Opening that first electrical bill once the summer starts heating up can result in serious sticker shock, leaving you scrambling for ways to save money on your utilities. Many homeowners opt for fans to help cool their house, but it’s hard to tell if they’re really doing anything. Plus, are fans really much cheaper than AC, or are you just adding to your electrical bill by running another appliance?

Below, we’ve spoken to HVAC professionals about whether it’s cheaper to run a fan or AC all day, plus which one’s recommended.

Fans vs. AC: Which Is Cheaper?

Benjamin Uscilla, licensed HVAC technician and owner of Evergreen Heating & Cooling, says that running fans is a fraction of the cost of running AC, with the cost of running a fan 24/7 likely totaling less than $10 per month.

On the other hand, he explains that running a central HVAC system could cost anywhere from $125 to $200 per month, though the actual cost depends on the size of the home, the size of the unit, the efficiency of the home, and even your geographical location.

“Right now, we’re getting hit pretty hard in Connecticut,” he adds. “Folks around here are looking at 28-30 cents a kilowatt-hour this summer, which is above the national average.”

Average AC units use 1-2 kilowatts per hour, while larger units can use as much as 3.5 kilowatts per hour. At $0.30 per kWh, even a small HVAC unit (1 kWh) would cost as much as $0.30 per hour to run, resulting in a monthly charge of $223.20 if it ran 24/7, more than 20 times the cost of running a fan during the same period.

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Is It Better to Run Fans or AC?

So, why isn’t it better to use fans than AC? While it’s undoubtedly cheaper to run fans than it is to run AC, they’re not directly comparable when it comes to cooling your home.

Uscilla explains that fans may make you feel more comfortable, but they aren’t actually cooling the space. They’re simply moving air around. To bring your home’s temperature down, you must use an air conditioner.

Benefits of Running AC

Many homeowners believe they can save money by turning their AC off or cranking their thermostat up during the day or while they’re away, then turning it on once they’re back home to cool the house down before they sleep. In reality, this is putting unnecessary strain on your HVAC unit, which is designed to maintain a constant temperature throughout the day.

Additionally, the constant warming and cooling cycles can wreak havoc on your home, leading to condensation issues that result in mold, mildew, and other moisture damage. On top of all this, the likelihood that this strategy will save you money is low, and it will end up costing more in the long run.

Combine Fans and AC for Best Results

Uscilla recommends improving your home’s comfort level by supplementing HVAC systems with fans, while also advocating for insulation improvements, finding and sealing up leaks, and regular maintenance to ensure your equipment is running efficiently.

By utilizing fans in addition to air conditioning, Richie Drew, VP of Operations for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, says you might get away with turning your thermostat up about 4 degrees while maintaining a comfortable environment.

Tips for Improving the Efficiency of Fans and AC

Follow these tips for getting the most efficiency out of your HVAC unit and fans, keeping utility costs as low as possible and your home comfortable.

• Get the right-sized AC unit. Drew says one of the best ways to improve your HVAC unit’s efficiency and your home’s comfort level is to ensure you have the right size unit for your home’s square footage. “If your AC unit is too small, it will run constantly without ever properly cooling your home. If you buy an oversized model, it will cycle on and off too frequently, which also means it won’t pull as much humidity out of the air. When that happens, you won’t be able to get comfortable at any temp,” he explains.
• Ensure ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise. Most ceiling fans have a switch that reverses their direction for different seasons. Drew recommends ensuring your ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise in summer, thus pushing the cool air down.
• Only run fans when people are in the room. Because fans cool occupants down rather than the room itself, Drew explains that it’s a waste of energy to run them when there’s no one in the room.
• Keep up with HVAC maintenance. Drew reminds homeowners to regularly change their air filter and keep the coils cleaned to maintain the unit’s efficiency.