While you may not be aware of it, ceiling fan direction (the direction which a ceiling fan rotates) is adjustable. And, depending on the time of year will determine on how you have your ceiling fan’s direction adjusted. Simply put, ceiling fan direction during winter is different from ceiling fan direction during summer.
Ceiling fans are fairly simple to operate. The trick is to know when to set them in the proper direction. For those of you who still have your owner’s manual to the fan, the manual will explain thoroughly how to set the direction of the fan and what direction for the specific time of year the fan should be set to rotate.
When ceiling fan direction is set in the forward or clockwise position (which will look as though it is rotating the opposite direction when you look up at the fan) then the fan is pushing or drawing the air downward into the room. By circulating the air downward, a downdraft is created which then helps to cool the room- although it is not cooling the air.
When ceiling fan direction is set to rotate in the reverse or counterclockwise position (which will look as though it is rotating in the opposite direction when you look up at the fan) then you are creating an effect in which moves the warm air that tends to sit or gather on the ceiling and circulating it back into the room. This helps to bring the heat back into the room and saves on the energy bill. As the fan rotates, it pushes the warm air back into the room and down the walls of the room.
Obviously, when the ceiling fan direction is adjusted to rotate in the forward or clockwise position, this is a setting that is used for the summer months and when a fan is adjusted to rotate in the reverse or counterclockwise position, this is a setting that is used during the winter months. There is one exception, however, and that is if you fan is located over a stairway. In cases where your ceiling fan is located over a stairway you will want to adjust the fan so that it rotates the opposite. Meaning, that in the summer time, instead of adjusting the fan to the reverse or counterclockwise position and in the winter months you will want to adjust the fan so that it is set in the forward or clockwise position.
Adjusting ceiling fan direction is fairly simple and can be done by simply pulling on the cord which is attached to the fan. Thus, only choose the best ceiling fan when buying a ceiling fan, one that can be adjusted with ease.