Ceiling Fan Direction
During Summer and Winter

Ceiling fan direction. A ceiling fan serves three purposes: to circulate warm air throughout an area or a specific room, to provide a cooler environment by creating a chill in the space, and to beautify the room in which it resides.

Ceiling fans not only add beauty to a space, they can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems as well.

Energy savings
Ceiling fan direction is the key element to obtaining all you can from your fan, regardless of the season. Your energy costs could be reduced by as much as 40% during the summer months and 10% in the winter months.

During the Winter Months
For optimal heat distribution, ceiling fans should run in reverse during the winter months. When the fan operates in this direction, the warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling will be redirected down the walls and into the inhabited area.

A general rule for the homeowner is to run the fan at a low speed so the warm air you want to move downward doesn’t cool off by the time it gets there. However, if you have a home with a high ceiling, the fan speed can be increased so the warm air is able to reach the living space. Just make sure a downdraft isn’t causing discomfort for the people below.

Ceiling fan direction During Summer
During the summer months, the ceiling fan should operate in the forward position and at a slightly higher speed. This will cause a more direct downdraft or wind-chill effect by actively moving the air. We feel cooler because our skin evaporates small amounts of water from our sweat glands, which in turn provides cooling via our skin’s surface.

Energy costs can be positively affected (reduced) by using a ceiling fan and turning down the thermostat a degree or so. A room with a ceiling fan moving in the correct direction can cool a room up to another seven degrees! However, if you have an uninhabited space, turn the ceiling fan off, as the air blowing around the room won’t actually cool it off.

To make sure your ceiling fan is operating in the correct direction, turn it on and stand directly underneath the blades. If you feel a strong breeze, then it is properly set in the forward or summer operation mode.

Exceptions
However, there are a few exceptions to these hard and fast rules. For example, if you have a ceiling fan in your dining room, would you want air blowing down on your food or anything else you might be doing at your table? Regardless of the season, run the fan in reverse and it will direct a breeze toward the walls and behind you, but won’t unnecessarily cool off your food.

If you have a large room with more than one ceiling fan, experiment a bit by running them both in the same direction, or by running them in opposite directions and see what type of air flow works for you. Each person’s preference will be different.

Ceiling fans in a bedroom are wonderful during any season. However, if you don’t enjoy the air flowing directly down on you, run your fan on a higher speed in reverse. You’ll be more comfortable as a result, while still having the added benefit of air movement in the room. Simply for the energy efficiency of ceiling fans, they are an excellent investment for any space.

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Ceiling Fan DirectionDuring Summer and Winter

Ceiling Fan Direction
During Summer and Winter