When the temperature in the greater Phoenix area begins to climb, the first thing many homeowners do is turn on their ceiling and portable fans. The steady stream of air blowing can provide immediate cooling relief and even help reduce the mugginess when monsoon season hits. Yet, should you keep those fans turned on when you\u2019re also running your air conditioner? Here\u2019s the answer to this very common household question?<\/p>\n
While it may seem redundant to be using electricity to power two ways to keep yourself cool, the reality is that fans can actually make your air conditioner more efficient with something called the \u201cwind chill\u201d effect. Just as wind can make a cold weather seem colder, a fan blowing in a house can make air conditioned air seem chillier. This happens because the air your fans circulates carries heat away from your body, making you feel cooler and ideally more comfortable.<\/p>\n
There are some techniques to maximize the efficiency of your air conditioner by using fans.<\/p>\n
Run Ceiling Fans Counterclockwise <\/strong>\u2013 To maximize efficiency, run ceiling fans counterclockwise on medium to high speeds.<\/p>\n Raise Your Thermostat<\/strong> \u2013 Because you\u2019ll feel cooler, you can raise your thermostat setting by up to four degrees and feel just as cool when your fan is also running.<\/p>\n