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How to Select the Right Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer and Winter

A ceiling fan with wooden blades against a white ceiling.

Your ceiling fan helps to keep your room cool, but did you know it can also help you during the winter months? By simply adjusting the direction of your ceiling fan, you can use your fan to recirculate warmer air, helping you save money on your energy bills. This guide will explain how changing the ceiling fan direction in summer and winter can make a significant difference in your comfort.

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How a Ceiling Fan Can Lower your Energy Costs

A ceiling fan doesn’t actually change the temperature of your room because it doesn’t cool or heat like a traditional air conditioner or heater. It can, however, create a cooling or warming effect by moving air around your room, circulating warmer air or creating a cooling breeze to help you cool off. By helping you stay cooler or warmer, your ceiling fan can augment your existing HVAC system, allowing it to work less and in turn, lower your energy bills.

A living room with a ceiling fan above the couch area.

Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer

Your ceiling fan should rotate in counter-clockwise direction in summer. The blades of your fan will push the cold air down and help you feel cooler and more comfortable. So, while your room isn’t actually cooler, the breeze on your skin will help you feel more refreshed. This is the best ceiling fan direction for air conditioning during hot summer months.

A living room that has a ceiling fan with a pull chain to change its direction.

Ceiling Fan Direction in Winter

In the colder winter months, your ceiling fan direction should be clockwise. This will pull the cooler air from the room upward and re-circulate the warmer air – which accumulates near the ceiling – downward, keeping you nice and cozy.

A person holds a remote up to change the direction of a ceiling fan.

How to Change the Rotation of a Ceiling Fan

Changing the direction of your ceiling fan is easy. Most models will have a chain that changes the rotation. Just give it a pull and you’re good to go. Other models may have a remote that allow you to change the direction of your ceiling fan with the push of a button for added convenience.

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