Flip Your Fan: Direction Matters
Most people miss out on comfort and savings by running ceiling fans the wrong direction. Ceiling fans are a home’s unsung hero, but only if you use them right.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “If you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.”
Here’s what you need to know about how to make your fan work smarter for you:
- Fans cool people, not rooms. If you leave the room, turn the fan off. Otherwise, you’re just spinning up your electric bill. This simple habit can save you up to $7 a month, per fan.
- Let your fan help your A/C. The breeze from the fan makes you feel cooler, so you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher and still stay comfortable. A fan can make you feel up to 3 degrees cooler, so a 75-degree setting can start feeling like 72.
- Change direction with the seasons.
In the summer, the ceiling fan direction should be counterclockwise. The downward breeze, generated by counterclockwise fan spin direction, will make us feel cooler. We won’t have to push the air conditioner so hard.
In the winter, the ceiling fan direction should be clockwise. The upward cold air direction generated by the ceiling fan will displace the warm air at the top of the room, and push the heated air down.
Use these tips to keep your comfort high and your energy costs lower, no matter the season.
- Thanx to FPL.
