How Much of My Fan Cost to Run
Many of us are usually focused on lighting, fridges, freezers, dryers and laundry machines when on a quest to save electricity costs.
Seldom do we focus on our bedroom fans! Understandably so, given a fan's location, it's not something you'd really consider the costs of running, right?
You probably ignored your fans in that electricity arithmetic up until the moment you came into the house after a gardening session, turned on your ceiling fan, and sat on your couch. The rotating blades caught your eyes and though a sight to see you couldn't help but wonder, man, how much does that little rotation cost me?
Yes, they claim it's energy-efficient but how much does it really cost to run a fan?
Well, we're here to answer your fan-related questions concerning cost, health, and safety. I previously wrote about halogen heaters running costs which a lot of people found interesting, so check that out too.
How much does it cost to run a fan for 24 hours?
An average fan will cost around 18 pence per 24 hours
The assumption is that your fan is 50 watts – most are between 25 and 75 watts – and that your electricity cost is the UK average, which is around 15 pence per kilowatt.
Here's how to calculate it:
1 ⁄ 1000 × Watts of Fan x 24 Hours x cost of 1 kWh
So in the example above that is: 1/1000x 50x 24x 15 = 18 pence
N/B:you only pay for real power and never the reactive power
Alternatively, purchase a power-plug-in meter to track the total electrical power consumed by your fan in kWh for a given duration. You can read about them here, and find a lot of them available on Amazon for a great price.
While at it, settle for a fan with an in-built timer to better gauge the running time.
But it's not that simple…
The cost of running a fan is dependent on several factors, among them are:
- Size of the fan
- Age
- Dirt
- Number of hours in use
- Cost of electricity
For instance, a traditional fan is likely to consume more energy compared to its modern and energy-efficient counterpart. Similarly, a dirty fan will consume more as the dirt and dust result in an additional load on the blades which requires more power to rotate.
But when it comes down to it, the cost of running a fan is dependent majorly on the fan's capacity rate, number of hours in use, and the cost per unit of electricity.
To determine your fan's capacity rate, check its ampere or power rating. A number that denotes the total amount of reactive and real electrical power consumed (in watts). In some instances, the ratings will be in volt-amperes which upon multiplication, will result in fan wattage.
Will my fan consume less electrical energy if it's running at a slower speed?
Most fans come with 3 different speed settings.
With that, the question of whether or not the rotation speed affects the amount of power consumed is a rather hotly debated topic.
To better understand and answer the question we'll have to go back to the basics of physics.
A fan works following simple dynamics. That is its capacitor torques up the motor allowing it to start and run. The motor within the fan then converts electrical into mechanical energy. The resulting mechanical energy causes the coils to spin, a motion that's picked by the fan, and transferred to the blades.
That means, whether or not the speed of rotation affects power consumption depends on how the blades interact with the air.
Now, Physics has it that the faster the speed the higher the air resistance.
Again, the faster the spin, the larger the amount of air moved.
With that in mind, it's logical to conclude that the faster the spin the higher the amount of power consumed.
Because the fan will need more power to overcome the higher air resistance as well as move the larger load of air around its blades.
Researchers have found that the power usage increases exponentially with the spinning speed whilst the air moving capacity increases proportional to the fan speed.
That means a small increase in the rotation speed can lead to large amounts of power consumption. For instance, while a 10% increase in the fan speed will result in a 10% increase in air moving capacity, it can increase the power usage by over 50%.
Will running a fan 24/7 lead to overheating?
Some fans are designed to run intermittently (duty cycle) while most are designed to run continuously and thus leaving them on 24/7 is not an issue.
Similarly, most fans are specially designed not to overheat. They, in fact, create enough airflow to dissipate any heat they may be producing.
On top of that, a fan just like most electrical gadgets is as warm as they'll ever get, within a few minutes of switching on.
However, that case can change if the fan is 'abused', faulty or overloaded.
That means, attaching items to fan blades can lead to overheating. And the same goes for allowing large amounts of dirt and dust to settle on the blades.
Similarly, failing to install the fan properly (both electrical and support) can lead to overheating and eventually causing a fire.
Precautions
Therefore, leave the fan off when away from home as it might fail, overheat and in the very extreme cause a fire.
Additionally, check its plug regularly especially for high-current fans. Ideally, the plug shouldn't get hot but if it does, it's possible that the connection is loose and needs urgent replacement.
While at it, it's advisable to consider the purpose of running a fan in a bid to lower its energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
For instance, if the fan serves to just make you feel cooler, there's no point leaving it on when you're not in the house.
Again, when the indoor temperatures are above 95° F, the fan may cause your skin to gain more heat than its losing and thus will be better off leaving it off. Heck, anything above 95° F turns convection cooling into a convection cooking. Well, unless it's a window fan in a case where outdoor temperatures are cooler than indoor temperatures.
However, if the fan serves to mix the air to avoid hot or cold spots, it's advisable to leave it on for 24/7.
Bear in mind that 1 regular fan burns 0.2kg of coal in 24 hours releasing up to 0.3kg of CO2.
Is running a fan more economical compared to running an air conditioner?
There's no doubt that air conditioners consume more energy when compared to fans, especially in warm cities. In summer, air conditioners are reported to be responsible for over 50% of energy costs.
Figuratively, an energy-efficient DC fan can use less than of the total energy consumed by an air conditioner. The case can be different for an AC fan which though cheap, will cost you more in the long run compared to a DC fan.
