With energy prices climbing and climbing, it’s always a good idea to take some time to evaluate your home’s energy use to see if there are things you can do to improve the home’s energy efficiency. People usually are aware of the importance of having proper insulation around doors and windows to seal air leaks, regularly changing the filter on their HVAC systems, swapping traditional bulbs for LED bulbs, and using efficient faucets and showerheads for water.
One thing many people fail to realize is that the direction that their ceiling fan blades rotate can also save them a good amount of energy and money. With the changing of the seasons, it’s a good idea to check on your ceiling fans and see if the blades are rotating in the proper direction according to the season.
It’s All About the Air Movement
Everyone is aware that using a ceiling fan during warm weather can improve the comfort level of a home by creating a “breeze” and increasing the airflow of a space. What many people do not realize is that they are also just as valuable in the colder months. Using your ceiling fans to their utmost ability provides a lot of benefits that all too often go unnoticed.
During the summer months, the ceiling fans in our homes move the air about to create a more comfortable space. During the winter months, the direction that the fan blades rotate in should be reversed.
Summer Ceiling Fan Blade Rotation
When the weather outside is nice and warm, you need to make sure that all of your ceiling fans are set so the blades rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. When the blades rotate counter-clockwise, they create a downdraft of air that creates that cooling breeze we all know and appreciate.
What is interesting to know is that ceiling fans don’t actually do anything to cool the air. In fact, they don’t cool the air at all. What they do is push cooler air down toward the floor, closer to the level at which people are. Air is pushed down in columns by the ceiling fan blades, evaporating perspiration and creating a wonderful breeze.
Winter Ceiling Fan Blade Rotation
For the colder months, switch all of your ceiling fan switches so that the blades rotate clockwise. One thing to note is that while we often want the blades to spin as fast as possible during the hot months, this is exactly what we do not want during the winter. Make sure the speed setting on your ceiling fans is low. If it’s any faster than that, it will begin to create a chilling breeze.
When the blades are rotating in a clockwise direction at low speed, they create an updraft, which helps warm air that is trapped near the ceiling move to lower areas of the room. This is especially valuable for rooms that have very high ceilings.
Save Money and Energy with Ceiling Fans All Year Long
Using your ceiling fans properly throughout the year will be a great boon when it comes to energy usage. If you use an air conditioner during the summer months, using your ceiling fans in conjunction with the A/C will offer even bigger savings, and it’ll help your HVAC system not work quite so hard. The same holds true during the colder months; ceiling fans will help your furnace and give it a bit of a break, also saving you money.
If you’d like more tips about additional energy- and money-saving changes you can make for your home, contact A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air today for a professional home energy assessment.
