Ceiling fans save money

By Ryan Streb, Service Manager; Streb Electric

This is usually the monthly column you see written by my father, Bill. Since he’s having a busy summer, I offered to write it for August. As the third generation to work at Streb Electric, I’m proud to have returned to the town where I grew up and settle down with my family after serving nine years in the U.S. Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal Group.

Since we’re in the dog days of summer, I figured it would be a good time to talk about ceiling fans. In addition to adding cool comfort to rooms, they can save you money on your electric bill.

By facilitating air flow to the point of cooling a room, they stop the thermostat from turning on the air conditioning.

We have installed ceiling fans in literally every room of the home, as well as porches and garages.

Installing a ceiling fan is one of those household fixes that’s best left to a professional. It’s dangerous to replace a fan in a place where just a light fixture has been, as the fan requires a different box to support the weight. You could risk it falling if you don’t change the box, too.

Ceiling fans also work in the colder months to keep your rooms warmer. You simply switch it to reverse mode and it sucks up the colder air so your furnace system can replace it with warmer air.

We recommend homeowners buy name brands from either The Home Depot or Lowe’s, or specialty lighting stores like Mars Electric or Cleveland Lighting. What we don’t recommend is ordering a fan online from places like Wayfair, as we’ve often worked with some that are missing parts or instructions.

Streb Electric is headquartered in Willoughby. For the past 40 years, the family-operated service company has earned a reputation for making sure homes are safe and free from electrical hazards. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information.