As temperatures drop during the fall and winter months, energy costs begin to rise just as steadily. Call it coincidence. Call it symbiotic. Call it what you will, but the additional energy used to heat a home can quickly add up to a hefty bill. Read our Del Mar Fans & Lighting’s guide to proper ceiling fan direction to see which direction your fan should be going and how ceiling fan direction can save you money on your energy bill.

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Hi. I'm Colby with Del Mar Fans and Lighting and I'm here to show you how to reverse your ceiling fan.

Reverse direction for a ceiling fan is a clockwise motion producing an updraft. In the winter, when your heater is running, reversing your ceiling fan moves warm air near the ceiling down to the floor. This greatly reduces your energy use and can lower your energy bills by as much as 15 percent. You will need a ladder or a step stool to reach the motor housing. Turn off your ceiling fan and locate the direction switch on the motor housing. This one is here, sometimes they are on the top of the motor housing. Make sure your fan has come to a complete stop before flipping the direction switch in the opposite direction. Now turn your fan back on and enjoy. Many ceiling fans include remote controls with the reverse button. Other fans include wall controls with the reverse function.

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Materials

  • Step Ladder

Products Used

How to Change the Direction of Your Fan

Locate the direction switch on the motor housing (in some cases, the switch may be located inside the switch housing or switch cup), and flip the switch in the opposite direction. Directional switches may move vertically (up and down) or horizontally (side to side from left to right).

How To Switch Your Ceiling Fan Blade Direction

For vertical direction switches, flip the switch down for downward airflow or flip the switch up for upward airflow.

For horizontal direction switches, flip the switch to the left for downward airflow or flip the switch to the right for upward airflow.

Use the steps below to change the direction of your ceiling fan:

  1. Shut off the ceiling fan and wait for the blades to come to a complete stop

  2. Using a ladder or step stool to reach the motor housing, locate the direction switch

  3. Flip the switch in the opposite direction

  4. Step down and turn the ceiling fan back on

  5. Verify the ceiling fan blades are moving in the right direction

If the ceiling fan blades are rotating correctly, you should feel a cool downward airflow in the summer. However, you should feel no air movement in the winter. You can reverse the direction of your outdoor ceiling fans, as well as your low profile ceiling fan.

If you have an older ceiling fan without a reversible motor, you could adjust the blade pitch to reverse the airflow. Adjust the blade pitch to the right to push air down. Adjust the blade pitch to the left to pull air up.

How to Reverse Your Ceiling Fan with a Remote

Reversing your fan using your remote control is pretty simple. View the infographic below for more details.

How To Correctly Reverse A Ceiling Fan From A Remote Control

Reversing the direction of your ceiling fan is a budget-friendly and eco-friendly way to make your home feel warmer in the fall and winter months. An easy way to remember is to reverse your fan during Daylight Savings Time when you reverse your clocks.