• Real Estate Professionals
  • Service Providers
  • Request Service
  • Sign In
  • 888.875.0533
  • Get a Quote
  • Menu
Request Service Sign In

Homeowner

  • Overview
  • Why Buy a Home Warranty
  • What's Covered
  • How to Request Service
  • Home Warranty Reviews
  • Get a Quote
  • Home Warranty 101
  • Budget Protection
  • What is a Home Warranty?

Service Provider

  • Overview
  • Why Join Our Team
  • Home Warranty Network 101
  • Service Provider Testimonials
  • Service Provider Application

Real Estate Professional

  • Overview
  • Why Choose First American
  • Sample Coverage
  • Locate Your Area Manager
  • CRES Home Warranty
  • Real Estate Testimonials
  • Marketing Materials

Resources

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Case Studies and Testimonials
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Home Maintenance Tips
Menu

Sign In / Register

  • Email Address is required.
  • Password is required.
Register Forgot Password
Request Service Sign In
  • Blog Home
  • Budget Smart
  • Home Care
  • Home Maintenance
  • Home Warranty
  • Homeowner Tips
  • Lifestyle
  • Real Estate
  • Archives
Which Way Should Your Ceiling Fan Turn?
Homeowner Tips

Which Way Should Your Ceiling Fan Turn?

You've likely heard that you should change which way your home's ceiling fans rotate when the season's change, but if you're wondering which direction is correct for summer or winter, here are the answers.

Stay Cooler in the Summer

By default, your ceiling fan will turn to the left (counterclockwise) and push air down. This is the direction ceiling fans should turn during summer months. Even though pushing cooler air down won’t actually cool the room, it will create a breeze that helps evaporate moisture from your skin and makes you feel cooler. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “If you use a ceiling fan and air conditioning unit simultaneously, you can raise your thermostat setting by 4 degrees without a change in comfort.” Just that small difference in your thermostat setting can help lower your energy use in the warmer months.

Circulate Warmer Air in the Winter

In the winter, you can reverse the direction of your ceiling fan and run it on low. Because warm air rises, your ceiling fan will now pull cooler air up to mix with and push down the warmer air trapped at the ceiling. This can help you save on heating costs and keep your house more comfortable when it’s cold.

Ceiling fan direction in summer and winter

How to Change the Direction Your Fan Rotates

Not sure which direction your fan is moving? Stand directly underneath it and if you feel a breeze, its turning in the counterclockwise (default) direction. If you don’t feel a breeze, the fan is rotating in reverse mode (clockwise).

If you have a remote control for your ceiling fan, check to see if it has a reverse button. If so, problem solved! If not, almost all fans have a switch on the side of the motor housing that allows you to change the direction it rotates.

Directional switch on ceiling fans

Cool Ceiling Fan Energy Tips

  • A ceiling fan uses about 2% of the energy that a central air conditioner uses (an average of 75 watts vs. 3,500 watts)

  • It costs less than a penny per hour to run a ceiling fan.

  • You won’t feel the wind chill effect of the fan when you leave the room, so turn off your ceiling fan to save on energy.

  • Keep your fan running smoothly by regularly cleaning the dust off the tops of the fan blades. This will help prevent blade imbalances that can stress the fan motor.

Fixing Ceiling Fans

Did you know a First American home warranty covers repair and replacement of ceiling fans, as well as attic and exhaust fans? Learn more about all the home systems and appliances that you can protect with a home warranty.

This article is about...
  • Ceiling fans
  • Summer
  • Winter
Couple shopping online

Get a personalized home warranty quote

It only takes a few minutes

View home warranty plans that could save you hundreds to thousands of dollars each year.

Get Started Today

Popular Articles

home warranty repair
What is a Home Warranty?
air conditioning units
How Does an Air Conditioner Work?
Garage conversion
Should You Convert Your Garage?
Woman comparing home warranties
Compare Home Warranty Plans
corn husks
Corn Husks - Not Just for Tamales
water heater temperature
What's the Best Temperature for Your Water Heater?
AC tune-up
How Air Conditioner Tune-ups Save Money

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to manage your sessions, manage content, and improve your website experience. To learn more about these technologies, your options, and about other categories of personal information we collect through this website and how we may use it, please see our privacy policy. This notice is effective for your use of this website for the next 14 days.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
© 2021 First American Home Warranty Corporation and its licensed subsidiaries. All rights reserved.