May 28, 2013
Ceiling fans are pretty simple – they spin and move air.
But there is at least one question almost every ceiling fan owner has had at one time or another – which way should my fan be spinning? Now that it’s summer and the weather has warmed up, we see this question more and more, so here’s the answer:
For most fans, if you stand under it and looked up, the blades should be rotating counterclockwise in the summer.
This will allow the angled blades to push air downward. That’s the important part – your ceiling fan should be pushing air directly downward to cool you off. This creates a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler than the actual room temperature is.
So, when paired with bumping up the temperature on your thermostat, a ceiling fan can actually decrease your summer energy bills (if it’s rotating the right way.)
If your ceiling fan is running the wrong direction, it’s pretty easy to reverse it.
Make sure the fan is turned off and has come to a complete stop. Then, for most fans, it’s as simple as flipping the switch located directly on the side of the fan.
On newer ceiling fans, you may need to use the included remote control to reverse the direction. Some other fans have wall switches to reverse them.
How fast should you run your ceiling fan?
Once you’ve got the ceiling fan rotating the right direction for summer, the next decision is the speed.
This is purely personal taste. The warmer it is, the faster you may need to set your ceiling fan to help you feel cooler. However, high speeds can start to get uncomfortable for some people.
A ceiling fan can save you money on your air conditioning bills if you remember a couple things:
Cool Today and Energy Today are committed to helping Sarasota-area homeowners stay cool and comfortable while reducing costs.
For more energy efficiency tips, check out our blog or contact us today to see how we can help you save money.
Posted in: Troubleshooting