Saving electricity is something that most people strive to do. For example, people will turn off (and even unplug) an appliance the moment they stop using it. Ceiling fans, though, use far less electricity than most people think.

So, how much electricity does a ceiling fan use? Don't worry, we’ve got you covered.

Let's take a look at everything you need to know.

How Much Electricity Does a Ceiling Fan Use, Really?

Under most circumstances, the average ceiling fan will use anywhere between $0.005 and $0.01 per hour. As you may expect, it's possible to leave ceiling fans on indefinitely and see virtually no impact on your electric bill.

This number can change slightly depending on how many watts your ceiling fan uses, which typically ranges from 50 to 80. Many of the newer high-end ceiling fans will use a DC motor vs the standard AC ones. DC fans typically use less than 40 watts of power on high speed, and as little as 2 on low.

Your overall cost, though, will depend on the rates you pay for your electric service. The above figures assume that you pay $0.12 per kilowatt-hour, which is fairly standard in most regions.

How Can I Figure Out Exactly How Much Electricity My Fan Uses?

It's not uncommon for some individuals to want a bit more information about how much power their ceiling fan uses.

In order to get started, you'll need to check how many watts your ceiling fan utilizes while it's running. Afterward, you can calculate your weekly usage by multiplying this number by the average number of hours per week that you leave your fan on.

This will give you a rough estimate that you can use to determine your average cost to run a ceiling fan.

For example, let's assume that your ceiling fan wattage is 70. Let's also assume that you only use it during the evenings after work, which is typically around three hours per day.

You would calculate your weekly rate by first finding your daily rate, which would be 70 x 3 = 210.

Then, you would multiply this number by 7 (total number of days in a week) to find how much electricity your fan uses per week (210 x 7 = 1,470 watt-hours).

Of course, there may be other factors that influence how much electricity your fan uses each week. This could include particularly hot days, extensive use on weekends, etc.

Are Ceiling Fans The Ideal Cooling Option?

The answer to this question depends on how much money you're comfortable paying to cool you're home.

If you don't want to use ceiling fans as your primary option, a viable alternative is using an air conditioning unit to do so. As we all know, it's possible for this technology to make homes virtually as cold as you want them to.

But, air conditioners use far more electricity per hour than ceiling fans do. This is particularly true within regions that have notably warm climates.

While a ceiling fan doesn’t actually cool the air temperature as an air conditioning unit does, but rather the provide a windchill effect to make your body feel cooler, they only cost a fraction of the price to operate. Specifically, using an air conditioner typically costs approximately 10 to 15 times more per hour than a ceiling fan.

It should be noted that people typically compare these two options while using a standard-size ceiling fan. There are larger, more efficient fans on the market that are able to manipulate the airflow over a significant area of space to keep you feeling cooler than standard-sized units.

In many cases, using a large fan will provide better results, sometimes without an increase in wattage.

If obtaining the lowest room temperature possible is your intention, air conditioners combined with ceiling fan use is the best option. As a matter of fact, typically running ceiling fans combined with A/C will lower you cooling cost over just using air conditioning alone. This happens because you can make your living space feel 72 degrees with the ceiling fan’s windchill factor, while only having your air conditioning thermostat set at 75. This saves much on your power bill compared to having the thermostat set to 72 with A/C alone.

How Can I Save Extra Electricity?

Even though ceiling fans already use a negligible amount of electricity, there are still steps you can take in order to minimize this amount. And, each one of them is easy to implement.

Let's explore what you can do. 

Using Fans with LED Light Fixtures

The above figures assume that you're only factoring in the wattage that's used to power the fan's motor. Using a fan that has lights will require additional electricity, and the lights are not as energy-efficient as the fan motor.

To save as much money as possible, it's recommended to use a fan without light fixtures while illuminating the room with sunlight. During the evening, if your fan is equipped with an LED light, that will help save compared to using other fixtures with standard type light bulbs.

Turn off the Fan When You're Not Using It

Although this can seem like obvious advice, many people tend to leave their ceiling fans powered on indefinitely. Instead, turning off the fan when it's not in use will save a bit of extra money on your electric bill.

While this amount won't be substantial, there's no point in wasting electricity if you can prevent it.

Check the Fan's Seasonal Setting

Interestingly, ceiling fans have a setting that many people may not be aware of.

In general, ceiling fans have an option for 'winter' and an option for 'summer.' While using the 'winter' setting, the fan rotates in a direction that pushes air up toward the ceiling, gently circulating the heat back down the wall area to the floor.

This can actually make the room warmer than it would otherwise be.

You can check the body of your ceiling fan for a small switch in order to change the setting. If you have a remote fan, many fans reverse using the remote control. As long as you feel the air blowing downward, your fan is cooling the room correctly for summer use.

Ceiling Fans Use Far Less Electricity Than You Think

So they're a worthy addition to any home.

With the above answer to 'how much electricity does a ceiling fan use' in mind, you'll be well on your way toward making the decision that's best for you.

Want to learn more about how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.

 

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