As St. Louis homeowners continue to look for ways to achieve a comfortable room temperature, without breaking the bank, one of the first things they should consider is using at least one ceiling fan for cooling. Fans are great because they use less energy than air conditioners, but they are able to cause noticeable shifts in temperature. It is similar to how the outside temperature may be at a certain level, but when a breeze blows, there is a wind chill effect which makes the air feel colder. By harnessing the wind chill effect and bringing it indoors, a ceiling fan allows for more economical temperature control.
Choosing a Ceiling Fan for Cooling Your Home
While it goes without saying that a ceiling fan is a useful addition to most St. Louis homes, choosing the best one can pose quite a challenge. This is because a ceiling fan for cooling can come in many different sizes, shapes, designs, colors, and so on. So, how does a homeowner choose from among all these alternatives? There are some key criteria to start with.
- Size – It is important to buy a ceiling fan for cooling that is sized properly given the specific room or space where it will be installed. If the fan is too small, it will have a less noticeable or even negligible effect on the interior temperature, though it is possible to install multiple small fans in a large room. Additionally, if the ceiling fan for cooling is too large, it may overpower the space visually and the breeze it generates may be too strong. In fact, too large a fan may become a hazard in a small room if the fan’s blades end up too low so that people in the room are at risk of accidentally touching the blades. Ideally, the ceiling should be at least 8 feet high before you consider installing a ceiling fan for cooling.
- Noise – It is best to purchase a ceiling fan for cooling only after you have actually seen and heard it in action. Observe how much noise it makes. Excessive noise can be a problem if the fan is installed somewhere work is done, like a home office or in a room where relaxation is important, like a bedroom.
- Budget – A more expensive ceiling fan for cooling is not always a better one, but a higher budget will give you more options. Keep your budget in mind from the beginning so that little time is wasted considering products that are outside your desired price range.
Installing a Ceiling Fan for Cooling
Another important point to consider is ease of installation, especially if you plan to do this yourself. Try to download the manual for the product that you would like to buy so that you can get a sense for whether it offers a straightforward installation process or something more cumbersome. That said, installing a ceiling fan for cooling will generally require at least two people. So, if you plan to go down the DIY route, make sure you have someone who can help you out.
Safety is important, so take the necessary steps to ensure that the relevant electrical connection is turned off. If the ceiling is fairly high, make sure that you have an appropriately-sized and reliable ladder that you can use, to avoid potential falls. Finally, where a particular installation job falls outside the homeowner’s comfort zone, because of its scope or complexity, consider bringing in a professional to provide some assistance.
Learn More Cooling Tips Using Ceiling Fans
If you would like to learn more about how you can efficiently use a ceiling fan for cooling your St. Louis home, give us a call! You can reach us by phone at 314-993-1110. Our heating & air conditioning experts would love to answer your questions about how fans can form part of your overall cooling strategy and help you save money on heating and cooling costs.
