Spinning Direction of Ceiling Fan for Winter
Ceiling fans move air around the room, making it more comfortable. In the summer, a fan allows homeowners to set the air conditioning four degrees lower and still maintain the same comfort level. Reversing the fan's direction in the winter also increases comfort, albeit more modestly. A switch is commonly included in the ceiling fan for reversing its direction. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Rotation Direction
-
The winter rotation of most fans is the reverse of the standard direction, meaning it should spin clockwise during the colder months. You can verify this is the right direction by checking the fan blades as the fan rotates. During the winter, you want to have the leading edge of the blade lower than the trailing edge of the blade.
Air Movement
-
The ceiling fan forces air upward during the winter. This pushes the warmer air, which naturally rises and accumulates along the ceiling, away from the center of the room and down along the walls. This moves the warm air at the ceiling back into the living space of the room without creating the discomfort of a draft of air being forced directly down.
-
Speed Settings
-
Operate the ceiling fan at a lower speed in the winter than in the summer. In the summer, you are attempting to move air fast enough to create a wind chill effect and make the room feel cooler. In the winter, the goal is to gently move the air without creating any cooling effect.
Daily Operations
-
The summer movement of air cools people, not air. The operation of a ceiling fan has a beneficial effect only when people occupy the room. Therefore, to save on energy, you should operate the fan only when the room is occupied.
-
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