In addition, a fan is more environmentally friendly compared to an air conditioner. For instance, a regular fan can burn 0.2kg of coal in 24 hours emitting 0.3kg of CO2, while a 1.5-ton air conditioner burns 5 kg of coal emitting up to 7kg of CO2.
That said, it's worth noting that the two serve different purposes. While the fan can only circulate air, an air conditioner can actually cool the air improving your indoor comfort.
Health
Can fans spread germs?
A number of experts including the WHO recently confirmed that the coronavirus is airborne.
WHO had stated earlier that any use of single air conditioning and fans in a closed indoor space (with multiple occupants) could, potentially, enhance the dispersion of infected droplets.
On top of that, a report published on the CDC (a case study of how a single woman infected over 10 people in a restaurant, 5 of whom were at a table located over 1.5m away) suggests that the outbreak of the coronavirus was prompted by air-conditioned ventilation.
So where does that leave us, fan lovers? (Pun intended).
The air in a room comprises of numerous particles. From dead cells and mucus to pathogens from individuals who had visited the room.
And while some of these particles are too heavy to float for long, a fan can help break them into smaller pieces – so small that they can remain aloft for days.
In addition, the fan can help spread such particles further to areas they couldn't have reached on their own.
The fan helps them breakdown into smaller pieces – eventually becoming so small that they can stay aloft for hours or days.
A key reason why researchers recommend that a person should have access to 5 – 10 liters of fresh or filtered air per second. According to Donald Milton, an environmental health professor at the University of Maryland, fresh air dilutes pathogens to concentrations that are less harmful to humans.
The effects of fans spreading germs are, however, dependent on the amount of fresh air available and the overall germs loading. That is the total viable counts of these pathogens.
The reason being, the fan is bound to mix the germs with air even as it pushes them further and further.
Is leaving a fan on throughout the night healthy?
As stated earlier, fans designed to run continuously can do so effectively for 24/7. And except for the cost and emission issues, it wouldn't hurt.
But is healthy leaving a fan on throughout the night?
At first glance, leaving a fan on throughout the night is a viable option, especially in hot areas. The hot, clammy weather turns what ought to be a cosy reprieve into an Olympic sport. Heatwave and sweat all over!
However, the cons associated with such a behaviour could be outright dangerous.
For instance, the fan may fail, overheat and cause a fire. And given your sleepy state, you're likely to have a delayed reaction time which means, more susceptibility to smoke inhalation or in the very extreme, burn!
To be safe, turn off the fan or at the very least, check that your fan is installed and working properly. Ideally, the fan should be safety tested before purchase – a process indicated by the 'CE mark' on the fan or its packaging. It should also be installed in a safe environment.
Unfortunately, the mark just like any product can be fake. And in cases of legit fans, it won't hurt to be cautious given that failure occurs without a warning. Therefore, conduct regular checks on your fan's cable and plug to ensure that the plug is not overheating and the cable overly twisted, split or frayed.
Experts advise users to stop using the fan in cases where it makes an unusual noise, produces a weird smoky smell, or when you see sparks, smoke, burns or scorching on the fan. All indicators that are had to notice when you're asleep, so check before you nod off.
Also, fans can lead to dehydration as stated by GoodtoKnow, especially when aimed directly at the skin. The dehydration cases are more in hot areas with temperatures above 35° C since the air blown by the fan does little to cool you down. That means more sweat production will result in excessive fluid loss, a.k.a. dehydration.
Similarly, loss of fluid from the surrounding air can lead to dry skin and consequently irritation in sensitive skin. Sleep advisors note that the constant stream of air can affect your eyes, sinuses and body muscles; especially when the fan is left in one direction.
Alternatives
Therefore, it's wise to try other safer alternatives, such as taking a cold shower before going to bed, leaving your windows open, doing away with duvet or laying on a cooled flannel.
Check some more tips from the National Sleep Foundation in their Heatwave plan here. And in case you must use a fan, place it far from your sleeping area as possible.
Safety
Does the location of the fan matter?
A fan installation point should be safe in relation to the distance from the floor, walls, doors and any other obstacle.
For ceiling fans, the blades should be above the floor by 7 feet or more. In fact, experts recommend keeping the separating distance around 9 feet for maximum efficiency.
In cases of rooms with low heights, settle for fans with low profiles.
Also, fans should be 18 inches and above away from the doors and walls to prevent the blades from colliding with the said obstacles.
And when all is said and done, the fan should be out of reach of children and vulnerable adults who might not understand about the fan and how it works.
Does the fan require extra support?
A table, ceiling or any other fan requires stable support or it's at risk of breaking free and causing damage.
Only install fans in their designated electrical junction boxes and use a fan brace box to keep them secure.
Can poor quality assembly affect the fan?
Misaligned blades can lead to a wobbly fan – one at high risk of its shades or light fixture covers loosening and failing.
Therefore, check whether your fan blades are loose, warped or bent. Ensure each blade is securely attached with fan screws and tightened before installation is carried out.
In addition, ensure the power cord and associated extension cables are in good condition. These cords should not; create a trip hazard, be subject to excessive wear & hazardous chemicals, looped over sharp surfaces, placed in standing water, run through a window, doorway or under a rug.
Conclusion
A fan is a necessity in most homes regardless of the season. Nonetheless, anyone needs to be cautious of how, when and where it's used. As that will dictate its cost, health impacts and overall safety!
How Much of My Fan Cost to Run
Source: https://besthalogenheaters.co.uk/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-a-fan/