Updated: January 2024
Did you know that you can use ceiling fans year-round to save money and energy on cooling and heating costs? That’s right, your fan can actually make you feel warmer in the winter!
How Ceiling Fans Work
Ceiling fans do not actually change the temperature of a room, but they can make you feel more comfortable by moving air across your skin. That airflow creates a wind chill effect that helps your body cool itself, which is why a room can feel cooler when the fan is running. In cooler months, reversing the fan direction can gently push warmer air that collects near the ceiling back down into the living space, helping you feel warmer without changing the thermostat. Remember, ceiling fans cool and warm people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave the room.
Do Ceiling Fans Save Energy in Winter?
Compared to a furnace or air conditioner, a ceiling fan is inexpensive to run, often costing just a few cents per hour. That makes it a practical tool for improving comfort year-round, especially when temperatures vary from floor to ceiling.
- Heat naturally rises, so in winter it is common for the floor to feel cold while warmer air collects near the ceiling and upper levels.
- In summer, lower levels may feel comfortable while upper floors and upstairs rooms can feel much hotter because warm air builds up above.
- Setting the fan direction correctly helps mix the air and reduce hot and cold spots by circulating trapped warm air back down in winter and improving overall airflow in summer.
Getting the Most from Your Home Heating
When you turn on your heating system, whether it is a boiler, heat pump, or furnace, the heat gets transferred to the rooms in your home where it rises toward the ceiling. Think of a hot air balloon. In addition to the “heat rises” problem, if you have air leaks in your home when the air is rising out of the attic, the negative pressure inside the home compensates by pulling in the cold air near the floor.
If you have very high ceilings, you know how long it takes to get warm. Homes with leaky ceilings and attics will have a hard time staying comfortable. Unfortunately, the heat that enters our homes heads to the ceiling, not near the ground where humans and pets are. To fix the problem, we recommend air sealing and using ceiling fans to circulate the warm air. If you are looking to upgrade or install a new fan in your home, speak with a professional about ceiling fan installation today.
Do Ceiling Fans Help in Winter?
Yes, ceiling fans can absolutely help during winter. Using them is often a more economical way to stay comfortable than relying solely on your heating system because fans use far less electricity than a furnace uses to generate heat. When set correctly, a ceiling fan can also help redistribute warm air that collects near the ceiling back down into the living space, reducing cold spots and making the room feel more evenly heated.
How Do They Work in Summer?
The angled blades of your ceiling fan will blow air downwards during the summer when it is running counterclockwise (forward). You will feel the air blowing on you when you stand underneath the fan. According to the U.S. EPA, with a ceiling fan, you can lower the thermostat around 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
What Direction Should a Ceiling Fan Spin in Winter?
Ceiling fans should rotate in a clockwise direction in winter, which helps push air up toward the ceiling instead of blowing it directly down on you. Set the fan to a low speed for a gentle, continuous updraft that encourages the warmer air near the ceiling to circulate back down into the room. Some older ceiling fans do not have a reverse switch, which limits how well they can help with winter comfort. If that is the case, upgrading to a reversible model can improve year round efficiency and comfort.
Ceiling Fan Benefits
- Running ceiling fans in reverse can save you around 10% on heating and air conditioning costs.
Ceiling fans allow you to raise or lower the temperature of your thermostat (depending on the season) about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. This could be the difference between a running or a silent HVAC system. The less you use the HVAC system, the longer it will last. - Moving warm air downward reduces the amount of escaped heat in the attic. The less escaping air, the less of a stack effect. Sealing air leaks around your home, especially the basement and attic will help even more.
- Ceilings fans improve airflow and your home’s indoor air quality. While ceiling fans should never serve as your only ventilation method, they can help circulate stale air and prevent moisture problems, such as mold.
Choose Aj Danboise For All Your Ceiling Fan Installation Needs
If you’re looking for home electrical service in Southeastern Michigan that you can depend on to get the job done right you’ve come to the right place! We’re a family-owned and operated business and have been serving homeowners throughout Southeast Michigan since 1925. We have the expertise you need and can be counted on for all of your home electrical needs. From regular maintenance, to repair and replacement, we offer complete electrical service.
Whether it’s home upgrades or routine repairs, AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical are the plumbing and HVAC experts you can trust! Call us at (248) 453-2337 to schedule an appointment today!
