fans-don’t-actually-cool-the-air4-ways-you-can-still-beat-the-heat-with-them
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Fans Don’t Actually Cool the Air. 4 Ways You Can Still Beat the Heat with Them

ByElizabeth Fogarty

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Key Takeaways

  • Fans don’t lower a room’s temperature, but make you feel cooler by enhancing sweat evaporation and heat dissipation.
  • To save energy, use fans only in occupied rooms and pair them with your AC to raise the thermostat without compromising comfort.
  • Optimize the effects by adjusting the ceiling fan direction seasonally and using window fans for cross breezes.

With scorching temperatures becoming more common across the country (the Old Farmers’ Almanac deemed this the hottest and driest summer for the third year in a row), staying cool at home is top of mind for everyone. Whether you’re trying to cut down on energy bills or simply want to avoid overworking your AC, understanding how fans actually work can help you stay comfortable, save money, and make smarter choices during the hottest months.

In the midst of this heat wave, people are debating: Does running a fan actually change the room’s temperature? Here’s the verdict, plus some tips for making the most of indoor fans.

Fans Don’t Cool the Air—They Cool You

Fans don’t change the temperature of the air in your home. Instead, they work by moving air around, which helps your body feel cooler, even though the room’s temperature stays the same.

Here’s why it works: When a breeze from a fan hits your skin, it speeds up the evaporation of sweat and helps carry heat away from your body. This creates a “wind chill” effect that can make you feel up to 4°F cooler, without touching the thermostat.

So even though fans don’t technically cool a room, they cool people. That’s why the U.S. Department of Energy recommends using a fan to feel comfortable at warmer thermostat settings, saving you money on your energy bill.

Can a Fan Ever Warm a Room?

It may sound odd, but fans can actually add a little heat to a room. That’s because the small motor inside the fan gives off heat while it runs. It’s usually not enough to be noticeable, but if no one’s around to enjoy the breeze, a fan running in an empty room is really just using up energy without helping.

Related

How to Use Fans to Feel Cooler and Save Energy

If you want to make the most of your fans this summer, here are a few tips to keep you sweat-free.

Use the Right Direction

Keep It Personal

Since fans only cool people, they’re best used in occupied rooms. Save energy by turning them off when no one’s there.

Pair with AC for Best Results

Using a fan along with your air conditioner lets you set the temperature a few degrees higher without sacrificing comfort. It’s a smart way to cut cooling costs without sweating it.

Try the Window Fan Trick

On cooler nights, use a window fan to pull in fresh air, and during the hottest hours of the day, use it to push warm air out. If you have an oscillating fan, place it across from an open window to create a refreshing cross breeze. It’s a simple, natural way to cool your space, especially in dry climates.

If you’re dealing with extreme heat or humidity, a fan alone might not be enough. But for everyday comfort, it’s an affordable, energy-smart option to help you beat the heat.

A Quick Look: Fan vs. Air Conditioner
Feature Fan Air Conditioner
Lowers air temperature ❌ ✅
Moves air around ✅ ✅
Cools people through wind chill ✅ ❌
Uses less electricity ✅ ❌
Removes humidity ❌ ✅

Final Verdict

So, do fans actually cool a room? Not exactly, but they help your body feel cooler, which is just as important. Whether you’re working from home or relaxing in the living room, using a fan strategically can make your space feel breezier, fresher, and a lot more comfortable.

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As temperatures start to drop, homeowners make the switch to heating to ensure the home remains comfortable. However, the warm air can often be accompanied by a burning smell that quickly permeates your space. However, there are ways to prevent this odor in the first place and other methods for handling unfamiliar odors, like a musty or electrical burning smell. Use this guide to discover how to prevent the furnace smell when you turn it on for the season, other mysterious furnace smells you might encounter, and when to call a professional. Why Does the Furnace Smell When You First Turn it On? In most cases, when a furnace smells after being turned on for the first time in the season, there’s no need to worry. The smell of burning dust should fade quickly. But, if the smell persists or you notice a different smell from the furnace, it could be due to a serious issue with the HVAC system. Consider these common reasons why the furnace may smell when you first turn it on. Burning dust smells are relatively common when first turning on the furnace for the season. This is typically due to a buildup of dust on the burners, heat exchanger, air ducts, and other heating unit components. Generally, this odor will fade quickly as the thin layer of dust is burned away. Musty odors coming from the furnace usually indicate that there is mold or mildew trapped inside the HVAC system. It may be in the heating unit, the ductwork, the furnace filter, or even the humidifier pad. Electrical burning smells are not normal and should be addressed as soon as possible. Sometimes the smell is due to a foreign object stuck in the ductwork or vents of the HVAC system, but on other occasions, this smell may be due to burned or frayed wiring, or can also be a result of the furnace overheating. Rotten egg scents produced by the furnace are a sign of a gas leak. 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How to Seal Windows
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How to Seal Windows and Reduce Energy Bills

