You must have noticed that the electricity bills in winter are significantly lower than those in summer. The difference in the bills can be attributed to the fans to a greater extent. You do not use them in winter at all but they are essential in summer running all day long.
There are different types of fans available, and depending on their wattage, the power consumption varies accordingly. But the question is how much electricity a fan uses. We will answer the question along with the factors that can help you reduce the cost of running fans.
What are the Types of Fans?
There are different types of fans available and the type of fan is influential in determining the power consumption. This is because they have different wattage and usage. Here are the different types of fans that are widely used.
1. Ceiling Fan
The most commonly used type of fan is a ceiling fan. You have to mount a ceiling fan on the ceiling. The fan hangs from the ceiling and spreads the air across the room. Even when you have an air conditioner installed in a room, the ceiling fan can help spread the cold air coming from the air conditioner to the entire room.
The ceiling fan is a great alternative to any cooling system such as air cooler or air conditioner. Most importantly, it consumes less energy than cooling systems. There are different sizes of ceiling fans available with different power ratings that determine the electricity that the fan will consume.
2. Tower Fan
A tower fan is a tall fan in the shape of a tower standing on the floor. They look very similar to a large air cooler. They are lightweight as well as portable and they have wheels to move around. A tower fan comes with a powerful motor that blows air across a large area. The blades of the fan are not visible from the outside as they stay inside the casing.
A tower fan draws air from the sides and throws it out from the front with more power. The blades also help in throwing the air up and down. There are also swing blades available in some tower fans for better spread across the room. In fact, tower fans are more energy-efficient than most other types of fans.
3. Pedestal/Stand Fan
A pedestal fan is an alternative to a tower fan as it is sleeker and more flexible. A pedestal fan is most commonly referred to as a stand fan. It can rotate from side to side so that the air distribution is uniform across the room.
The motor of a pedestal fan is as good as a tower fan but a stand fan covers more area for air distribution. You can also adjust the height of the fan as per requirements. You can keep a stand fan fixed so that it blows air in one direction only.
4. Wall Fan
A wall fan needs to be mounted on the side walls, and it is useful when you want air to blow in a limited space. A wall fan has a powerful motor, and the air throw is quite strong. They come with a bracket so that there is no accidental touching. Some of them can rotate horizontally as well.
The power consumption of a wall fan is relatively less and it does not take up any space on the floor. Besides, they have compact structures to hang on any wall perfectly. Different types of wall fans are available such as window fans, box fans, and even bladeless fans.
5. Table Fan
A table fan sits on any flat surface, and you can refer to it as a miniature form of the stand fan. A table fan comes in different sizes, from small personal fans to big blade fans like a stand fan or wall fan. They are mostly used for close-proximity cooling when sitting on your chair and working on your table.
The personal table fans are USB-powered for computer users. The bigger ones have the same connector as any stand fan. Overall, the power consumption of a table fan is lower than most types of fans. Moreover, they are relatively inexpensive and lightweight.
Do Fans Consume A Lot of Electricity?
Since fans are the difference-maker in the electricity bill between winter and summer, most people think that fans consume a lot of electricity. However, that is not the case if you are considering fans against any cooling system like air cooler or air conditioner. But the power consumption of a fan depends on the power rating of the fans you are using.
If you are using a large fan with a powerful motor, it is likely to consume more electricity than a small fan with a less powerful motor. Therefore, it is wrong to say all fans consume a lot of electricity. We will detail all the different parameters to determine the electricity your fan could be consuming.
How Much Electricity Does A Fan Use?
In order to calculate the power consumed by a fan in a day, you have to know the fan’s power rating and the fan’s operational hours. Power consumed is generally measured in kilowatt-hours(kWh).
Power consumed in a day = Power rating X Operational hours per day.
For example, the power rating of a fan is 60W and it operates for 12 hours a day.
Power consumed in a day = 60 x 12 = 720 watt-hour.
The monthly power consumed = 720 x 30 = 21600 watt-hour = 21.6kWh.
In India, one kWh costs around 6INR; accordingly, you can calculate how much the fan will impact your monthly electricity bill.
Note: Power consumed can vary for any fan based on whether it runs on low or high speed. When you put a fan at low speed, it consumes less power as against high level. We have considered the fan is being used at maximum speed for all calculations.
Average Power Consumption Of Different Types of Fans:
The power rating varies for different types of fans. Even for each type of fan, the power rating varies. For example, the power rating of a table or stand fan can vary from 40W to 110W. That is why the average wattage is taken for calculation. Here are the average wattages of different types of fans, along with their average kWh power consumption and cost of electricity consumed per month.
| Type of Fan | Average Wattage(On Max) | Average kWH Per Month | Price(6INR per kWh) |
| Ceiling Fan | 31 watts | 22.4 | 134 |
| Tower Fan | 57 watts | 40.5 | 234 |
| Wall Fan | 73 watts | 52.5 | 315 |
| Table/Stand Fan | 43 watts | 30.6 | 183.6 |
Note: We have considered that the fan is running for 24 hours a day at maximum speed.
What are the Energy-Saving Features for a Fan?
You should purchase a fan that has an energy-saving feature if you want to reduce the electricity bill. There are certain must-have energy-saving features you should watch out for.
1. DC Motor
It is better to opt for a fan that has a brushless DC(BLDC) motor. A DC motor consumes less power than a non-DC motor. To be more specific, you can save as much as 60% energy if you use a modern fan with a BLDC motor rather than a traditional fan. A fan with a copper motor also reduces power consumption by generating less heat.
2. Variable Speed
You should have the choice to change the fan’s speed. This is because the room temperature can vary as per the day’s temperature. Accordingly, you should adjust the speed of the fan for comfort as well as to save power rather than running it at max speed all the time. A remote control is the most convenient as you can change the speed from your bed easily.
3. Timer
A fan that comes with a timer will be highly energy-saving. This is because you can set a timer to turn off the fan automatically instead of running the fan all day long. For example, you can set a sleep timer so the fan turns off after a certain interval instead of running all night.
What are the Factors that Help to Reduce the Cost of Running a Fan?
Here are some of the factors you need to watch out for to reduce the cost of running a fan:
- Energy-Efficient Fan – You should focus on purchasing energy-efficient fans that are certified. A certified energy-efficiency fan with Energy Star rating consumes 50% less power than those without energy efficiency.
- Change Speed Levels – Depending on the temperature of the day as well as the room, you should keep the speed level of the fan accordingly. You can reduce the cost of running a fan by keeping it on low or medium speed level at times rather than on max speed level all the time.
- Clean Your Fan – When dust and debris accumulate on the fan, they act as resistance and the fan consumes more power than usual. As a matter of fact, the fan becomes less energy-efficient. Keeping the fan clean will run smoothly as if it is new and consume the usual power. Certain fans have a dust filter or vent to add oil for the motor parts to run smoothly and thereby, making the fan energy-efficient.
Last but most importantly, turn off the fan when it is not required to cool the place where it is installed. Besides, do not buy an extra-large fan with an extraordinary motor unless you truly need it. You should purchase as per your cooling requirements so that the fan does not consume power uselessly.
Conclusion
It is important to know how much electricity a fan uses so that you can take steps to reduce it and lower your electricity bill. We have illustrated how to calculate the power consumption of a fan per day as well as per month. You can easily determine the cost of running the fan based on your type. Thereafter, we have mentioned the factors and the steps to reduce the cost of running the fan.
