Are Ceiling Fans Better Than Air Conditioning?
Is the heat taking its toll on you? As much as we may have fun in the sun, you want to return to a cool climate when we get home.
But what’s the best option for cooling our homes? What are the pros and cons of a ceiling fan vs AC?
Both are great options, but you should choose what works best for your needs. You want to consider air quality, budget, and maintenance as your primary factors.
Here’s what you should know about choosing a ceiling fan or AC:
How Much Does It Cost to Use a Fan?
With a ceiling fan, you can choose an AC fan or a DC fan. An AC fan uses electricity from your home’s power outlets. This usually runs on 110 volts.
On a DC fan, you use much less energy than with an AC fan. However, a DC fan often costs more to purchase.
In the long run, you’ll spend less on your electricity bill if you stick to a DC fan. If budget is your main factor, you want to consider a DC fan.
What Type of Fan?
Next, you want to look at what type of fan you need to install. For example, if you live in a large home you might want to consider high ceiling fans.
You might want to stick to a two-blade fan or a three-blade fan. There are also fans that have different speeds that you can adjust.
This is based on personal preference so it’s up to you to assess what’s best for you. With fans, you do get some of the same flexibility as you do with AC units. However, AC units offer more options than fans.
How Much Does It Cost to Use an AC?
AC units are one of the major sources of draining energy throughout the United States.
As such, one can expect to pay a higher cost for buying an AC. Maintenance and changing filters also add to the high cost. Most homes have central air conditioning systems as well.
However, you can choose to buy a single AC unit per room. This gives more flexibility to others in your home. As you can imagine, this is very costly.
If budget isn’t an issue, however, you might wish to consider using an AC. There’s far greater flexibility and comfort than with a fan.
Pros of Fans
Now let’s look more deeply into the biggest advantages of using ceiling fans.
The first is that they are cheaper to buy and install. As they use less electricity, you won’t worry about costly bills. They are also much easier to install than AC units.
Maintenance and repair for fans will also not break your bank. At worst, you can always replace your fan with a new one.
They also emit fewer pollutants, toxins, and gases when compared to AC units. As a result, this decreases your carbon footprint.
You can also buy portable ceiling fans that you can move around your home. These are also perfect if you relocate to another home.
Cons of Fans
So what are the disadvantages of fans that might make you consider opting for AC units instead?
The main reason is that they don’t offer the level of cooling that AC’s do. If you live in a hot and dry climate, you might prefer the comfort of air conditioning.
You might have to install multiple fans in one area to replicate the feeling of one AC unit. A fan also doesn’t work well if a room receives direct sunlight.
Fans also cannot reduce humidity and their blades can also be a safety hazard. This is something to consider if you have young children in your home.
Pros of AC
Now let’s look at the best advantages of why you should install an AC unit.
The main reason is that the quality of air is far superior. You can also ensure that you’ll be much cooler. You can adjust your AC to be as cold as you want or as temperate as you wish.
You can also ensure that you’ll be cooler much faster. Within a few minutes, you’ll immediately feel the cold air covering the room.
You can also leave your AC on when you leave your home. If you are out in the heat, you’ll come back to a cold home and feel immediate relief.
Cons of AC
Now, why should you consider avoiding installing AC units in your home?
The main reason is that the cost can break your bank. Even today, air conditioning is considered a luxury in many developed countries. While you might budget for installation, you can spend hundreds on energy bills.
If you don’t maintain your AC well, you can expect to pay hundreds or thousands to repair them. Replacing an AC unit will also be very costly.
If you are designing your dream home, you have to plan ahead for AC units. Ductwork and vents have to be pre-installed before you can install an AC unit.
The installation process is also lengthy. As such, you’ll likely have to hire a technician and spend a few hundred dollars to install your AC. An AC unit is also not friendly to the environment.
Ceiling Fan vs AC?
So which do you choose for your home? Let’s return to the initial criteria we discussed in the introduction.
If you are willing to spend money, then you should opt for an AC unit. To save money, opt for a central AC unit rather than individual units.
If you’re on a budget, a ceiling fan is always the best option. If you live in warm weather, a ceiling fan is often sufficient. If the climate is unbearably hot, you may prefer an AC unit.
You can also opt for both choices. You can start off with ceiling fans to see if it works. If not, install an AC unit as well.
Keep Cool
Now that you know the pros and cons of a ceiling fan vs AC, you can choose the right one for your needs.
Make sure you shop around for the best quality cooling option. You can test them out before you try them.
Try to choose a ceiling fan first as it’s cheaper and more environmentally friendly. If that doesn’t work, then you can install an AC unit.
You can find more home recommendations here on our website!
Trevor Anderson wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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