Ceiling fans are electrical appliances with blades that circulate the flow of air to disperse cool or warm air. We typically know of ceiling fans used in the summers when it is hot and humid and it will rescue to dissipate cooler air in the space. But ceiling fans are also capable of dissipating warm air during the chillier seasons. This is achieved by a turn in the ceiling fan’s direction. How does that work? What direction should a ceiling fan turn? Let’s learn which way should a Ceiling Fan turn so that you can make a leaned choice when making a purchase.
Which Way Should a Ceiling Fan Turn?
If you are uncertain of the rotational setting of the fan, just stand below it, look upward at the fan and determine the rotational direction of the fan. The fan is rotating in a counterclockwise direction and you can feel the air on your body then the fan is set right for summers. In case you are unable to experience much air movement then it is a possibility that the spin of the fan is occurring in the wrong direction. In the latter case, all you have to do is switch the fan off and wait for it to completely stop its rotation and then change the direction of the fan by pushing the direction button of the fan.
If you still don’t feel a gush of air, it may be possible that the motor of your fan may be failing, or the blades of your fan may have become too flat and you might need purchasing a new ceiling fan. The fan should be tuned to maximum speed for you to get the most coolness out of it. Safety is also a criterion consider while installing a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan is only safe in rooms where the ceiling is at least 8- feet high or more. For maximum efficiency of the fan, it should hang in such a way that the blades of the fan are hung 10- 12 inches below the ceiling and anywhere between 7- 9 feet.
Ceiling Fan direction for summer
Ceiling fans can dissipate fresh air throughout a room. This is done by the counterclockwise turn of the fan that creates a downward and outward current which then gives back air along the wall. In the summer, when cooler air is required, the ceiling fan should have a counterclockwise rotational motion so that air is pushed downward along a column. To the people sitting under the fan, this air feels cool because near the floor there is an accumulation of the cooler air whereas the hot air rises upward. The already pooled fresh air then gets redistributed along the floor evenly and you can feel the coolness of the air around you. The counterclockwise rotation of the ceiling fan is achieved by merely setting off the directional button present alongside the motor housing down; however, different companies may have distinct mechanisms, so make sure to refer the manual.
Ceiling Fan direction for winter
In the winters, the direction of rotation of a ceiling fan should be clockwise and the speed of the fan should be the lowest. Switching of a fan in the winters may seem very counterproductive, but a ceiling fan can indeed be of great help in warming up the room temperature during the winters. A ceiling fan for the winters rotates in a clockwise direction and has to run at a low speed to create an updraft. This updraft pulls the cold air up to the ceiling and evenly dissipates the warm air across the room from your space heater, fireplace, or central heat. The fan keeps a constant warmth in the room without letting coldness seep into the room. To make sure the fan is rotating in a winter setting, stand underneath the fan and check that the rotation of the fan is in a clockwise direction.
Conclusion
The temperature of the room does not change, but people experience warmth in winters and cold in the summers due to the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the fan, respectively. Ceiling fans are a great way to regulate your electricity bills as air conditioners cost a lot in the electricity bills. The kind of chill that they offer is not very good for the human body and may trigger cold, arthritis and pain in several parts of the body. The U. S. Department of Energy claims that using a ceiling fan in addition to air conditioning will easily add around 4° F without any decrease in the level of comfort. In areas where the weather and temperature are rather moderate, in temperate regions, using a ceiling fan eliminates the need for an air conditioner.