The Proper Fan Direction for Summer and Winter

When you’ve been in the ceiling fan industry as long as we have, you inadvertently become the go-to person for your family and friends’ home improvement problems. We’ve answered countless questions on fan sizes, room sizes, lighting options, blade spans, but one question that comes up repeatedly is “What is the correct ceiling fan direction for summer or winter?” There are many articles on ceiling fan rotation, but we at Del Mar Fans & Lighting think it’s more effective to show our customers the correct ceiling fan direction for each season with a video tutorial.

Ceiling fan blades move in two directions, counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter, making a room feel cooler or warmer depending on the blade rotation. Changing the direction of the ceiling fan each season helps to maintain physical comfort year-round. Adjusting the fan direction also increases energy savings by cutting down on the usage of standard cooling and heating devices, which can result in lower utility bills and an annual savings of $500. Here is how to determine the correct ceiling fan direction.

Winter Ceiling Fan Direction: Fan blades should rotate at a low-speed in a clockwise or “reverse” direction during the winter season. This creates an upward air movement that swaps warm air, which naturally rises to the ceiling, with the cooler at the floor. A ceiling fan rotating in a clockwise direction lowers energy consumption up to 15 percent during the wintertime.

Summer Ceiling Fan Direction: Fan bladesshould rotate counterclockwise or “forward” in the summertime. This pushes cool air downward, creating a cooling wind-chill effect that makes a room feel four to eight degrees cooler without actually altering the room temperature. Using a fan during the summer saves up to 40 percent on air conditioning and cooling costs.

How to Reverse Ceiling Fan Direction

Adjusting a ceiling fan to rotate in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction is as easy as pressing a button of flipping a switch. Many ceiling fans incorporate the ability to reverse or forward the fan blades into remote or wall control functions. Other fans include direction switches on the motor housing, which are flipped up or down to adjust the blade rotation. If configured correctly, homeowners will feel a cool downward air movement in the summer, and they will not feel any airflow in the winter. Ceiling fans should be adjusted at the beginning of the summer and winter seasons. Changing the ceiling fan direction is a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to maintain comfort all year.