Fan Vs Air Conditioner: Which is Better for Health?

Do you prefer air conditioners or good old fans? The debate over which option is better has been ongoing for years, especially among the growing conscious consumer demographic who prioritizes energy-efficient appliances.

Not only are fans eco-friendly, but they often feature cutting-edge features that give air conditioners a run for their money. But, that’s not to say that air conditioners don’t have a horse in the race, because they still do.

Read on as we do a comprehensive comparison between air conditioners and fans to settle the debate once and for all.

Effectiveness

If we’re being honest, a fan is not enough to cool down an entire house. You’d need multiple units for that because a fan works more like a windmill. It moves air around the house which means it’s primary aim is not necessary to cool the space down.

But, they do produce a breeze that can offer much-needed respite from a summer heatwave. The only way you can cool your house down using a fan would be to get cooler air from another source, and have a way to expel hot air from the house.

One way to achieve this would be to mostly use it in the evening when it’s cooler while opening the windows to allow cool air to come in. That way, it can move it around your house to facilitate cooler temperatures. It’s always a good idea to close all the openings in your house once it cools down to avoid getting overheated again.

It’s much easier to use an air conditioner because it works like a refrigerator to cool the air inside your house. The only prerequisite to ensuring efficient operation of an aircon is to seal your house up before you switch it on so the cool air it creates doesn’t escape or get affected by outside conditions.

Energy Use

Fans are obviously more energy efficient than air conditioners, especially when used in moderation. Allowing a fan to run for hours on end (even in areas that are not in use) defeats the whole purpose of energy efficiency.

The same goes for air conditioners. If you want to avoid a heart-attack-inducing electric bill at the end of the month, use it moderately and only switch it on in rooms that have people in them.

Also, don’t use your aircon excessively. It’ll work just fine if you run it at a few degrees lower than the temperature you can’t stand, instead of putting the thermostat on blast only to end up with a house that feels like Iceland.

Noise

When it comes to noise, both aircon and fans are culprits and it depends on how you use them and the layout of your house. Typically, larger units that work faster tend to make a lot of noise.

Air conditioners are often noisier than fans because they’re usually larger in comparison. That is unless you choose a massive split system air conditioner that you can place outside of the house so the noise doesn’t affect your immediate environment.

Of course, most appliances will make noise depending on how you’ve installed them and where they’re placed. Even smaller fans can make huge noise if they’re placed in a space with a lot of existing vibration.

Size

Fans come in all types of sizes. You’ve got tiny models that are so small that you can easily place them on an office desk, and larger standing fans that can cover a really large surface area. The same goes for air conditioners. They come in portable air cons to huge split systems that can cool down a large room within minutes.

There’s no denying that air conditioners are traditionally larger than fans. However, non-portable, wall-mounted airconditioner like window air conditioners and split systems allow you to maximize your floor space because you place them on the wall instead of the window.

Portability

Part of what makes fans so popular is their portability and the fact that you can easily place them anywhere. You can move the smaller ones between the wall and the floor to the kitchen counter or your coffee table.

It all depends on your needs and preferences. Even taller fans have a slim, low-profile design that makes them portable enough to move around from one area to another around the house.

Aircons are also split into portable models that you can move around and larger ones that allow for permanent installation. The only issue with a portable air conditioner is that if you want them to work properly, then you need to install them according to very specific requirements.

Extra Features

A lot of air conditioners come with extra features that help to increase the level of comfort that you feel in your space. This includes things like various speed modes, an intuitive user interface, a remote control, and timers.

Some units even come with built-in heating so you can switch up the settings during winter, as well as in-built pumps that help to channel all the moisture that’s been captured out of the room.

Value for Money

Generally, fans are way more accessible than air conditioners and more affordable to operate. This makes sense when you consider the fact that they are less effective at cooling down your house. However, they work fairly well when it comes to keeping you cool in the summer.

If the budget allows then it might be worth it to purchase an air conditioner that can help you completely transform the temperature of your house within minutes.

Conclusion

A great way to save money while keeping your house cool in a humid summer climate is to use both an air conditioner and fan combo. The fan will help to evaporate sweat while making you cooler, which means you won’t have to crank up the air conditioner as much.

This will save you a small bundle because the higher you increase your thermostat, the more energy, and the money you save. For instance, if your cooling typically costs $180 per month with a thermostat level of 71 degrees, then increasing it to 78 degrees can reduce your cooling expenses to $125.

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