We may earn money when you click our links
5 min readWe might make money if you buy something through these links. Click as many as you want.
As temperatures spike, and we're all looking for ways to cool down the same question pops up - should I use a fan, or the air conditioner?
Whether you're concerned about your power bills, or you're building a home and trying to suss out the better option, there is a bit to consider here. Both options have benefits and drawbacks, but how these fit into your life (and budget) will vary.
We'll break down the key points below.
Air conditioners' technology allows for greater cooling capacity when compared to fans that simply circulate air. However, faster RPM fans can still significantly cool down a space.
Overall air conditioners can cool a space more efficiently due to how the technology works. That isn't to say that fans can't accomplish a lot, because they absolutely can, but the key difference lies in how each piece of tech cools the air.
Fans circulate the air, creating a breeze which has a cooling effect, and the faster air can be circulated, the greater that cooling effect can be. Aspects like fan size, and RPM play a big part in how effectively a fan can cool a space, but the key measurement to look out for is CFM (cubic feet per minute), or CMH (cubic metres per hour). This number indicates the volume of air the fan can circulate within the minute, or hour, respectively. The higher this number, the more efficiently a fan will be able to cool the space, although not all fans provide it. We'd steer clear of those, but if they're more within your budget, look for something with a large blade span, and an RPM greater than 2000 for floor fans, or 200 for ceiling fans for the best cooling efficiency.
Air conditioning units on the other hand use a coolant to chill the warm air, before pushing it back out into the room. Over time the air within the room will be entirely replaced by the colder version, resulting in a greater cooling capacity. How well this works depends on the cooling capacity of the unit, it's efficiency percentage, and the room itself.
The cooling capacity is usually measured in kW, and how much you'll need depends on how big of a space you have. Picking the right size air conditioner is a crucial first step, but assuming you've already done that, the cooling efficiency is equally important. Cooling efficiency is usually a higher kW rating than the energy consumption, although that may not always be the case. Due to their heat pump technology, air conditioners are generally able to cool multiple heat units per watt of power used. A unit that can cool 3 heat units per watt of power will have a 300% cooling efficiency. The higher this percentage is, the better.
Over the long term, ceiling fans are the cheapest cooling solution, but if you don't want to make permanent changes then a portable air conditioner is the better option.
For the most part, fans are going to be significantly cheaper to buy and install than air conditioning, although there are caveats. Portable fans, like portable air conditioners are usually cheaper to buy, and require no additional install costs but are rarely as powerful as ceiling fans or built-in systems. On the other hand, wall mounted aircon, and ceiling fans can do more but they’re pricier to buy and set up.
Ceiling fans in particular can be more costly than you may think. If you want to go for the mac-daddy of ceiling fans you could be looking at over $1,000 to purchase a single fan, but they start as low as $150 if you’re looking to save instead of splurge. On top of any purchase costs, you’ll need to pay another $400-500 to have a certified electrician come out to install it. For comparison, you can get low cooling capacity split cycle air conditioners starting as low as $800, but install costs start from $600 and go up to $2,500 for trickier jobs.
If you’re in the process of building or renovating, then the install costs should bundle in with other work you’re getting done and may end up costing less, but if you’re looking to upgrade an existing space then its worth getting an installation quote before committing to anything.
Ceiling fans are low wattage, and can cost as little at $1 to run over the summer making them the cheapest cooling solution to operate. Airconditioners however, can be more efficient than you realise - you just need to look at the input power to cooling efficiency ratio to find the best value.
Although running the air conditioning may not be as expensive as you think, it is still much pricier than opting for the fan. No matter which one you choose, the math ends up being the same - you need to look at the input wattage and how much your pay per kW on your electricity bill. From here you can figure out how much each will cost you per hour to run.
To give you a general idea however, the average cost per kW/h in Australia is $0.14. Ceiling fans can use up to 240 watts for the more energy intensive models, while air conditioners can exceed 3200 watts. That equates to around $0.03 per hour for a ceiling fan, or $0.45 for a 3.2kW air conditioner. These numbers can vary greatly depending on the air conditioning unit and their cooling efficiency (I told you that number is important). We’ve seen input wattage as low as 500 watts for a 2.6kW Samsung wall unit, which would see you spending on average $0.06 per hour which is pretty reasonable in the depths of summer.
Of course, everyone’s budget is different so we suggest you take the time to do some calculations based on your estimated usage. Here are some rough numbers to give you a vague idea.
Air conditioners can dry out the air, and create breeding grounds for bacteria and mould. An air purifier, and humidifier can help cancel these issues out, but aircons require more maintenance to keep your household breathing easy.
Generally speaking there are less potential health implications from running a fan as opposed to the air conditioning. Aircon units, be they portable or not, have plenty of places where dust and even mould can build up, and their filters aren’t necessarily HEPA rated. In fact, they usually aren’t. Blasting all these PM2.5 particles through the home can cause respiratory problems, and in extreme cases PM2.5 can cause cardiac failure.
Air conditioning is also known to dry out the air which can lead to respiratory discomfort, dry skin, and eyes. If you’re planning to run the air conditioner a lot, it could be worth getting a humidifier to add some extra moisture into the air and help you breathe easier.
We at Reviews.org Australia acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work and live, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
