Everybody wants to live in a comfortable home with the right temperature. During the summer months, temperatures can get quite high and this is the time to consider the perfect cooling system. The fans or A/C debate appears to be a no-brainer because most people prefer air conditioners. Your decision to cool your home with either an air conditioner or a fan depends on your inclination as well as your budget. Just look at the facts and numbers below and decide whether to use fans or A/C to cool your home.
The high cost of air conditioning
Cooling your home with an air conditioner does not come cheap. A typical window air conditioner that runs for 12 hours per day will cost the average American $40 per month at 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. The 2.5-ton residential central air conditioner uses about 1,300 kilowatt-hours per month. This costs approximately $150 monthly. On the other hand, a midsize ceiling fan that works 12 hours per day costs slightly over a penny per hour. This works out at just $3.50 per month. Even if you use the higher revolutions box fans, you will spend just $7.50 per month.
Circulation vs. cooling
Unless temperatures get unbearably high, you may not need air conditioners to cool your homes. Air circulation can keep your homes relatively cool and this is what the fan does for you. Fans use the action of convection and evaporation to keep humans cool. Moving air convects the heat from the body while the evaporative effect cools the skin.
The combination approach
Cooling your home is not always a choice between fans and the air conditioner because you can also use the combination approach. In fact, using both the fan and the A/C is a good strategy to save money and provide home comfort. Simply put on the A/C to cool the room then turn it off and switch on the fan. This way, you enjoy the best of both options and pay lower electricity bills.
Final word
As you can see, the laws of cooling your home are not cast in stone. You can use ceiling fans and box fans or you can use air conditioners. You can also go for the combination approach if you like. If you have any questions or issues, just get in touch with us and we will take care of all your heating and air conditioning needs.
