Here’s Why You Need to Rotate Your Ceiling Fans
You know that it’s important to regularly rotate your tires, but did you know that your ceiling fans need regular rotation, too? Read on to learn how this simple trick can keep your home feeling comfortable all year and save you a lot of money when its time to adjust for the seasonal direction of ceiling fans.
Why Your Ceiling Fans Need to be Rotated
You use ceiling fan circulation to keep your house comfortable and keep the air stirring. This helps you feel better, as fresh air blows gently through your house. It also helps your heat and air conditioning work better, which saves energy and money. That makes a fan a win-win, but only if the air is blowing in the correct direction.
Every fan has two settings: clockwise and counter-clockwise. The clockwise setting also called the “forward” setting, moves air blow upward. The counter-clockwise setting, called the “reverse” setting, moves air downward direction. Here’s how you should set the fans for the best results.
Winter: During cold weather, you want warm air to circulate better in every room. To do that, set the fan blades to move in a clockwise motion. This sends warm air up and around the walls, which allows warmth to fill the whole room.
Summer: In order to boost the fan’s cooling ability, set the fan blades in a counter-clockwise direction to move the air downward, creating the cooling effect of air blowing on your skin. Remember that fans don’t lower a room’s temperature, they just make it feel cooler because the air blows on your skin.
Fans made in the U.S. and Canada use the same standard directions for air movement. If your fans were made elsewhere, check the manual to learn which settings you should use.
Help Yourself Remember
Many experts recommend using the simple formula, “Heat up, cool down,” as a memory helper. In other words, when the heat is on, you want the air to blow up. In the summer, when you want the house cool, you want it to blow down.
Some estimates have found that regularly rotating the fan directions can save you up to 15 percent on your energy bills. That’s definitely worth remembering when you’re firing up your fans.
Steps to Changing Fan Rotation
1. Turn off the fan. Don’t make the switch until the blades stop moving.
2. Climb up on a ladder to examine the motor housing. There will usually be a small toggle switch on it that controls the fan direction.
3. Toggle the switch to the opposite direction, then turn the fan on and double-check that the blades have changed direction.
4. Some fans allow you to change the blade direction using your fan remote. To use it, shut the fan off and turn the direction switch on the remote.
5. There are also fans that let you switch the direction using the pull chain.
SESCOS Helps You Save
If you’re using your fans to improve the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning, you’re on the right track. You can make them even more efficient and save more money by using fans that are easily reversible.
If you need help finding the right fans that are easy to operate, call SESCOS. We can help you find the right ones and install them for you. With our help, you can keep your house comfortable while you’re saving money. We can all be fans of that!