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 much money on your bills throughout summer and winter.

The question arises: 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 daily, costs approximately $0.99 to $10.71 to run for 90 days. However, these numbers are bound to vary based on the fan motor, size, and 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 and 52 inches and 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 at a low speed for eight hours a day all summer.

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 be around $5.04 if you run the energy-efficient fan at high speed.

As the fan’s speed 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 change in fan speed and hourly usage can impact the overall cost throughout the summer.

2. A.C. Motor Ceiling Fan

For those with an A.C. fan, electricity costs might exceed those of D.C. fans, comparable to some ducted systems, even if your electricity usage rate stays 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 a maximum of $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 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 the fan will run for several hours daily.

Comparing Running Costs: Ceiling Fan Vs. Air Con

When 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, contrasting the average cost of running ducted air conditioning, ranging from $0.25 to $0.35 per hour.

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

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

The unpredictable weather in Australia can be unforgiving, so it’s only natural to plan to install a new ceiling fan in your house. After reading our article, we hope you have a better idea of 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!