Unbeknownst to many homeowners, ceiling fans can help warm your home up during the winter and cool you down during the summer. It all comes down to your home’s ceiling fan direction. So, now that the weather’s warming up, you should make sure your fan is in cooling mode.
Forward Fan Direction for Summer Months
The “forward,” or counterclockwise, rotation is the fan’s cooling mode. It pushes air gently down over your skin, with two effects. The first one draws heat from your body with the wind chill effect, and the second displaces cool air, which has settled down at the bottom of your room, mixing it with the air around you.
In combination, these two effects can supplement your air conditioner, allowing you to set a higher cooling temperature with your thermostat.
Backwards Fan Direction for Winter Months
During the winter, setting your fan “backwards” or clockwise will draw air up towards the ceiling of your room. This means that warm air, which tends to rise, will be displaced by the cooler air that’s mechanically drawn upwards. The warm air will then mix with the air below, where you can easily enjoy it.
Changing Your Ceiling Fan
Most ceiling fans have a switch or a pull cord, which lets you easily rotate the direction. If it’s a switch, it’s probably located just on or above the motor housing. Always make sure you change the fan direction when the fan is off.
If you’ve never changed your fan direction before, it’s worth checking to make sure it’s rotating in the right direction! A fan operating counter to your comfort needs won’t do you any good.
If you want to learn more about how ceiling fan direction can impact your home environment, or if you’re interested in more energy-saving tips for your Dayton home, contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. for answers!
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Amy Walters/Shutterstock”
