When you want a warming effect, you should switch the direction of the fan to clockwise. It’s recommended to run the fan faster the hotter it gets to increase the cooling airflow. Robert Korpella has been writing professionally since 2000. What Direction Should It Spin in Summer? Spinning it the right way at the right time can help keep everyone in your home comfortable and save money on your utility bills. As I have also advised many times. You may need to climb a ladder to reach the chain on the fan that controls motor speed. Shop Remote Control Ceiling Fans How can I change my ceiling fan direction? Air will blow in the other direction (towards the … By spinning your ceiling fan in this direction it will pull cold air up to the ceiling and force the warm air that’s built up back down the walls and into the room. Little things like the right setting on your ceiling fan can make a huge impact. Your ceiling fan should spin counterclockwise during the summer months. Gil Schauer says. Keep ceiling fans on their lowest setting during the heating season. How to Change the Direction of a Ceiling Fan, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 8 Styles of Ceiling Fans to Beat the Heat, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Then, use a stool or step ladder to access the switch on the side of the fan. During the summer months the fan should be blowing straight down (blades turning counter-clockwise) to help cool you off via a wind chill effect. This greatly reduces your energy use and can lower your energy bills by as much as 15 percent. Then slide the direction switch -- provided your fan has one -- so that the fan operates in a clockwise fashion. Ceiling fans help circulate air in your home. This site provides advice: "Opt for the optimal angle. And in the winter, your ceiling fan direction should be clockwise. The direction a fan blows air is always determined by (A) the shape of the blades (sometimes called propellers) and (B) the direction they turn. Keep the fan direction in mind when you’re looking to cool down or warm up a room. Otherwise, a higher speed may actually cool down the warm air which defeats the whole purpose. Which direction should your ceiling fan blades be turning? If you live in a house with a high ceiling, then you may want to run the fan at a higher speed in order to get the air back down to the living quarters. This position is also known as the “reverse direction.” Because warm air rises, the air near the ceiling can be three to four degrees warmer than air near the floor. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas. Many computer case fans today have a small arrow on one of the sides to indicate the direction the fan is moving air. Amanda Prischak is a freelance writer based in Erie, Pennsylvania. These fans are usually exhaust units, and most always "pull" the air out and away from the evaporator. In the summer, a breeze is a welcome relief from the heat. Which Direction Should Ceiling Fans go in Winter? It’s best to run the fan on a low speed so that it doesn’t create too much of a cooling breeze. Two people, upon viewing the same ceiling fan at the same moment in time will often describe the direction in which the fan's blades are moving in terms that are directly opposite of one another. The Direction & Speed of Ceiling Fan Rotation in the Winter & Summer. Here’s why: When the air blows counterclockwise, it pushes air downwards, creating a wind chill effect that cools people in the room (more on that in the next section). Stand directly beneath the ceiling fan while it is running. Your ceiling fan should spin counterclockwise during the summer months. Fan speed should be on medium or high. While most people are familiar with the cooling effect that circulating air can have during the warm-weather months, they may not realize that circulating air can help keep your home warm when the temperatures turn cool. The switch is typically mounted on the fan body, below the blades. After the blades slow, observe the direction they are moving and make sure they move in a clockwise direction. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Remember to adjust your thermostat in order to save money and energy. Ceiling Fan Direction and Airflow Demystified. The red arrow in the image points to an example of these markers. To make sure it is set correctly, stand directly under the … Ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise in the summer. Set the fan speed at its lowest setting if blade movement is too fast to tell which direction the blades are spinning. But did you know you should change the direction your ceiling fan spins from season to season? During the heating season, you can run ceiling fans throughout the day to bring warm air from ceiling level, down the walls and back to floor level. Korpella's work has appeared in a variety of publications. When run properly, ceiling fans can lower heating bills by bringing warm air from the ceiling back down to the level people occupy, and where the thermostat is located. This position is also known as the “forward direction.” A ceiling fan that spins counterclockwise forces air downward, providing cooling relief when it’s hot. How Much Does a Ceiling Fan Cost to Operate? It all depends which direction the ceiling fan rotates. ceiling fan direction says. To change the direction of your ceiling fan, start by turning the fan off if it’s not already. The Rear or Exhaust side (the side that the air comes out of) of our fans will always be the side that houses the fan motor. 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