As summer heats up, so can your home. Extreme heatwaves can make staying indoors miserable, but before you crank the AC up to high, consider the power of your ceiling fan.
Ceiling fans are lifesavers in hot weather, but they don’t actually lower the air temperature. Instead, they create a wind chill effect. By circulating air across your skin, they make you feel cooler, allowing you to raise your thermostat a few degrees and save on energy costs.
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. In temperate climates, or during moderately hot weather, ceiling fans may allow you to avoid using your air conditioner altogether. Install a fan in each room that needs to be cooled during hot weather.”
Here’s how to maximize your ceiling fan’s cooling power during a heatwave:
- Rotate Counterclockwise: Most ceiling fans have a switch to control the direction of the blades. In summer, set them to rotate counterclockwise. This creates a downdraft that pushes cool air down towards you.
- Strategic Placement: Ceiling fans are most effective in occupied areas. When installing or positioning a fan, consider the room layout and where people spend the most time.
- Airflow for AC: If you do use your air conditioner, ceiling fans can help circulate the cool air more evenly throughout the room, allowing your AC to work less and you to stay cooler.
- Nighttime Relief: During cooler nights, open windows and use ceiling fans to draw in fresh air and expel hot air that has accumulated during the day.
While ceiling fans are a great way to stay cool during a heatwave, they are most effective when used in conjunction with other heat-reduction strategies. Here are some additional tips:
- Close blinds and curtains: Block direct sunlight from heating up your interior.
- Take advantage of cooler nights: Open windows at night to air out your home.
- Limit heat-producing activities: Cooking, using ovens, and running electronics all add heat to your home.
Keep Your Outdoor Living Spaces Cool
Wet rated or wet listed ceiling fans are perfect for patios or other outdoor living areas where water can be present around the fan. You can even match them to your décor with finishes like brushed pewter, matte black, oil rubbed bronze, and white. The best outdoor fan for your application is one with a weather-resistant build and desired airflow for the location you need it.
What’s the difference between wet rated or damp rated ceiling fans?
Outdoor fans at are categorized as “damp” or “wet” rated, depending on the amount of moisture they’re designed to withstand.
Damp rated fans can handle humidity, but can’t handle direct contact with water, whereas wet rated fans are built for exposure to the outdoors and where water can splash onto the fan. Covered patios or screened-in porches are better suited for damp rated fans.
Make RP Lighting + Fans Your Preferred Ceiling Fan Supplier!
We have residential and commercial grade fans powerful enough to also handle large commercial and industrial spaces. To see our LED ceiling fan product line and learn more about what we have to offer, contact a representative today!
By using ceiling fans strategically and implementing other heat-reduction measures, you can stay comfortable and save money on your energy bill during those sweltering summer days.
In an effort to promote energy efficiency and recognizing the importance of energy conservation, RP Lighting has developed multiple products in each of our lighting and ceiling fan categories that are Energy Star qualified. 
