Everyone seems to have their own point of view on this. Some agree, others vehemently disagree. Some manufacturers give you the go-ahead, and others say yes, but give you a list of warnings. The internet is loaded with conflicting information. Who is right, who is wrong? Should you run an air conditioner & ceiling fan together? Let’s answer that.
You can— and should— run your ceiling fan and A/C together. Using both at the same time is a more efficient way to cool a room and will ultimately result in energy savings. But you can’t just walk into your home and turn them on. You have to do it right. Otherwise your electricity bills will shock you-literally.
How You Can Use a Ceiling Fan and A/C Together
It’s simple really:
- Raise your thermostat setting by 4°F.
- When you’re in a room, turn on the ceiling fan.
- When you leave the room, turn off the fan.
Why 4°F?
Firstly, because it has been proven to work. Secondly, because the U.S Department of Energy has recommended it, saying that you can raise the setting by that temperature range without any reduction in comfort. This means that if your thermostat setting is kept at 75°F, and you turn on the ceiling fan, you should bring up the A/C to 79°F. Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to exactly 4°F – pick what’s most suitable for your case. The AC will keep you cool but at a lower cost. How’s that possible?
Recommended Ceiling Fans on the Market
- MODERN CEILING FAN: The contemporary Dempsey fan comes with LED light covered by cased white glass that will keep home interior current and inspired; Measures 44 x 44 x 11.03 Inch.Wattage 60.5 watts.Voltage 120 volts
- MULTI-SPEED REVERSIBLE FAN MOTOR: Whisper Wind motor delivers ultra-powerful airflow with quiet performance; Change the direction from downdraft mode during the summer to updraft mode during the winter
- LED LIGHT KIT: Energy-efficient dimmable LED light bulbs let you control the lighting and ambiance of the living space; The long lasting bulbs have longer lifespan than traditional bulbs
- UNIVERSAL HANDHELD REMOTE: Adjust the brightness of light and speed of the white ceiling fan with ease from anywhere in the room
- ROOM PLACEMENT: Indoor fan is designed to be used in rooms with low ceilings, the low-profile housing fits flush to the ceiling; Ideal fan for living room, lounge, bedroom, children's room and nursery
- Limited Lifetime Motor Warranty is backed by the only company with over 126 years in the fan business. Airflow Efficiency: 69 Cubic Feet Per Minute Per Watt
- COMPATIBLE ACCESSORIES: Works with Hunter and Casablanca accessories, not including Hunter Original accessories
- Harness the Power of the Winds: Crafted with a Silicon Steel DC Motor, our ceiling fan delivers ultra-powerful air movement while maintaining a serene silence, ensuring a peaceful ambiance. ETL listed for safety, it boasts an average airflow of 5614 CFM, whispering with a noise level below 35 dB. Operating at 110V voltage, it's your silent companion, free from any disruptive buzz.
- Remote & Smart App Mastery: Seamlessly integrate into your modern abode with Alexa compatibility and a Smart App control system. Whether from the comfort of your couch or miles away, command the fan's 6 wind speeds, adjust its dimmable light switch emitting 2000 lumens at a color temperature ranging from 3000k to 5700k, and schedule its automatic shutdown after 1/3/8 hours. Enjoy the freedom to control the fan and light separately for tailored comfort.
- Aesthetic Elegance: Adorn your living space with our hand-painted color finishes and rich ABS wood textures, accentuated by a robust metal motor housing. This ceiling fan's chic design exudes sophistication, elevating any room's ambiance with a touch of Mid-century luxury.
- Ease Installation: with detailed instructions and accompanying videos, installation becomes a breeze, easily achievable by a single person, saving you on installation costs. Each package includes professional English instructions, a remote control, and two adjustable downrods (6''/ 10'') for customizable height.
- Versatile Comfort: Suitable for spaces ranging from 100sq.ft to 250sq.ft, including living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, offices, kitchens, and restaurants, our ceiling fan offers versatile comfort and style, perfect for any Native-inspired space.
- CLASSIC CEILING FAN: The traditional Builder Deluxe fan comes with LED light covered by toffee glass that will keep home interior inspired; Measures 52 x 52 x 17.77 Inch
- MULTI-SPEED REVERSIBLE FAN MOTOR: Whisper Wind delivers ultra-powerful airflow fan with quiet performance; Change the direction from downdraft mode during the summer to updraft mode during the winter
- LED BOWL LIGHT KIT: Energy-efficient dimmable LED light bulbs let you control the lighting and ambiance of the living space; The long lasting bulbs have longer lifespan than traditional bulbs
- PULL CHAIN CONTROL: Turn the bronze ceiling fan on/off and adjust the speed quickly and easily with the pull chain
- ROOM PLACEMENT: Indoor fan is height adjustable, via the included 2" & 3" downrods, to ensure proper distance from the ceiling and optimize air movement; Ideal fan for living room, lounge, and bedrooms
How the Ceiling Fan and A/C Work Together
You A/C lowers the temperature of your home by cooling the air. The ceiling fan gives you a wind chill. A wind chill is an effect you get when you’re out in a breeze. Air moves across your skin, disperses heat, some sweat evaporates, and you feel cooler.
When the air conditioner is running, the ceiling fan circulates cooled air and makes you feel even cooler. That way, the thermostat can be displaying 80°F, but you feel up to 5°F cooler due to that wind chill. This will allow you to crank up your thermostat, save on power, and feel cool all at the same time. It also reduces the carbon footprint of your house, which is a welcome bonus.
