Ceiling fan question.

[Kermit]

I realize this is a silly question, BUT...when operating a ceiling fan which way are the blades supposed to turn in the winter, and which way should they turn in the summer? Seems like someone told me if you're standing directly below the fan looking up at it they should turn clockwise in the winter. I've been told that ceiling fans will help push heat back down toward the floor of your home. Could someone clue me in on the proper operation? Thank you.

[Keystone]

The two tha I have turn clockwise to cool, counter for winter.......


Don't know if they all are the same though.

[TDHofstetter]

Yo, Kermie.

It doesn't make a whole lot of difference which way they turn - either way, their purpose is to stir up air in the room so the heat doesn't stratify.

The theory, though, is that the fan should draw air upward through it in winter so the warmer air flows down the walls to keep the room temperature even - and blow air downward through it in summer... to ... uh ... do something else. :)

Create a cooling downward breeze, probably.

The actual rotational direction in either case would depend upon which way your fan blades are pitched. If they're pitched one way, clockwise will move air one direction - and if they're pitched the other way, clockwise will move air the OTHER direction. Ya gotta look at the blades & figure that part out.

Mostly, though, don't sweat it.

-- Tim --


E Lignus Unum

[srpoly]

Unless your ceilings are real high like 16'+ and your fan hangs down to maybe the 8-10' level, it wont matter much. Most cases any air the fan moves will be replaced very quickly, causing a stirring, and thereby equalizing temperatures.
I never change either of mine, but one advantage is if they are low, and you set it so it is pulling air up, you wont feel the breeze as much. In winter this could be helpful due to the "windchill" effect on your skin.

[PastorPaul]

One addition to what has already been said. Generally speaking, the switch position determines the air movement direction. Most companies mount their switches so putting the switch in the upper position causes the fan to blow up (I think I just set myself up for a joke). Putting it in the lower position causes the fan to blow down.

That said, switches sometimes get mounted upside-down either by a careless, tired, or hung over assembly person, or by the fan owner if it is an assemble-it-yourself fan. If the switched is turned around ( and isn't riveted in), just shut off the power, remove the housing, and turn the switch around. It's a lot easier to remember up is up and down is down, especially if all your fans are set the same. We had two fans, with one that had a reversed switch. It was really fun to remember which fan you had to set up and which you had to set down. I fixed that problem.

Pastor Paul

"If they don't have woodworking in heaven, I ain't going!!!"

[TDHofstetter]

I very nearly MISSED that straight line!

:D
:D
:D

-- Tim --


Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.

[Grandad]

You have it correct. Everyone here that commented seems to have said the same thing, but they also miss the reasoning. A number of comments talk about stirring up the air. True.

The real reason the air should be pushed down in summer is to create a cool breeze across your skin, which cools you. In the winter, although this would still stir up the air and equalize the temperature, it would cool your skin and make you freeze.

So, in winter the air is pushed up to the ceiling, which then forces it down the walls, which stirs the air without blowing across your skin and making you freeze!!!!!

I have a cathedral ceiling in my master bedroom, with a height of about 15 feet. Believe me heat rises. There is an area at the end of the cathedral portion where a hallway leads to the bathroom. When you stand there you feel a VERY WARM breeze. The air is blown up, and is forced in 2 directions due to the ceiling style, and when it comes down along those 2 walls it is very warm.

[Cherry]

The older "Original" Hunter fans only turned in one direction but the blades were spring loaded so the pitch could be reversed. (Just in case you happen to have one.)

They are great fans, heavy but quiet and dead still.

Pulling the air up through the fan in the winter has worked best for us.

Jerry