Ceiling fans are a welcome addition to most Florida homes, working alongside the air conditioning to provide cooling comfort, energy efficiency, and better air circulation.

But what’s the right direction for ceiling fans to turn? Does it matter and, if so, should the direction switch or remain the same throughout the year?

Some homeowners don’t know that the direction of the ceiling fan blades matters or that the direction can be changed to reduce the cost of AC and heating in the home.

By the end of this post, you’ll not only know the right ceiling fan direction for summer and winter but also a lot more about how ceiling fans can raise comfort levels in your home…

THE RIGHT CEILING FAN DIRECTION… 

The right ceiling fan direction in summer is counter-clockwise and, for winter, it’s clockwise. A counter-clockwise direction creates a downdraft in summer (when the cool air from the air conditioning is circulating) while the clockwise direction the winter creates a warming updraft. Changing your ceiling fan direction based on the season is a simple way to save energy all year.

Let’s look at how understanding more about ceiling fans can benefit homeowners…

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WHY INSTALL CEILING FANS IN YOUR FLORIDA HOME?

Almost all homeowners in Florida run central air conditioning systems. For much of the year, we’re cooling our homes so energy bills can be very high.

Ceiling fans affect the comfort levels, airflow, and energy costs in homes. They don’t lower the temperature but the “wind chill factor” created by circulating indoor air helps conditions feel cool and comfortable in the spring, summer, and fall. Ceiling fans also reduce the strain on the AC system and keep energy bills down. 

Ceiling fans typically use a fraction of the electricity of HVAC systems (around 50-75 watts compared to 3,000-3,500 watts).

Any fan that circulates air in the home will be beneficial for comfort and air quality but much depends on the angle, width, length, and number of the fan blades—and the direction in which they move.

Setting your ceiling fans to turn counter-clockwise in summer allows you to set your thermostat higher, saving on energy costs. Another way of looking at this is this: you could leave a ceiling fan running all day and use less energy than running the AC for 15 minutes!

The other great benefit that escapes some homeowners is that ceiling fans can help keep the home warm on the cooler, winter days. How? By reversing the direction of the blades so that cool air is pulled up as they turn clockwise.

Setting your ceiling fans to turn clockwise in winter allows you to set your thermostat lower, saving on heating costs.

Here’s an easy way to remember the best ceiling fan direction for summer and winter:

SUMMER—>COOL DOWN—>COUNTERCLOCKWISE=DOWNDRAFT

WINTER—>WARM UP—>CLOCKWISE= UPDRAFT

NOT SURE ABOUT YOUR CEILING FAN’S DIRECTION?

Clockwise and counter-clockwise directions are easy enough to establish with a device rotating on a wall—but what about when it’s above your head, like a ceiling fan?

If you’re unsure of the current direction, switch the fan on low and stand directly underneath the fan as it spins. Imagine that you’re looking at a clock face on the wall, with the blades turning like the hand of the clock.

If the blades turn from left to right, this is a clockwise direction, which is best for winter. If they turn from the right to the left, this is counter-clockwise, which is best for summer. 

BEST CEILING FAN DIRECTION FOR SUMMER: COUNTER-CLOCKWISE

Set your ceiling fan to counter-clockwise in summer to create a cooling downward breeze. The improved air circulation in the home from the ceiling fan provides a “wind chill factor”. If your thermostat is set to 76 degrees, the fan can make you feel like it’s around 72 degrees.

This reduces the reliance on air conditioning, which can extend the life of the AC unit and help to keep energy bills in check. It can also improve air quality by reducing humidity levels in the home.

In summer, find the most comfortable fan setting for the family, which usually depends on the number of occupants, height of ceilings, HVAC thermostat settings, etc. Some rooms may be hotter than others even with central AC.

Once the AC cools the room to the desired temperature, the ceiling fan turning counter-clockwise should keep the air moving and feeling cool for longer.

BEST CEILING FAN DIRECTION FOR WINTER: CLOCKWISE

It surprises some homeowners that using the ceiling fan in the winter can be better for your comfort and your pocket.

Setting your ceiling fan to turn clockwise on a low setting in winter will gently redistribute cool air down below and warm air trapped near the ceiling (warm air rises), forcing it to circulate around the room. Any warm air trapped in other pockets of the room is also distributed more evenly.

Many home heating vents are located near the floor. The additional air circulation from a ceiling fan ensures the heated air is dispersed more effectively throughout the room, helping improve heating efficiency and reduce furnace usage. It also keeps air circulation at optimal levels for general indoor air quality and the health of the HVAC system.

Play around with the fan speed settings until you find a comfortable level for all occupants.

HOW CAN YOU CHANGE THE CEILING FAN DIRECTION?

Not sure how to change the direction of your ceiling fan? This shouldn’t usually be too challenging but it’s important to follow a few safety procedures. 

For traditional ceiling fans:

For fans with remote controls:

Some smart ceiling fans also let you change your fan direction using voice control.

ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE CEILING FAN GUIDELINES?

Sometimes, a downdraft is not desirable in the home in summer, even though it keeps the air cooler. This could be because of any of the following reasons:

Reversing the fan direction could work in these situations, providing the environment remains comfortable.

Another exception is for vaulted or elevated ceilings. Ceiling fans installed on these types of ceilings can be set to run counter-clockwise all year because the ceilings are too high for the fan to have much effect. Besides this, the ceiling fan switch may be relatively inaccessible without a remote control.

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GET PROFESSIONAL HVAC EFFICIENCY TIPS…

Understanding the ceiling fan settings for summer and winter is a simple way to bring added comfort and energy efficiency to the home—but sometimes there’s no substitute for professional advice about cooling the home.

Contact an AC professional at One Way Air for an inspection, AC tune-up, and HVAC efficiency tips today.