Ceiling fans are an energy-efficient, effective way of making rooms feel cooler in hot weather. Running a ceiling fan can reduce air-conditioning costs by allowing you to bump the HVAC thermostat setting up a few degrees. The gentle airflow from the fan makes occupants of the room feel more comfortable. Think of it as an indoor windchill factor.
Depending on indoor temperatures, running a ceiling fan in summer can allow you to raise the thermostat setting by up to 5 degrees without sacrificing comfort. Because a ceiling fan consumes a tiny fraction of electricity compared to an air conditioner, savings can be meaningful.
Changing Seasons, Changing Fan Rotation
But what about a ceiling fan in winter? Actually, it’s a helpful ally in cold weather too. A ceiling fan has a switch to reverse rotational direction as seasons change. In summer, the desired direction is counterclockwise so the fan blows downward to create a cooling breeze on occupants. During winter operation, the directional switch should be set to clockwise.
How Ceiling Fans Help In Winter Too
Because hot air always rises, furnace heat naturally accumulates in a layer at the ceiling where it unfortunately doesn’t contribute much to indoor comfort. A ceiling fan helps move that heat back down where people live.
- When the ceiling fan rotates clockwise in winter mode, air in the room is pulled upward through the fan, pushing the layer of warm air at the ceiling outward to the walls.
- As warm air contacts the walls, it is redirected back downward into the living space of the room.
- The result: The continuous downdraft of warm air enables you to lower the thermostat setting a few degrees. Occupants of the room still feel comfortable while heating costs are also lowered.
For more about the benefits of ceiling fans in the winter, talk to the heating professionals at Ace Hardware Home Services.
