Home > Fans vs Air Conditioners Fans versus Air Conditioners The debate of fans versus air conditioners seems to have been decided long ago, but more consumers are using fans as they seek to lead a more green lifestyle and save big on energy costs as well. In addition, fans have gotten more technologically advanced and can sometimes do more to cool a limited space than even an air conditioner. So, we open the debate of fans versus air conditioners once again. Advantages and Disadvantages of Fans Let’s first look at the advantages of fans: Fans cost far less to operate than an air conditioner. They are also far less expensive to buy and maintain. Fans are far more transportable than air conditioners and can be used in multiple locations in the home, office or apartment. They are also easily stored after use. Fans are the right choice for those concerned about the environment. They do not produce harmful gases and they save electricity, leaving a much smaller carbon footprint.

Fans are better for specific or temporary cooling tasks, such as sitting at your desk and wanting to feel refreshed or wanting to cool the living room down on an especially hot day. Fans are easy to assemble (if any assembly is needed!) and simple to set up and operate. Fans are much less hassle when it comes to maintenance, too. You only need to keep the blades clean, not replace filters, drain water and recharge refrigerant. Fans now look much sleeker than their earlier versions. Tower fans are beautiful to look at and fit nicely into the corner. Fans can also provide cooling through a misting action, which many tower fans include. This brings the cooling of the air to a level even beyond what an air conditioner can do. Fans also make far less noise than their predecessors. They can be much quieter than an air conditioner in some cases. Now, for the disadvantages of a fan: No matter how powerful the pedestal or tower fan you have, it simply cannot cool a large area as effectively as an air conditioner can, even a window model.

This is especially true if you have rooms that receive a lot of sunlight. If the temperature outside is high with elevated humidity, a fan will do little to cool even a small area in your home unless you sit right in front of it. If you are sitting near a typical table or pedestal fan, the blowing of air right onto you is not very pleasant. The blades of a fan can present a minor safety hazard, especially if you have small children in the house. If you do not clean the blades of a fan, they will simply blow dirt and dust all over the area where the fan operates. Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Conditioners Now, for the advantages of an air conditioner: If you need a large area cooled down, an air conditioner is the only choice. Even multiple fans cannot do as effective a job. This is especially true if temps run into the 90s and it is humid outside. At that point, a fan will only blow hot air around. Today’s homes are more difficult to cool than older homes because architects have not prioritized air flow and ventilation, due to the preponderance of air conditioning.

See any awnings, porches and skylights in modern homes? Those same designers also loved windows and view, which create a sort of greenhouse effect in homes and offices. prices for hvac systemsToday’s homes are also not as compact in many cases, have multiple levels, etc. portable ac unit dealsTo cool down the average home today, you would need multiple fans on every floor.best ac heater window unit Finally, the disadvantages of an air conditioner: They cost up to 100 times more to operate than a ceiling fan, for instance (central air versus one fan). Even multiple fans are far less expensive than central air conditioning. Air conditioners require a much higher initial outlay as well, sometimes several thousand dollars to install central air.

They produce harmful gases that combine with other gases to threaten the ozone layer. They can be difficult to install and require regular maintenance. <-- Back to Fan Reviews <-- Back to Air Conditioner ReviewsAbout "Ask the Energy Expert" Craig Muccio ran FPL's Conservation Research & Development Program and crunched the numbers to figure out how you can save by managing your energy use. Your questions on energy-related topics can be submitted anytime to our Ask the Energy Expert blog. Just click here to submit your question, and if chosen, it will be answered here Asked on: August 28, 2014 by Beverly H., Weston Which A/C fan setting costs more, “on” or “auto?” My friend believes the “auto” setting uses more electricity. That’s actually a common, but important question. The on/auto fan switch on your A/C thermostat will affect the price you pay to cool your home. The A/C fan circulates the cooled or heated air throughout your home.

Setting the fan switch to “on” will make the A/C fan run continuously, 24 hours a day. Choosing the “auto” setting will cause the fan to shut off with the rest of the cooling system as soon as your desired temperature on your thermostat is reached. Fan “on” costs more Advice from friends can be helpful, but in this case your friend was mistaken to think that the auto setting used more electricity. Let’s assume your air conditioner normally cycles off 30 percent of the time. In this example, turning the fan switch to “on” will make the fan run over 200 extra hours a month. For a typical size central air conditioner, that would cost you about $8 more each month. Keep in mind, a fan that runs all the time may also wear out sooner. Another reason to keep it on “auto” Setting your A/C fan to auto also helps provide better dehumidification. Have you noticed how moisture from the air condenses on the outside of a cold drink on a humid day? Your A/C unit captures moisture the same way, helping your home feel more comfortable.

When the fan cycles off using the auto mode, moisture has a chance to drip from the cold cooling coils into the condensation pan and then drain outside. However, when the fan runs all the time in the “on” setting, less moisture has a chance to drip and drain outside. Instead, some gets blown back into the air again. Some people prefer the feel or sound of the fan running all the time. If that’s you, at least now you know how much that choice will cost you. Learn how to save even moreDuring Florida’s hottest months, we want to remind you that you can save five percent on your monthly cooling costs for each degree you turn your thermostat up. Also, our top summer tips can help you save even more. You can also take our Online Home Energy Survey to get a personalized savings plan filled with energy-saving tips and recommendations. It’s easy, and can save you up to $250 a year. Did you find this Ask the Expert column helpful? Get more expert energy saving advice by following our Ask the Expert column monthly and remember you can submit your own question.