When the Utah summer heat becomes an uninvited guest in your home, an easy way you can cool down a room without overworking your poor air conditioner is by utilizing a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans create a wind chill effect that feels as nice and comforting as a cool ocean breeze. This will instantly make your indoor climate more enjoyable and allow you to turn up the air conditioner a few notches. 

Below is everything you need to know about using your ceiling fans to stay cool all summer long! 

Ceiling Fan Direction in the Summer

Make sure your ceiling fan is rotating counterclockwise in the summer. When the blades spin counterclockwise, they push air towards the floor to create an artificial breeze. This also helps control indoor humidity levels, which can make a home feel stifling even if the temperatures aren’t that high. 

For some homeowners, changing the ceiling fan direction may be as easy as pressing a button on a remote. For others, it requires a little more manual labor. Here’s how you can change the airflow direction in a traditional ceiling fan. 

First things first: turn off the ceiling fan! You don’t want to be anywhere near the blades when they’re spinning rapidly. Once the ceiling fan has stopped completely, you will need to locate the direction switch. In a traditional ceiling fan, this is located somewhere on the motor housing, or the cup-like section from which the pull chain hangs. Take a look or feel around the motor housing for a switch, which may be either vertical or horizontal. Flip the switch down or to the left to change the airflow direction. Then, turn the ceiling fan back on and verify that it’s spinning correctly by standing directly underneath it. If you feel a cool breeze, you’re good to go! Otherwise, you’ll need to retrace your steps and try again. 

How Long Can You Run a Ceiling Fan?

Technically, as long as you want! Ceiling fans are safe to use for long periods of time, even when no one is in the room. After all, it’s a great way to make a room feel cooler without forcing your air conditioner to work harder.

That being said, we recommend running your ceiling fans only when people are home, so you don’t accidentally overheat the motor or waste electricity. 

Should You Run a Ceiling Fan with the AC On?

Ceiling fans and air conditioners complement each other like peanut butter and jelly. If you want your home to feel like a summer oasis, you can and should run these two devices simultaneously. Just remember that when your ceiling fans are running, your thermostat should be set to a higher temperature — we recommend going up 4o. To achieve maximum efficiency from your cooling system, make sure you schedule an air conditioning service at least once throughout the year. 

We hope these tips will help you keep your home cool and comfortable this summer. If you need air conditioning repairs in Salt Lake City or the surrounding regions, don’t hesitate to contact us!