SUMMER is well and truly here and if you’re trying to keep your home cool, here’s everything you need to know about running a fan.
With temperatures reaching a sweltering 29C heading into the weekend, now is the time to get your cooling gadgets out.
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However, if you’re planning on using a fan, you may want to know how much the appliance costs to run.
While household bills are generally lower during the summer with no need for heating, it can still be a costly time of year.
If you want to avoid skyrocketing energy bills, try taking measures to save money on your gas and electricity.
The best way to do this is by learning how much your appliances cost to run.
Read More On Keeping Cool
How much energy does a fan use?
You can work out how much electricity your fan is using by finding out its “wattage”.
Then turn that wattage into kilowatt hours by finding out the total output of your appliance.
Do this by dividing the kilowatt hours by 1,000 – this gives your output per hour.
For example, if your fan has 70 watts output on its high setting, divide 70 by 1000 to get 0.07.
Next, you’ll need to multiply this number by the number of hours you’ve used the fan.
So if you’re using it for 12 hours at a time, then 0.07kW x 12 hours will mean 0.84kW output.
How much does it cost to leave a fan on all night?
Once you have established your kilowatt output, you can multiply it by the amount you are charged for 1 kW of electricity.
Since there is no standard price for electricity cost per kWh in the UK, you’ll need to look at your energy bill to figure it out.
The most recent Ofgem price cap saw suppliers charge those on the standard variable tariff up to 27.03p per kWh for electricity.
So you’d take your 0.84kW and times it by 27.03p to get 22.71p.
The equation is: cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence).
How to keep cool in a heatwave
Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it’s too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS…
Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.
That means if your fan costs 22.71p to run for that amount of time, having it on for a full week will add up to £1.59.
And if you repeat this across a month of 4.5 weeks, the cost would be £7.15.
Costs will vary depending on your fan type, how long you’re using it, what setting it’s on, and how much you pay for your energy.
Do fans make a room cooler?
While fans can’t technically make a room cooler, they can make you feel cooler.
Your body temperature is lowered as the air moves over your skin but a fan won’t do much to tackle the heat inside your room.
So if you don’t plan on spending long in your room there’s no point in leaving the fan on.
How else can I keep cool in the heat?
Sticking your bed sheets in the freezer can help to cool them down, according to TikTok star That Property Guy.
Shutting your curtains and blinds during the day can also help your home to stay cool in the hot weather.
You can also open the windows on both sides of your home to create a cooling through-breeze at no extra the cost.
That Property Guy also recommended avoiding using the oven and turning off appliances that may release heat.
Or you can place hot water bottles in the freezer to keep you cool overnight.
And if you want to make your fan work harder, try putting a bowl of with water and ice in front of it to help cool down the house.
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