In cooler months, your ceiling fan should be spinning clockwise at a low speed. Warm air naturally rises, and the gentle updraft created by this setting allows for the redistribution of warm air that tends to accumulate near the ceiling.
In the winter, ceiling fans need to spin clockwise on low speed (any faster and you'll start to feel a cool breeze). This creates an updraft that helps move warm air trapped near the ceiling back out and around the room, changing the average temperature in the living space.
During the cold winter months, your ceiling fan should spin clockwise. Fan blades turning clockwise will cause an updraft that pulls cold air upwards. Because cold air is denser than warmer air, this will push warm air back down towards the floor where you can feel and enjoy it.
In the winter, ceiling fans on the winter mode will rotate clockwise. The mode is usually used at a low speed in order to pull cool air up. The clockwise rotation pushes the warm air that has naturally risen back down. Through this, you keep the hot air down instead of losing it up near the ceiling.
Keeping your fan on AUTO is the most energy-efficient option. The fan only runs when the system is on and not continuously. There is better dehumidification in your home during the summer months. When your fan is set to AUTO, moisture from cold cooling coils can drip and be drained outside.
By some estimations, experts report that homeowners can save as much as 15% on heating costs when they run ceiling fans during the winter. Due to the improved distribution of heat in the room, thermostats can be turned down. When you do that, your heater runs less often, consuming less energy.
The fast moving air increases the rate at which our bodies lose heat due to convection and evaporation. The faster moving air from the fan displaces the warmer air that is in direct contact with our skin. This enhances the rate of convective heat transfer, which means we feel cooler.
You really don't want to blow air straight across your body, since the evaporation will make you cold.....but you *do* want to take some of the hot air from the ceiling and mix it around the room. SOLUTION: reverse the fan. You still get room-air-mixing, but you don't get air blowing down on you.
Which Direction Should a Ceiling Fan go in Summer and in Winter? The majority of ceiling fans rotate clockwise on Winter mode and anti-clockwise on Summer mode. Like most functions, this can vary between models, but it's fairly easy to tell if your fan is on the wrong setting.
The Givoni or Woods diagrams show a direct relationship between air speed and the drop in temperature felt by users of the room. In this case, a ceiling fan will consume between 20 and 50 watts (still a long way from the consumption of an air-conditioning system (800 to 1500 watts, i.e. 30 to 40 times more).
If the blades start out on the top left and go down to the right to then spin around back up to the left, the fan is set to spin clockwise for the winter months. If they turn right from the top and spin around towards the left-hand side, then the ceiling fan direction is set counterclockwise for summer temps.
"AUTO" is the more energy-efficient option, as it runs the fan only when heating or cooling is actively needed. "ON" keeps the fan running continuously, which can help with air circulation and filtration but may consume more energy.
Having the fan move counterclockwise will cause the blades to push cooler air straight down, giving you a nice, direct breeze.
Ceiling Fan Direction in Winter
By changing your ceiling fan direction to clockwise, its blades can push that warm air down towards the floor. It also brings the cool air from the floor to the ceiling.
Your ceiling fan blades should turn counterclockwise in warmer months and clockwise in cooler months. To determine your ceiling fan direction, pay attention to which way the blades are turning and whether you feel a downward breeze.
It is myth that uses of ceiling fans while using air conditioners reduces the cool comfort in the room as ceiling fans tend to circulate hot air thus increasing the load on air conditioners. It's a common belief that ceiling fans should not be used along with Air Conditioners.
During summer months, your ceiling fan blades should be set to spin counterclockwise. When your ceiling fan spins quickly in this direction, it pushes air down and creates a cool breeze. This helps keep a room's temperature consistent throughout the day and reduces the need for an air conditioner to run constantly.
Direction is also key: the fan should face inward, so it draws the cooler air into your abode and blows it in your direction. Try putting a separate window fan on the other side of your home as well, if you have a window there.
By setting your fan to winter mode and having it spin clockwise, you force that collected warm air towards the walls and floor. With the increased and improved air circulation, you can save energy and even lower your utility bills by having to use your heating less or having it set too high.