As Autumn begins to settle in and temperatures start to drop, it’s safe to say that the last thing on your mind is your ceiling fan. We bet that at your place, this trusty appliance is most well known for getting you through those hot summer nights, us too. But what if we told you that this same ceiling fan could help solve your winter blues too?
That’s right, running fans in the cooler months can actually help you save up to 10% on heating costs. How? With the flip of a switch!
The Science
Most ceiling fans have the ability to spin in two different directions. Looking up at your fan (put it on the slowest speed setting to see better) you’ll be able to see whether it spins clockwise or anti-clockwise. We bet your’s spins anti-clockwise.
Rotating anti clockwise means that the blades on the fan are forcing air down into the room. This creates a breeze or a draft. This make the room feel a little cooler or fresher than it would otherwise.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “hot air rises”, keep that in mind for this next part. A fan with blades that rotate clockwise, works to pull air from the bottom of the room to the top, forcing the air that naturally sits near the top of the room to travel down the sides of the walls.
How does this help?
Remember what we said about hot air rising? Having a fan that spins clockwise in winter will help push that hot air has naturally risen, back down into the room. This helps distribute heat more evenly in a room and can even allow you to turn your heaters off at certain times, helping you save energy! Plus it won’t have that “wind chill effect” either!
Adding a fan to the mix when it comes to heating your house this year can help boost your savings on energy costs. A fan that spins clockwise can help keep that warmer air right where you need it most. If you want to try it out, we’ll show you how!
How to reverse the direction of your ceiling fan:
- Turn off the fan. Either from the switch at the wall, or by pulling the chain/ cord on the fan. Depends on your specific fan.
- Using a step ladder or sturdy chair, look at the body of your unit. You should be able to see one switch. If you cant see the switch you might have to unscrew any covers on the unit.
- Change the direction of the switch.
This trick works best in a room that’s already been heated. If you want to make sure your heating system is up to scratch as Autumn rolls around, or if you’re thinking about installing a new system, we can help! Please contact our heating specialists anytime 24/7! Call & hire our expert electricians or from your nearby location for a complete electrical solution. You can also book online !
