What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?



In the 1880's after the invention of electricity, the first ceiling fan was born and became the first real electrical appliance.  Then in the late 1940's with electricity at a super low cost and the air conditioning intro, ceiling fan needs some what disappeared. 

The rebirth of the ceiling fan occurred when energy costs began to rise at an uncomfortable rate in 1974.  As these costs rose especially air conditioning prices, Americans began to search for alternate meathods of heating and cooling.  This brought out the forward and reverse direction of the ceiling fan to increase efficiency during the winter and summer months.


In the Summer the Ceiling Fan should be rotating counter clockwise

The effects of a ceiling fan in the summer months are directly related to the well know wind chill factor.  By producing a breeze or wind chill, a ceiling fans downward airflow can make a room with a thermostate setting of 78 degrees feel like 72 degrees.  The actual thermostate in the room will not change, it does not cool the room, people in the room will feel the wind chill effect making them more comfortable. 

This will save from 30% to 40% on air conditioning bills.  So, make sure during summer months that your ceiling fans are rotating counter clockwise pushing the air down. 

In the Winter the Ceiling Fan should be rotating clockwise

Ceiling fans are generally associated with warm weather usage.  However, when a ceiling fan is in the reverse motion (winter mode), the upward flow of air will push the warmer air trapped at the ceiling back down to earth making your feet feel as warm as your neck.  With out a ceiling fan pushing the warm trapped air the ceiling of a room would be 15 degrees warmer than on the floor. 

winter ceiling fan direction

To avoid wind chill in the winter warming the ceiling fans should stay on low speeds at all times.  Remember that in the reverse direction the ceiling fan should be pushing the air upward.

Read About Things to Consider before Buying a Ceiling Fan



Article created on Mar 07 by colby in: Ceiling Fans
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Comments
Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Thank you so much for your illustration it was very helpful. Other sites stated clockwise, counter-clockwise, blades up or down, blah, blah, blah. with your site I can visually see which way the blades are tipped and which way my fan should go. Thanks!!!!

Author Author: Bridget   Time November 6, 2007 , 8:32 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
You say go counterclockwise in summer and the illustration is going clockwise and clockwise in winter when the illulstration is going counterclockwise. I'm confused.

Author Author: J.   Time November 24, 2007 , 12:12 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Oh, now I see. It helps to stand under the fan. Thanks. Good pics.

Author Author: J.   Time November 24, 2007 , 12:19 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
I really don't understand even though "J" figured it out. The animation has the fan going clockwise but the text states counter-clockwise. I don't understand how standing under the fan would change anything. Please someone help me understand.

Thanks!

Author Author: MLE   Time November 27, 2007 , 2:05 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
MLE:

Lay down on you back and look up at the fan. The red animation is then going in a clockwise fashion - the blue one in a counter-clockwise fashion.

Author Author: B   Time November 30, 2007 , 1:53 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
With our 10' ceiling height, running the fan counter clockwise in the winter works to pull the warm air down to the floor level. We tried clockwise and it did not work as effeciently.

Author Author: Kathy   Time January 13, 2008 , 10:29 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
GOOD ACTIVITY

Author Author: shinaj   Time March 5, 2008 , 3:16 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
HKH GU NMH VBF

Author Author: shinaj   Time March 5, 2008 , 3:18 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
the illustrations look backwards to the pics to me too

Author Author: km   Time July 28, 2008 , 2:31 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
When I first saw the animated illustration on this website I thought the motion picture and written directions were incorrect BUT, they are actually right!

If you are looking at the fan standing up facing the fan, it may seem than the fan is going clockwise when it actually is going counterclockwise. My suggestion is to lay flat on the floor underneath your fan and look up at the direction the fan is going.


Thanks for the animated illustrations!!!

Author Author: connie   Time August 7, 2008 , 2:47 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Ceiling Fan Direction

Author Author: Mark   Time October 13, 2008 , 6:09 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Ive been confused about this topic for as long as I can remember. I finally broke down and decided to find the truth and BAM!, there it was beautifully illustrated before my eyes. Thanks so very much.

Author Author: Dano Calrision   Time October 19, 2008 , 2:31 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
to see this fan moving counterclockwise (summer months illustration) you have to visualize that a clock is on the ceiling facing down.

Author Author: Jimmy   Time November 22, 2008 , 12:00 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
A ceiling fan serves three purposes: it circulates the warm air throughout the area or a room, to provide a cooler environment by creating a chill in the space, and to beautify the room in which it resides.

For optimal heat air distribution, your fan should run in reverse during the winter months.

During the summer months, the ceiling fan should operate in the forward position and at a slightly higher speed.

Or take a look at the link given here... Ceiling Fan Direction

Author Author: Tommy   Time November 23, 2008 , 8:08 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Thank you so much for the illustrations!

Author Author: Lyndse   Time December 7, 2008 , 8:04 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
This helped me alot, but why can't the makers of the ceiling fans simply placed a S for summer and a W for winter on the switch? I forever forget is I switched the fan over or not, never really knowing what direction it is supposed to be in the first place. I felt like an idiot needing to lay under the fan, follow the direction with my finger and then in front of me like a clock. So MLE this may help you, it did me.

Author Author: Jessie   Time December 11, 2008 , 9:01 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Thanks for the picture. But it also depends which way you lie on the floor. If I lie with my head at 12:00 (North)and look up, the fan is counter clockwise. If I lie at the 6:00 (South) it is clockwise. So it is totally opposite of what is said. How come.

Author Author: Carol   Time January 21, 2009 , 9:12 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Thanks Tommy that about sums it up.
Yes Jessie Your Suggestion for S and W on the directional switch sound great.
And thank you everyone else for your comments

Author Author: colby   Time January 29, 2009 , 3:08 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Carol what you been somkin, its the same either way?

Author Author: dcigs   Time February 24, 2009 , 8:48 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Ok dcigs kinda funny.

Author Author: Ceiling-fans   Time February 24, 2009 , 12:09 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Your graphics need to be reversed. The winter graphic should be going clockwise and the summer graphic should be going counter-clockwise. Thanks for the info, but please re-direct your graphics for those who are word challenged. Thanks.

Author Author: S   Time June 18, 2009 , 3:52 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
HOWEVER...in a room with a tall ceiling open to the second floor, in the summer the ceiling fan in that room should be set clockwise to pull cold air UP from the first floor. That's according to "This Old House".

Author Author: Gonzo Don   Time June 19, 2009 , 5:37 PM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
I live in the south and the air vents are at the top of the wall rather than when I was a child growing up in the north the vents were in the floor. Does this make a difference on which direction the fan should go during the summer and winter?

Author Author: kp   Time August 1, 2009 , 10:20 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Hey KP, no the fan should still push the air down in the summer time.

Author Author: colby   Time August 1, 2009 , 11:27 AM

Re: What direction should my Ceiling Fan go in the winter?
Thank you

Author Author: kp   Time August 1, 2009 , 3:50 PM


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