With rapidly rising prices of almost everything, many of us are looking for ways to cut costs. Changing your ceiling fan direction is a simple way to save money on your utility bills!
In Southern Arizona ceiling fans are commonly used as an energy efficient way to keep cool in the hot desert temperatures. However, many Arizonans are unaware that ceiling fans need to be set differently to save on heating costs in the winter. The key to maximizing your energy savings year-round is to ensure your fan direction and speed are set correctly.
Summer / Warm Weather Fan Settings
To save on cooling costs in the warm weather months, set your fan so that it spins counterclockwise. This will cause the air to flow downwards and create a cooling draft in the room. Set the fan speed to whatever feels most comfortable to those in the room.
You can verify the blade direction is appropriately set for summer by standing directly under the fan set to a higher speed. When the fan spins counterclockwise you’ll notice this rotation creates the most direct, cooling airflow.
The breeze created by ceiling fans rotating counterclockwise results in a wind-chill effect that allows you to set your thermostat several degrees higher. Since ceiling fans require significantly less energy to run than the air conditioner, this saves you money on your energy bill.
Winter / Cold Weather Fan Settings
During cold weather months, you can save on heating costs by setting the blade rotation to spin clockwise. Warm air rises, so the heat distributed from your furnace tends to accumulate near the ceiling. This can be a more significant issue for homes with high ceilings. Setting the blades to rotate clockwise will cause the air to flow upwards, allowing the warm air near the ceiling to be redistributed throughout the room and requiring less effort from your furnace. It’s important to run the fan on the low speed setting, as higher speeds will result in a cooling effect.
How to Change Ceiling Fan Direction
You can change the direction of the blade rotation using either the remote control buttons, switch on the fan or light body (for pull chain fans), or voice commands (with smart fans).
Professional Fan Installation
If you are looking to add new fans to your home or replace older fans, and want to ensure they are installed correctly and safely, Authentic Electric would love to assist you! We are highly experienced in installation of ceiling fans and other electrical fixtures, and we value quality installation. Contact us for information on our pricing and availability if you live in Tucson, AZ or the surrounding area!
