Which Way Should a Ceiling Fan Spin?

If any room in your house has a high ceiling, like the living room in my house does, it’s an especially good candidate for a ceiling fan. Hot air rises, tending to collect near the ceiling, and depending on the ceiling fan direction, the spinning blades can make the room cooler or warmer. That’s how our fan works.

HVAC pro Simon Bernath explains it like this: “In the summer, you mainly want to feel the breeze and so you should set the fan to ‘push’ air down. In the winter months, you’re mainly trying to create gentle air circulation but without feeling a breeze.” There’s a catch, however, as contractor Ryan Meagher points out: The fan has to have angled blades.

Most ceiling fans do have angled blades, so if you’re wondering how to get the most out of yours, here’s what you need to know.

Does the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan Matter?

Ceiling fan direction can make a big difference. “You can think about this similarly to how an airplane creates lift to fly,” explains Meagher. “If the fan is moving in one direction it will create a lifting effect for the air that is passing through the blades. If you switch the direction it will create a downward flow of air.”

The cooling effect of a ceiling fan during the hot summer months is obvious, but not everyone appreciates the warming effect it can have in the winter. In each season, the boost in air circulation can help keep a room comfortable while saving on energy costs. In our house, we run the ceiling fan while burning wood in the stove, and the fan circulates the warm air throughout the house (in fact, sometimes it gets too hot). In summer, the cool breeze the fan creates is a welcome respite from the sometimes oppressive heat.

• Remember: Ceiling fan direction only matters if the fan has angled blades.

What Direction Should Your Ceiling Fan Spin in the Summer?

“In the summer,” says Bernath, “you mainly want to feel the breeze, so you should set the fan to ‘push’ air down, usually with the blades spinning counterclockwise.” The counterclockwise direction is standard but doesn’t necessarily apply to every fan because it depends on which direction the blades are angled.

To be more general, you want the fan to spin with the leading edges of the blades higher than the trailing edges. This way, air will flow from the tops of the blades down toward the floor.

What Direction Should Your Ceiling Fan Spin in the Winter?

Conversely, a ceiling fan needs to spin in a “reverse direction” during the winter months, which in most cases is clockwise. Because warm air rises, the air near the ceiling can be three to four degrees warmer than air near the floor. A ceiling fan that spins with the leading edges of the blades lower than the trailing edges will draw cooler air up and force warmer air near the ceiling down and out toward walls.

Does It Matter Which Room?

A ceiling fan works most efficiently if you use it in a central room because some of the warm or cool air it generates can circulate from there to other parts of the house. However, you can install a ceiling fan in any room, and you can adjust the ceiling fan direction to derive the most benefit, depending on the room’s characteristics and your heat source.

HVAC pro John Jordan explains: “In large open spaces with high ceilings, the clockwise winter setting is particularly effective because it prevents heat from being trapped too high above living areas. Conversely, in smaller rooms or spaces without strong central heating, you might find that keeping the fan on low in counterclockwise mode even in winter can help distribute localized heat from space heaters or sunlight more efficiently. Additionally, in humid climates, running the fan counterclockwise year-round can enhance evaporation and cooling without the need for constant A/C adjustments.”

How to Change the Direction of a Ceiling Fan

Most types of ceiling fans have a switch or chain on the motor that lets you change the direction from summer mode to winter mode and back again. You will most likely need a ladder to reach it. Always make sure your fan is turned off and completely still before getting on the ladder.

More upscale models come with remote controls that have buttons that let you change the spin direction and speed of the fan. It’s also possible that the wall switch that controls the fan is directional with three settings: one for forward, one for reverse and one for off.

If you have an older fan that doesn’t run in reverse, you’re not necessarily out of options. You may be able to reverse the pitch of the fan blades, using a wrench or screwdriver, but that depends on whether your fan design allows for this adjustment.

About the Experts

• Simon Bernath is the founder of FurnacePrices.ca, which has been providing information about HVAC systems and home energy use to homeowners and small businesses across North America for over 10 years.
• Ryan Meagher is the Business Development Manager for BVM Contracting, a Toronto-based company founded by his father.
• John Jordan is the President of Integrity Heating & Cooling Inc., which has been serving the Chicago area for over 25 years.

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