Some people make the mistake of assuming they'll save money by running the fan without the AC when it's warm out. While it is true that the fan alone uses less energy than the AC, leaving it on will almost certainly result in higher utility bills.
Increased Energy Consumption: If the blower fan runs constantly, it will use more energy. While running it without the AC for a time uses less electricity, turning your air conditioner on and off will use more energy than if it runs constantly.
Thanks to the cooling properties of ceiling fans, you can help to reduce your monthly energy costs. Most central air conditioning systems cost around 43 cents per hour when they're on, which can really add up over time. On the other hand, a ceiling fan typically costs a paltry one penny to run per hour.
It is more energy efficient to run the fan without the air conditioner, but only in certain situations and for short periods of time. The truth is that your ducts are going to heat up when it gets really warm outside, and this is especially true if they are located in your attic or under your floor.
Energy Conservation: The fan mode is more energy-efficient than running the AC in cooling mode, helping to save on electricity costs. It circulates air without changing the temperature or humidity levels, using less power than the cooling mode.
When the California summer heat rolls in, pairing your AC with a ceiling fan is your best defense. By correctly setting the fan's direction, adjusting the thermostat, and a few other simple strategies, you can keep your home cool without driving up your energy bill.
The average kWh in the US costs about $0.12 so it costs about $43 per month, or about $520 per year, to run a fan continuously.
It only makes you FEEL cooler because it's moving air over your skin, carrying the heat away from your body. This is the wind chill factor you hear on the Weather Channel so often. So it's doing nothing to lower the temperature in your home, meaning your A/C will run just as long whether the fan is on or not.
Studies have shown that, on average, shutting off your air conditioner at night will reduce your total cooling costs by somewhere around 30% compared to leaving it turned on 24 hours a day. However, this depends in large part on how warm it is at night as well as the humidity level.
The central downside of running your fan continuously is the potential for a rising energy bill each month. Running the fan constantly uses a bit more energy, as you might expect, and this can increase your utility bill.
Using your ceiling fans and AC unit simultaneously can help save you money on your monthly cooling bill. According to the Department of Energy, if you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
Ceiling Fans Are a Healthier Option
This is not a problem with fans – they simply circulate the air around the room – eventually moving it out through open doors and windows. Fresh, healthy air is thus enabled to move freely through your home.
Cooling yourself with a fan vs. an air conditioner is significantly more energy efficient and cheaper. Fans use around 1% of the electricity consumed by air conditioners. You could leave a fan running for 24 hours and still use less energy than 15 minutes of air conditioning.
Fans do not cool the air, so air currents flowing over the body must be cooler than your body temperature to cool you down. When indoor air temperatures are hotter than about 95 °F: Fan use may cause your body to gain heat instead of lose it.
Generally, running the fan for 15-20 minutes per hour is sufficient for adequate air circulation. However, longer fan run times may be necessary for specific conditions like hot and humid weather or improved air filtration.
On the one hand, running your heating and cooling fan even when the AC isn't in operation helps to circulate the cool air throughout your home. Doing so distributes it evenly, ensuring consistent comfort. It's also worth noting that constantly turning the fan on and off can put your system through wear and tear.
Best AC Temperature Settings While You Are Home
As you consider the most comfortable room temperature for your lifestyle and family, keep in mind that for each degree that you set your thermostat above 72 degrees, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill.
Increase the thermostat
If you are just as comfortable with your thermostat one or two degrees higher than you currently have it set, go ahead and turn it up. Even a one degree difference will have an impact on your energy bill. Many recommend 78 degrees as a good temperature for air conditioners to run efficiently.
Combining your AC with a ceiling fan allows you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature, reducing energy consumption and shrinking your energy bill. Since your fan consumes less energy, the regular price of running your AC unit is substantially reduced.
The fan will constantly blow air into your room if you have the thermostat turned “ON.” If it is on “AUTO,” it will only turn the fan on when heated air needs distribution. So yes, running HVAC continuously throughout the day and night is perfectly safe!
Unlike a fan, an air cooler releases cool air instead of circulating warm air, which will have a more noticeable effect on the temperature. This temperature will also be felt across the whole room, instead of the focus point that a fan cools.
In general, running your fan costs very little, especially in comparison to air conditioners which tend to be the most expensive-to-run appliance in the average US household. In other words, using a fan is a great way to lower the cost of your electricity bill.
But first, here's the simple answer: 'roughly $0.19 a day — that's if you're running a 50-watt fan for 24 hours and the price of your electricity is $0.16/kWh, which was the average cost of residential electricity in Indiana in May 2023', according to energybot.com.