How Much Do Ceiling Fans Cost To Run?

Ceiling fans are used all year round in Australia. But what are the actual ceiling fan running costs?

If you lack a ducted air conditioning system, a ceiling fan becomes essential for managing the summer heat. Plus, they are also great for keeping your house warmer in winter.

While a ceiling fan might not compare to a split system air conditioner in terms of output and features, its energy-efficient nature can substantially reduce your energy bill. Hence, you can save energy and a lot of money on your bills throughout summer and winter.

The query arises here: how much electricity does a ceiling fan use during an Australian summer? So, before installing your new ceiling fan, we’ve researched and put together the numbers to discuss the ceiling fan running energy costs.

So, without further ado, let’s roll!

Cost Of Running A Ceiling Fan In Australia

The ceiling fan cost depends on several factors, including the speed of your fan, frequency of use, and electricity usage rate. As with any other electrical device, a ceiling fan’s power consumption is calculated by how many watts it uses. If you have a big fan that spins faster, it will consume more watts and increase your electricity bill.

An average fan, operating for about eight hours each day, costs approximately $0.99 to $10.71 to run for 90 days. However, these numbers are bound to vary based on the fan motor, fan size, and fan speed. So, we’ve discussed the costs of running a DC motor and an AC motor ceiling fan separately. Let’s take a look!

1. DC Motor Ceiling Fan

An average indoor fan with a DC motor usually has a blade size between 48 to 52 inches with a fan speed ranging from 3 to 5. It also has a maximum power output of 58 watts. If your electrical usage rate is 25.6 cents/kWh, it’ll cost around $0.99 to run the fan all summer at a low speed for eight hours a day.

At the same time, if you choose to run the fan at a medium speed, ceiling fans consume $2.88 for the entire season. However, the cost will increase even further to around $5.04 if you run the energy-efficient fan at high speed.

As the speed of the fan escalates, a corresponding increase in power consumption is observed, leading to higher electricity costs. So, even if your electricity usage rate and fan size remain constant, the fan speed and hourly usage change can impact the overall cost throughout the summer.

2. AC Motor Ceiling Fan

For those with an AC fan, electricity costs might exceed those of DC fans, comparable to some ducted systems, even if your electricity usage rate stays the same at 25.6 cents/kWh. Running an AC fan at a low speed for eight hours per day for a season (90 days) will cost around $3.15.

On the other hand, the running cost will increase to $7.02 if you run the fan at a medium speed. At high speed, the running cost of the fan is maximum at $10.71, which makes it significantly expensive compared to a DC motor fan.

However, the discrepancy in running costs between AC and DC fans can be attributed to the fact that AC fans require more electricity. AC fans consume more power than DC fans, leading to higher running costs. So, always consider the possible running costs before installing a brand-new fan.

Which Ceiling Fan Has The Cheapest Running Cost?

It might seem that running a single ceiling fan isn’t quite expensive, especially when used at a low to medium speed. However, most homes have multiple fans, usually one in each room, and most of them run more than eight hours a day at high speed during summer.

In such situations, one can expect running costs and electricity bills to rise, underscoring the importance of energy efficiency. Hence, it’s essential to consider the ceiling fan with the cheapest running cost. If you go for a high-speed fan that usually consumes around 60 to 100 watts of power, the running cost will be approximately $42 a year.

However, if you choose any average indoor ceiling fan, it’ll consume 30 to 50 watts. So, your running costs will automatically decrease. We’ve calculated all these numbers assuming that the fan will be running for several hours every day.

Comparing Running Costs: Ceiling Fan Vs. Air Con

When it comes to comparing the running costs of a ceiling fan to an air-con, the difference is quite staggering. Operating the most robust ceiling fan typically costs only a few cents per hour, starkly contrasting the average cost of running ducted air conditioning, which can range from $0.25 to $0.35 per hour.

An air conditioner is much more effective in keeping a room cool and comfortable compared to a ceiling fan. But, using air-con for multiple hours a day can result in a mountain-sized electricity bill. So, except for the most scorching summer days, it’s best to stick to using the ceiling fan if you want to shave off a few hundred dollars from your electricity bills.

Ceiling Fans: Your Cost-Effective Option For Heating & Cooling

The unpredictable weather in Australia can be unforgiving, and it’s only natural to plan to install a new ceiling fan in your house. And after going through our article, we hope you have a better idea regarding the running costs of a ceiling fan.

However, we’ve just offered an average estimation of the running costs. Our numbers are not set in stone, and the prices are bound to vary based on your hours of usage, fan speed, fan motor, and electricity usage rate.

If you need assistance with ceiling fans, feel free to contact us. We are the trusted Sydney electricians at Bright Force Electrical, available 24/7 to meet all your needs!

And on that note, we’ll sign off. Take care, and see you next time!