Ceiling fans are comfortable and it gives us a soothing experience in the hot summer days. Changing the ceiling fan direction is a viable option when it comes to fall and winter.
When I was at my young age, I used to notice that the fan always runs in the summer but it was of no use in the winter. I was wondering how we can utilize it and bring something of value. I asked my father regarding the confusion and he explained to me the reason once.
“Ceiling fans provide year-round comfort and efficiency,” says Barb Wright, a ceiling fan product manager at Westinghouse Lighting.
The expert from popular Del Mar Fans & Lighting explains why and how you can change the direction of the fan.
In this short guide we will be clearing the following confusions:
- Does Ceiling Fan Direction Really Matter?
- Do the Blades of the Ceiling Fans Just Move One Direction or Both?
- Ceiling Fan Direction in the Summer
- Ceiling Fan Direction in the Winter
- How Can I Change the Direction of the Ceiling Fan?
Does Ceiling Fan Direction Really Matter?
As the room temperature is different in seasons, changing the ceiling fan direction in the summer and winter gives you comfort. It also ensures to give your AC and Heater a much-needed break. Eventually, it will also reduce your energy consumption and cost, giving a huge saving in your pocket.
Benefits of Using a Ceiling Fan In The Summer
- It blows all the air on you because you want to dive into the windchill, right? It cools your room temperature up to 8 degrees and creates a cooling breeze.
- It reduces the use of air conditioning that is harmful to the environment.
- It will ensure to reduce your overall energy bill by at least 15% (says the US EPA).
- Without air conditioning, it feels almost the same comfort on the indoor and outdoor.
Benefits of Using a Ceiling Fan In The Winter
- It can slowly push the warm air from the ceiling (that rises naturally) on you. It redistributes the warm air and gives a warm and more comfortable feeling to you and your family.
- It helps your home heating system to run more efficiently by increasing the room temperature.
- It can reduce your heating cost by up to 15%.
- Safe and secure to use instead of a risky heating system.
Do the Blades of the Ceiling Fans Just Move One Direction or Both?
Over the years, engineers have brought revolutionary changes in ceiling fan technology. Both-direction movement is one of them. The reason behind this is to use the fan all year round. There were two major points in this fold.
One, to give comfort to the user. Two, to reduce the energy bills by using efficient technology from the existing system.
In an attempt to that, ceiling fans were updated with a Reverse Direction technology that gives an option to change the direction of the fan. All the things have been done for our comfort. We cannot change the direction of earth and sun, but to keep ourselves in a safe zone, we can change the direction of the ceiling fans.
Does All the Ceiling Fan Have This Option to Change the Direction?
The orders models don’t have the reverse ceiling fan option. But the newer models come with this technology.
It’s not obvious that all the newer models will have it because some homeowners may not require this option. If you require this feature, please check whether your selected fan includes this feature.
Ceiling Fan Direction/Rotation
One of the top wholesalers of the ceiling fan, Hansen Wholesale clears this confusion very deliberately.
Forward = Counter Clockwise = Summer mode
Reverse = Clockwise = Winter Mode
Two statements have to be considered in this case: ceiling fan direction in summer and ceiling fan direction in winter. Let’s dig a little deeper.
Ceiling Fan Direction in the Summer
Summer is the hottest season. It shrinks our outdoor activities as well as hampers us indoor with its severity, oppressive humidity. A ceiling fan generates ambient airflow downward and that airflow soothes your skin. Eventually, it removes sweat from your body, and then, serenity reaches the vein of your brain.
To determine the right direction of your fan during summer, all you have to do is to turn on, stand directly under the fan blades, and observe in which direction the blade rotates. If you see the blades are moving counterclockwise, then the fan is turning in the right direction for the summer climate. In this way, it is circulating the surrounding airflow downward. Therefore, you can feel the air on your skin. You don’t have to do anything with the toggle for now.
Along with the comfort in the summer, a ceiling fan provides numerous other benefits. It reduces the use of air conditioning and can save at least 15% of your overall energy bills.
Without air conditioning, it feels almost the same comfort on the indoor and outdoor. Indoor ceiling fans are of great comfort if you don’t have the air conditioning (AC). Even if you use the AC, an indoor ceiling fan can help in a great deal. Besides, if you enjoy spending the hours reading books at your patio or just feel the nature of spots, you can choose an outdoor ceiling fan that gives you the same comfort inside and outside the home.
Remember:
Summertime Direction -> Counterclockwise
Best for cool summer comfort and efficient cost-saving.
Ceiling Fan Direction in the Winter
When winter comes, you start locking your doors and windows. You start slowing down the speed of the ceiling. But a few days later, you start to feel so much cold that you cannot even turn the fan on. Eventually, you detest the word ‘fan’. If you’ve been knowing for all these days that ceiling fan cannot be used in the winter, then we can light up your thoughts.
In the winter, the ceiling fan should rotate clockwise at a low speed to pull the cool air up and push down the warm air to the floor. Warm air naturally rises, and this reverse ceiling fan direction redistributes the warm air in the room. This makes the room warmer and the reduction in the use of your heating system results in at least a 15% reduction in your heating cost.
To determine the right direction of your fan during summer, all you have to do is to turn on, stand directly under the fan blades, and observe in which direction the blade rotates. If you see the blades are moving clockwise, then the fan is turning in the right direction for the winter climate. If it’s not turning in the clockwise direction, you need to change the ceiling fan direction.
Remember:
Wintertime Direction -> Clockwise
Best for warm winter comfort and efficient cost-saving.
How Can I Change the Direction of the Ceiling Fan?
Manufacturers put different convenient options for reversing the direction of the ceiling fan.
Usually, you can change the direction by simply pressing the button located at the motor housing of the ceiling fan. Place a ladder under and reach the ceiling fan. Press the Forward button to set your ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise for the summer. Press the Reverse button to set your fan to spin clockwise for the fall and winter.
In some ceiling fan models, you can do it just by pulling the second pull chain of the fan.
Very newer models have the option of a wall panel or remote-control option to change the direction. If your ceiling fan does not include such a feature, you have to do it manually. Turning the Forward or Reverse button will allow you to direct the fan clockwise or counterclockwise.
Check out another guide from the expert of Del Mar Fans & Lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are my ceiling fans outdated? What to do if it doesn’t have this direction change option?
Well, if you are using a ceiling model from 15-20 years back, chances are high that you may not have the option to change the direction of your fan. Newer models of fan include such options at your request. Better to have a thought of changing your old model.
Can we use ceiling fans all year round?
Of course, you can use the ceiling fan all year round because the fan has a regulator by which you can set up the exact volume at your comfort no matter which season it is. You can also use it in the winter by changing the direction of the fan. The only thing that matters is your comfort.
Ceiling fans are super energy-saving devices that can help AROUND THE YEAR. Keep your heater away in the winter. Give some rest to your air conditioner for a couple of hours in the summer. Your wallet also needs some rest. A big thing, right?