Ceiling fans circulate the air inside a room. They don’t get outside air into the room or push internal air out. They work by blowing air downwards and removing any hot air around the objects below it. To be clear- a ceiling fan does not cool the air. Cooling is the work of the A/C. The fan just moves the air around.
This helps heat leave you and get into the air, providing that cooling effect you desire. However, there are whole-house fans in the market that can get air from outside into the house. And when you leave the windows and doors open, the ceiling fan can actually pull air from outside in. Only do this if the air outside is cooler. In such cases, the fan does some of the cooling.
Recommended Air Conditioner on the Market
- Portable AC: Use this personal air conditioner (15.3” x 14” x 24.8”) in rooms up to 350 sq. ft. Stay cool in the hot summer months and sleep well with this BLACK+DECKER ac unit for bedroom.
- 3-in-1: Our 4,100 BTU DOE (8000 BTU ASHRAE 128) air conditioner also functions as a dehumidifier & fan. This portable air conditioner (45.8 lbs.) has a convenient remote control & top mounted control panel with LED display.
- Impressive Features: Set the temperature just right with this ac portable air conditioner. Our ac unit portable also has a slide-out washable filter, auto water evaporation, & 24-hour timer.
- Easy Mobility: Thanks to casters on the bottom and side handles on both sides of the small air conditioner, this air cooler can be moved from room to room without any hassle.
- Installation Kit: When it comes to fans that blow cold air, this indoor ac unit includes an easy-to-install window kit. A large, vented airflow outlet ushers in cool air. Cools a room approximately 15' x 20'
- Portable AC: Use this personal air conditioner (15.3” x 14” x 24.8") in rooms up to 450 sq. ft. Stay cool in the hot summer months and sleep well with this BLACK+DECKER ac unit for bedroom.
- 3-in-1: 3-in-1: Our 5800 BTU DOE (10000 BTU ASHRAE 128) air conditioner also functions as a dehumidifier & fan. This portable air conditioner (47.3 lbs.) has a convenient remote control & top mounted control panel with LED display.
- Impressive Features: Set the temperature just right with this ac portable air conditioner. Our ac unit portable also has a slide-out washable filter, auto water evaporation, & 24-hour timer.
- Easy Mobility: Thanks to casters on the bottom and side handles on both sides of the small air conditioner, this air cooler can be moved from room to room without any hassle.
- Installation Kit: When it comes to fans that blow cold air, this indoor ac unit includes an easy-to-install window kit. A large, vented airflow outlet ushers in cool air. Environmentally Friendly R410a Refrigerant
- ULTRA QUIET - The U-shape design of Midea U Smart Inverter AC uses your window to block noise outside. The highly-efficient inverter system warrants ultra-low noise and vibration, 9x quieter than traditional units with operation as low as 32 dBA.Control Type : Electronic. Clean Filter Indicator Light : Yes. Rated Cooling Amps (AHAM) : 12.17..Refrigerant : R32. Cooling Watts : 1140W.
- MORE THAN 35% ENERGY SAVINGS - With the advanced DC Inverter technology, Midea U achieves over 35% energy savings compared to other traditional units. It is the first window AC to obtain the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient Certification
- SMART CONTROL - Midea U Smart Inverter AC is Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled from anywhere using the MSmartHome app on iOS or Android. You can also use voice commands throughout your house, office, or apartment using Alexa or Google Assistant devices
- FLEXIBLE WINDOW OPENING - The U-shaped design allows your window to open, bringing fresh air into your home and maintaining more of your view when the unit is installed. When the window is closed, the Anti-Theft Mechanism locks the window for added safety
- ROBUST INSTALLATION - Install the included quick-snap bracket, set the unit on the bracket, and secure the sidearms. Then you are all done and ready to enjoy. Available for single-hung or double-hung windows with width 22"-36", minimal height at 13.75"
- Window Air Conditioner with Low Noise Performance: This ac window unit operates at sound levels as low as 53dB (in low mode) eliminating unnecessary noise; Work without distraction and get a good night's sleep with this quiet window unit
- Multiple Fan Speeds: 3 cooling and fan speeds with Auto Cool allow you to customize your cooling; Effortlessly adjust the ac window unit air flow to suit your needs
- Maximum Usability: This window unit ac includes an easy to use digital control panel and remote control; 4-way air deflection gives you ultimate flexibility; Filter light reminder, window installation kit, and a slide-out, washable filter are also included
- Auto Restart: After a power failure, Auto Restart will automatically turn the ac unit window back on when power is restored
- Cools Rooms up to 350 Square Feet: LW8016ER is ideal for cooling medium rooms (14' X 25'); With the 350 square feet cooling coverage, keep your bedroom or office comfortably cool with this window unit air conditioner
What About the Costs?
Let’s assume your central air conditioning runs about 5 kilowatts and costs you about 40 cents/hour. Let’s put your ceiling fan at 5 watts, costing 2 cents an hour. When you run both at the same time, less power is spent by the A/C. That means you’ll be saving on your utility bills. Most households get an average 8% reduction in A/C electrical use for each degree that they raise the A/C.
Modern ceiling fans are very efficient. For instance, in the US they cost around 16 cents a day to run. You spend less when you keep both running. Your total cost savings depend on how much you use the two appliances together.