ByKamron Sanders

Poorly sealed windows allow heat to enter your home during the summer and cool drafts during the winter. As a result, your HVAC unit works overtime to maintain your desired temperature, leading to high energy bills. Here, we explain how to seal windows with various materials and methods including caulk, weather stripping, plastic shrink-wrap, and draft stoppers. While replacing your windows with new energy-efficient ones is the most effective way to stop the draft and lower your utility bill, it’s not always an option. Luckily, there are several ways to seal your existing windows to help prevent air transfer between the interior and exterior. Caulk Around the Windows Caulking around windows is sometimes all it takes to reduce their draftiness. It’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to seal a window, as caulk is relatively inexpensive. Caulk is ideal for filling small cracks around various window components. It can create a watertight and airtight seal that remains flexible for years after application. This flexibility ensures the caulk’s seal won’t crack due to natural expansion and contraction. If your window has gaps larger than 1/2 inch, caulk may not work well. If these gaps are deep, expanding foam insulation designed for window and door use may be necessary to fill the cavity. Once the foam is fully expanded, you can trim it flush using a sharp knife and cover it using a wood trim piece or a bead of caulk, whichever is more appropriate for your window. Install Weather Stripping Weather stripping is useful for sealing around the moving components of a window, such as beneath a moving sash. Whereas caulk will seal the joint, weather stripping allows you to open and close the window, sealing the gap tightly once the window is closed. Most foam weather stripping has one sticky side so it can be adhered to the fixed portion of the window without sticking to the moving one. To promote a strong bond between the foam weather stripping and the window sash, remove dust or debris, thoroughly clean the window with a degreaser, and dry the surface. Seal with Plastic Shrink-Wrap To create a temporary airtight seal around your window, look for plastic shrink-wrap window insulating kits, which include double-stick tape and sheets of plastic shrink-wrap. To seal a window using plastic shrink-wrap, follow these steps: Clean the window. Apply strips of double-stick tape on all four sides of the window frame. Cut the plastic sheeting slightly larger than the window pane. Place it on the pane, pressing it against the double-stick tape to secure it. Use a hairdryer or a heat gun on low to shrink the plastic, starting on the perimeter and moving across the shrink-wrap until it’s perfectly taut. Clean up the excess plastic using a utility knife. If you’re planning to shrink-wrap all of your windows, leave at least one window in each room uncovered for a potential fire escape. Insert Draft Stoppers Store-bought draft stoppers can be great for stopping drafts with minimal effort and without altering the window. There are various styles of draft stoppers tailored for different types of windows and doors. Many draft stoppers include two tubes that can be cut to the window’s width and then slid inside a piece of fabric. The fabric is then slid beneath the window sash. Once the window is closed, the two tubes are tightly held on each side of the window. While this style of draft stopper can be effective for windows, they are often used on doors. A more effective style of a window draft stopper is designed to stick along the bottom edge of the window sash. Once the sash is closed, the overhanging rubber material compresses against the window frame to prevent airflow. The most effortless style of draft stopper that can be used to reduce a window draft looks like a long pillow. You simply lay it at the bottom of the window to block the draft. How to Identify a Drafty Window If the source of your window draft isn’t obvious (such as a visible crack), it can be hard to pinpoint where the issue lies. Here are some useful ways to identify a window draft. Turn off any fans and other air movers. You may have difficulty identifying your draft because air is moving from sources like fans, dehumidifiers, HVAC systems, and more. Light a candle and place it next to the window. Blow the candle out and watch the smoke. The candle smoke will blow if it’s positioned near the draft. This method may take a few tries and it can be helpful to trace the window’s border with the candle. Some lightweight curtains will move when blown by a window draft. Drafty windows are prone to condensation buildup. If you have just one window with condensation on it, there’s a good chance it’s the source of the draft.

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