged, they can’t do this job anymore, and the resulting airflow restrictions reduce system efficiency. Check filters at least once a month and change them if they’re dirty.
  • Schedule preventive maintenance — Call your local trusted HVAC professional and schedule a preventive maintenance appointment. Regular maintenance ensures the cooling system is tuned up and ready to perform at its best throughout the summertime. You’ll get better performance and efficiency along with an extended service life.
  • Seal HVAC system ductwork — Ductwork is the distribution network of pipes that carries cool air from your A/C to the inside areas of your home. If there are leaks, loose sections, or other problems in the ducts, then air can escape. Your air conditioner will have to work harder to make up for the lost air, wasting energy and money. Ensure all ductwork sections are fitted tightly together. Seal connections with mastic or with metal tape to prevent air leaks.
  • Turn on ceiling fans — Ceiling fans produce a steady stream of air that can help keep you cool. With these fans providing extra cooling, you’ll be able to run your A/C at a lower level and still be comfortable. Remember that the drafts created by ceiling fans also help recirculate cool air that tends to gather near the floor. Make sure the fan is set to direct airflow downward.

Powers Heating and Air is a top choice for heating and cooling services in Peachtree City and the neighboring cities. Contact us today for more information on air conditioner efficiency and for the maintenance and repair services you need to ensure your air conditioner works at its best all summer.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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How to Deal with Hot and Cold Spots Throughout Your Home

How to Deal with Hot and Cold Spots Throughout Your HomeIf your Peachtree City home has uneven heating or cooling, you may find certain parts of the house are predictably uncomfortable. Eliminate hot and cold spots and increase the efficiency of your system with these tips.

Check Your Vents

Go through your home and make sure there are no obstructions in front of your vents. If you have furniture placed over or in front of a vent, air won’t be able to circulate properly throughout the room, creating hot and cold spots. It’s also important to make sure your vents are all open. It’s a common myth that closing vents in parts of the house will help regulate temperature, but closing vents will actually increase pressure in the home and may damage your HVAC system.

Install a Zoned HVAC System

A zoned HVAC system allows you to safely turn heating and cooling on or off to various parts of the home. This is the ideal solution for a home with numerous hot and cold spots. A zoned system uses dampers in the ducts to separate different parts of the home. You can use this system to adjust temperatures independently for each part of the house.

Increase Circulation

Ceiling fans can increase circulation in the home to eliminate hot and cold spots and increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. Make sure your fan is set to rotate counterclockwise in summer and clockwise in winter.

Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Regular HVAC maintenance is essential to keep your system operating efficiently. You should have your heating serviced each fall before you turn the system on for the first time in the year, and have your air conditioner serviced annually in early spring.

If you want to schedule your annual maintenance or talk about the options for a new zoned system, contact Powers Heating & Air. 

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Ways to Conserve Energy in Your Peachtree City Home This Summer

Ways to Conserve Energy in Your Peachtree City Home This SummerAre you tired of paying high energy bills to keep your home cool this summer? If so, now’s the time to plan and implement some energy-saving strategies. Try these easy and effective suggestions to conserve energy without sacrificing comfort.

Use Ventilation and Fans

Turn on your ceiling fans with the blades spinning counter-clockwise and you can comfortably increase the A/C temperature setting by a few degrees to save energy. During milder weather, leave the fans running but shut off the A/C and open your windows at night. Take advantage of spot ventilation by using your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to get rid of steamy warm air from bathing, showering and cooking. Just make sure they’re vented outdoors and not into the attic.

Set the Thermostat Wisely

While you’re home and awake, set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Raise the setting by 10 to 15 degrees before you leave for the day and at night while everyone is sleeping. Installing a programmable thermostat is the most convenient way to schedule daily eight-hour temperature setbacks and cut your household energy consumption by up to 15 percent a year.

Optimize Equipment Efficiency

To keep the A/C running at maximum efficiency, schedule professional HVAC system maintenance and pay attention to system airflow. Vacuum the registers frequently to keep them dust-free and make sure they’re not closed or obstructed. You should also check the air filter monthly and replace it as needed. Keep tall vegetation trimmed back from the outdoor unit and periodically hose off the condenser coil.

Avoid Increasing the A/C’s Workload

Cook in the microwave or use the stovetop or outdoor grill instead of turning on the oven. Line dry the laundry and skip the heated-dry cycle on the dishwasher. To keep heat gain through your windows to a minimum, apply reflective window film or install insulated shades or blinds and keep them closed during the day.

Contact the Peachtree City home comfort pros at Powers Heating & Air to learn other ways to conserve energy this summer.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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