MOLINE, Ill — Ceiling fans do more than just give off a nice breeze to help cool you down during the summer months. Did you know they can also help you save on your heating bill during the winter months, too? Just changing this one setting on any ceiling fan will immediately put it into "winter mode" and also save you some dough in the coming months.
Flipping the switch
Ceiling fan manufacturers have included a nifty feature on most models that allows you to switch the direction in which the blades spin. By default, fans typically are set to spin counterclockwise, forcing air downward into the room. However, by sliding a switch near the bottom of the fan, you can change the direction so that the air begins circulating up toward the ceiling and then down the surrounding walls.
How it saves you money
Ceiling fans serve two purposes; keeping you comfortable and circulating the air throughout the room. During the warmer months when air conditioning is required, counterclockwise rotation should be used to send air directly below. This airflow is used in conjunction with our natural sweating process to help cool our skin down using the process of evaporation.
During the cooler months when your furnace is running, the clockwise rotation should be used to help circulate air throughout the room. Without the use of a ceiling fan, warmer air rises to the top of the room and sits at the ceiling. Meanwhile, closer to the floor, temperatures can be significantly cooler which often prompts us to call for more heat.
Using a ceiling fan during the cooler season helps distribute that heat caught up in the ceiling more easily since the upward motion of the air going into the fan acts to push that warmer air down throughout the room.
When the room temperature is more uniform, you are less likely to adjust the thermostat and call for more heat. It's a win-win. You stay comfortable, and your furnace doesn't have to work as hard or as often, saving you money!
Remember, this only applies to ceiling fans, not standalone fans that you would place on the floor.
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