SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) As heat waves become a regular feature of American summers, you can use these tips and strategies to cool every corner of your home, while keeping energy bills low:
1. Give your AC a wingman. Running a fan alongside your air conditioner lets you set the thermostat 3-4 degrees higher without feeling the difference, since moving air feels cooler on skin. Your comfort stays the same; your utility bill doesn’t.
2. A one-fan household is usually an inefficiently cooled household. For optimal performance, match the fan to the room.
• Quiet, oscillating tower fans are built for bedrooms and living rooms, where quiet, whole-room circulation matters. The Xtra Air 48 in. 12-Speed Smart Tower Fan from Lasko is a good choice due to its whisper-quiet operation, voice control compatibility, and innovative modes, such as a sleep mode that shuts the supply off and gradually adjusts speed as you sleep.
• Compact tabletop fans can deftly handle personal cooling at spaces like desks, kitchen counters and nightstands. The StealthBreeze 15in. 12-Speed Oscillating Tower Fan offers powerful airflow and quiet operation, and its 90-degree oscillation and 15-degree upward tilt evenly circulate air while you work, relax and sleep.
• High-velocity air movers are the answer for garages, home gyms, and any room that traps heat. With wind speeds reaching up to 60 feet per second and airflow extending 65 feet, the Lasko Pro Performance 9-Speed Pivoting DC Motor Utility Fan is good example of a model built to handle demanding spaces.
3. Work with the sun, not against it. During the hottest part of the day, keep blinds closed and point a fan outward near a window to push hot air out. In the evening, flip the strategy: draw cooler night air in and set up a cross-breeze between two open windows.
4. Think low and aim high. Cool air settles near the floor. Placing a fan low and angling it upward circulates the coolest air in the room instead of just stirring the warm layer at head height.
5. Nighttime heat can cause tossing and turning, so set yourself up to sleep by aiming a quiet fan on a low setting across the bed (not directly at your face), for steady airflow and white noise.
6. Don’t forget the fan itself. Dust buildup on blades and grilles cuts airflow noticeably. A quick clean at the start of the season keeps a fan performing like new.
“This summer, be strategic about climate control. With the right fans for the right spaces, you can meaningfully drop a room’s temperature without touching the thermostat,” says William Maclean, senior business unit director of Fans at Lasko, the number one Fan and Heater Brand in the United States.
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