How to properly cool your home with a fan

This summer has been particularly hot, and if you have considered bringing home an air conditioner, you are not alone. However, air conditioners do contribute to global warming, and in the process of cooling homes, they further contribute to warming the environment. Are fans a better alternative? If you have asked this question to yourself, then you have come to the right place. You can certainly stay cool with fans, but it is not straightforward, and for the best result, you may have to experiment with the setup and combination of cooling devices.

Efficient use of fans

Before we get to how to properly cool your home with a fan, it is important to understand the key difference between an AC and a fan. A fan works by moving air across the body to keep you cool, whereas an AC works by cooling the air around you and making the environment less humid. As a result, an AC consumes more energy compared to a fan, and comfort varies from person to person.

The best result isn’t saying “efficiently use fans” but instead using an AC and a fan in tandem. For efficient use of fans, it is worth turning up your fans while also setting your AC for less cooling. This will not only help with a lower electricity bill but also deliver an experience similar to AC being cranked up.

One of the ways you can efficiently use fans is by combining them with smarter and energy-efficient ACs. These ACs are designed with sensors that can detect human occupancy and dynamically optimise airflow. 

The right fans for home

If you are unconvinced about ACs and plan to use only fans to stay cool this summer, then you need to make sure you get the best type of fans. When it comes to fans for home, there are different types of fans such as ceiling fans, pedestal fans, table fans, exhaust fans, etc. Among these, there is no better alternative to a ceiling fan just yet.

A ceiling fan works by pushing down air that flows across your body, and is also useful to circulate stagnant, hot air from the upper part of the ceiling. Even though the tech is old, ceiling fans have gotten a modern uplift with BLDC motors, chic design, and support for smarter features. When choosing a ceiling fan for home, go for a model with a DC motor since they are more energy-efficient than AC motors.

ALSO READ: Can your ceiling fan direction make a difference in electricity costs?

You can also make your home cooler by installing multiple ceiling fans, but you need to make sure these fans are not affected by other wall fixtures or dirt around them. For the best result, you need to position the fan in your home in such a way that it covers as much of the room with airflow as possible. Ceiling fans are not without their limitations.

You can also complement your ceiling fan with a pedestal fan or a table fan for a complete cooling experience. These fans can reach areas where your ceiling fan cannot and can help expel the heat. It is important to remember that setting your fan to the highest fan speed may not result in increased air flow.

Your indoor cooling doesn’t depend on the type of cooling device you own, but also on how you use it. For example, when the indoor and outdoor temperatures are extreme, your fan will simply blow hot air at you. You can try wearing a damp shirt to stay cool indoors during summers, while shading your windows also helps.