Ceiling fans can help keep you warm in the winter.

Some may not know that ceiling fans have two directions, forward and reverse. Knowing which mode is best for what season can help to keep your heating and cooling costs down. In this economy every penny counts. It is best to check with the manufacturer of your fan to find out the best way to change the direction of the fan blades but most have a switch on the side just below the blades.

In the forward mode the fan turns and pushes air downward. This is used in the summertime to give you a 'wind chill' effect. In the winter time the fan should be in reverse mode. In the reverse mode the fan forces air upward which helps to circulate the air in the room.

The direction the blades turn for forward and reverse will vary depending on the manufacturer. Without reading the instructions that came with your fan or looking up the model on-line the best way to tell if your ceiling fan is in forward or reverse mode is to stand directly under it. If you feel air blown your way it is in forward mode and if you do not feel the air you are in reverse. Remeber when you do decide to change the direction of the fan blades to make sure that it is at a complete stop before trying to flip the switch.

While we are on the subject of ceiling fans it is good to note that you should clean your fan blades at least every week or two. The buildup of dust actually causes more drag and causes the motor to work harder. This will cause the life of your ceiling fan to be cut short. So, to insure a long life with your fan, clean the blades! Swiffer actually makes an attachment just for cleaning ceiling fans. Though I have never used the Swiffer for my fan, I have heard that it works quite well as long as you maintain a routine and don't let the blades get too dirty.

Would you like to Tweet about this article to your followers?
Please CLICK HERE

Keeping Your Cool Without Breaking the Bank!

Click here to post this Article to your Twitter Account!

For some of us it has been a very hot summer and the electric bill makes us need to catch our breath when we open it! My electric bill doubled between June and July! Fortunately for me I had already started trying to save money on my electric bill so it was not as big of a shock as it could have been!

One thing I do is set my thermostat to 76 when I am going to be out of the house for more than 4 hours and if I am going to be gone for the entire day I set it to 80. When I get home I turn it over to 68 or 70 for an hour and then set it to 72 before I go to bed. Some of you have programmable thermostats and that makes things much easier.

Another good trick if you have a window unit and not Central Air is to put a box fan about 3 feet away from the unit blowing into the room. This will help to cool things down much faster and keeps your air conditioner from over working. Using ceiling fans also help a lot if you have them. Be sure you have the ceiling fan set to turn the correct direction for summer. In the summer the blades should be turning counter-clockwise.

If you live in a dry area, such as the desert, you may need to add some moisture to the air. This can be accomplished in many ways, the most common way is to put a pan of water on the stove. There is no need to turn on a burner or anything as it will evaporate on its own. Many people also put flower vases around the house. This is a way to add moisture without looking like you are doing it at all!

If you live in a very wet area such as coastal or near a large lake, you may have too much moisture in the air and you may need a dehumidifier. Be sure to not over do it! You want to remove some of the moisture but not all of it. There is a happy medium and it is different for every person.

On cool evenings, when the temperature is in the mid to lower 70s turn the air conditioner off and open the windows! This could save you $8 to $10 a day on your cooling bill! Be sure to close the house up before you leave for work the next day. If you have plenty of insulation in your house you may not even want to turn the air back on until the evenings are hot again.

If you live in a house you can also put a sprinkler on the roof and run it at low volume during the hottest part of the day. This helps to dissipate the heat more quickly. Also an attic fan can be very helpful as temperatures may reach 130+ in your attic. By simply venting out the hot air your air conditioner will work more efficiently.

That is it for today. Please feel free to leave any comments that might help out! If you have questions please let me know and I will do my best to answer them!







.

Summer Money Saving Tips!

Click Here to Tweet this Article!

Summer is quickly approaching in some areas of the world and other areas are in full summer mode. Finding ways to save money while still being comfortable may sometimes seem difficult. Here are a few things that might help a bit.

Set A/C Thermostat 2 degrees warmer in summer! Just 2 degrees difference can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Your body is going to be unlikely to notice the difference between 70 degrees and 72 degrees. Getting an energy efficient fan or using a ceiling fan to help move the air around should counter act the difference in temperature while saving on the electric bill. Be sure to check the direction your ceiling fan is turning if you have the option. One setting is for summer and the other is for winter.

Change the filter on your A/C intake on a regular basis. Remember if you have pets you may need to change the filter more often. Check to see what the manufacturers recommendations are and check them often. It is also a good idea to get your entire system checked out to make sure all the ducts are clean and clear of any debris. Much like a car, the better care you take of your A/C system, the less it has to work and that saves you money!

Run your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher later in the evening when electricity is less expensive. Turn off your drying cycle on your dishwasher. These things will not only help save money by themselves they will also be producing heat in the evenings when it is cooler and won't cause your A/C to work harder.

If you have a metal roof of any kind consider putting a water sprinkler on the roof and run it at a low pressure during the hottest part of the day. You want to set it so that water is not pouring off your roof but just dripping. As the water evaporates it helps to cool off the roof. Make sure as well that your vent fans on your roof are working properly. You may even want to consider adding exhaust fans to help vent the heat buildup from your attic.

That is it for today. If you have questions or comments please feel free to send them! Saving money gets easier the more you try!




.