In recent years the UK has experienced record temperatures and relentless heatwaves. Whether you’re trying to sleep or simply relax at home, all that heat can make things unbearable for you, your kids and any pets.
An obvious solution may seem like buying a fan and keeping it running. However, this can simply move the problem over to your bank account due to the increased cost of your energy bills.
In the following post, we’ll help you understand the costs involved in running a fan and share some top tips on keeping your bills as low as possible during the warmer months.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Fan?
The Electricity Cost Calculator by Sust-It can help you work out how much your fan might cost to run. You’ll need the wattage of your fan to give you a unique answer. This will then be combined with the latest electricity price cap figure, which at the time of writing this is 22.36p per kWh.
Alternatively, you can also enter a custom amount for the cost of electricity based on the tariff you’re currently on.
For example: If your fan is 100 watts and it runs for 24 hours, this would cost 54p per day based on the July 2024 energy price cap amount.
When thinking about the impact of running a fan on your energy bills as a whole, don’t forget to include the UK standing charge of 60p per day or £219.36 per year.
How Much Electricity Does a Fan Use?
Every fan will use a different amount of electricity, so the only way to find out is to check the product description or booklet. Typically, fans use between 50 and 100 watts per hour. However, some types of fans such as oscillating fans can use much more than this. That’s why you have to consider each fan uniquely when working out the running costs as you would for any other appliance.
What Impacts the Cost of Running a Fan?
The cost of using a fan can be broken down based on the fan itself, your electricity supplier and the overall conditions of the room. By understanding these factors, you can be more informed about the money you are potentially spending on running a fan.
Fan:
Fan wattage: The higher the wattage of the fan, the more expensive it will be to use
Fan diameter: The larger the diameter of the fan the more power will be required
Fan speed: Higher fan speeds require more power, therefore cost more to run
Fan efficiency: Well-built and maintained fans are generally more energy-efficient
Fan noise: Noisy fans can be less efficient and cost more to run
Fan cleanliness: Fans that are clogged with dust and dirt need to work harder to operate
Power:
Power source: While it’s now possible to buy solar powered fans, most fans are powered by electricity
Energy supplier: Your supplier and current tariff will impact the cost of running your fan
Overall usage: The more you keep your fan running, the more it will bump up your energy bill
It’s so easy to overlook all of the above and just leave a fan running all the time, but now you know, you can make some simple adjustments to make your fan more efficient and therefore cheaper to use.
Which Fans Are The Cheapest to Run?
There’s no fixed answer in terms of fan brands or fan models that are the cheapest to run. Instead, what’s essential to look out for is the wattage of the fan. That’s because it’s the wattage which impacts how much power is needed. Combined with ensuring you’re on a cheap energy tariff, this can make a huge difference in how much you’ll pay to keep a fan running.
You’ll find the wattage in the product description of the fan before you buy it. Most online stores allow you to compare fans based on the wattage, meaning you can also exclude the highest wattage models which will ultimately cost you more to use.
Also, look out for fans that have eco-friendly settings such as low power or sleep modes. These can also reduce the amount of power your fan will need to run, especially if you plan on keeping the fan on for long periods.
How Else Can I Keep Cool Without a Fan?
In a previous post, we shared some ways you can keep cool without air conditioning. Here are some more ideas you could try to cool down without a fan.
Cold baths or showers: If you can stand it, turning the temperature down on the bath or shower can really cool you down. For kids or pets, you can make the bath very cool with just a touch of warm water so that the temperature feels refreshing without being too cold.
Cold flannel: Get a flannel and run it under the cold tap. Squeeze out the water and place it on your face or the back of your neck.
Ice pack: Similarly, the feeling of an ice pack on the forehead or back of the neck can instantly relieve the feeling of overheating. Just be careful to avoid prolonged direct contact with the skin.
Cool mattress toppers: Various brands make mattress toppers with cooling technology to help get a better night’s sleep when it’s hot.
Thermal door curtain: Alongside thermal curtains for your windows and doors, you can also purchase internal door curtains. These work to stop heat from travelling elsewhere in your home, and can be great for warm or colder months alike.
Wear cool fabrics: Wearing cotton and other breathable fabrics can feel more comfortable.
Be careful how you cook: During heatwaves, using the oven or stove can inevitably make your house too warm. Opting for foods you can eat at room temperature such as salad can help prevent this.
Shop Fans at Fair For You
Struggling with the heat, as well as the cost of a fan?
At Fair For You, we allow you to purchase the things you need for your home and family at flexible prices. As part of our wide product range, we sell fans and heaters so that you can achieve a more comfortable temperature in your home all year round.
Head over to our online store to take a look at our products, where you’ll also see how much your chosen item might cost per week or month to pay back.
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