Ceiling fan-Which direction??

[CORattler]

Which direction in winter (when temps are cool outside)
Which direction in summer (when temps are warm outside)

 

[SEnfinger]

We run cool for Summer blowing down and warm for Winter blowing up. Both on low to keep the air moving.

 

[8.1al]

That's what we have always done

 

[mamestra]

Warm air rises, cool air falls, so we have the fan draw the hot air down in winter and the hot air up in summer, I really don't think it makes that much difference as long as you have the air circulating. We use our "fireplace" in the winter and find that the hot air stays in the living room (front living room) so we use the fan to move the heat down. I doubt that we would see much difference regardless of the direction of the fan movement.

 

[NCFischers]

I leave my fans up all year. They circulate the air accross the ceiling and down the walls and move both cool and warm air without having to feel the downdraft.

 

[bncinwv]

As mentioned, heat rises, therefore the fan should blow the heated air down in the summer and the opposite in the winter. With that said, in the small interior that the fan influences, I don't think it really matters as long as the air is moving. We do the opposite of Jim and our fan blades are always pushing the air down, with the front living room, it helps cool the front by removing the upper level heat in the summer.
Bingo

 

[CORattler]

Clockwise for pushing air down?

 

[bncinwv]

Should be counter-clockwise,but regardless the blade travel should be such that the lower side of the blade trails the higher side to push air down.
Bingo

On edit: Corrected mis-information that was posted initially.

 

[Irlpguy]

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

Should be counter-clockwise,but regardless the blade travel should be such that the higher side of the blade trails the lower side to push air down.
Bingo

Might want to re-evaluate the direction of travel, when the high side "trails" the low side it actually lifts the air.

If we are sitting in the area of the fan we normally have it lifting the air, mainly so that we do not get the draft from the fan. Since hot air rises whether winter or summer it is always going to be warmest at the ceiling. The direction is mostly a personal preference I think.

 

[DarMar]

We run clockwise in the winter, drawing air up and of course the opposite counter-clockwise in summer forcing air down. Perhaps no real right answer here, just whatever makes you feel the most comfortable while in that room.

 

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

Should be counter-clockwise,but regardless the blade travel should be such that the higher side of the blade trails the lower side to push air down.
Bingo

Might want to re-evaluate the direction of travel, when the high side "trails" the low side it actually lifts the air.

If we are sitting in the area of the fan we normally have it lifting the air, mainly so that we do not get the draft from the fan. Since hot air rises whether winter or summer it is always going to be warmest at the ceiling. The direction is mostly a personal preference I think.

Duhhh, kind of did get that backwards, guess a little proof reading should be observed, I will correct the previous post! Thanks, Ed!
Bingo

 

[Irlpguy]

Worry not Bingo, my fans all say forward and reverse. I am now contemplating what represents forward, is that CW or CCW, is this direction then determined by looking up at the fan or looking down from the ceiling. To further complicate the picture, is forward blowing down or lifting up. So much to consider and we are still a long way from happy hour.

I just ask the DW what she wants, then we are both happy....wink wink....

 

[richfaa]

have no idea...

 

[bncinwv]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

have no idea...

You mean you are allowed to use it? For some reason I have a vision of bird wing clipping???
Bingo

 

[DQDick]

In the stick home, the store and our rig we have the fan blowing down in the hot weather and blowing up in the cold weather to move the warmest air off the ceiling without putting a big wind directly on us.

 

[Recumbent-MOC]

I don't think it matters much, air is going up or down and moving around in a small confined space. I particularly don't like a fan blowing on me hot or cold.

 

[Rainer-MOC]

Of course everyone is entitled to their respective opinions on the direction of fan rotation during hot and cold spells, but here is the definitive word from the Energy Star folks:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ceiling_fans.pr_ceiling_fans_usage

 

[Bill-N-Donna]

I agree with most of what has been mentioned
but I think it comes down to a personal preference.

​

​

 

[c214dick-MOC]

Are those air flows based on floor or ceiling registers?

 

[takpak]

And, to throw in a further observation that has nothing to do with direction, we took down the original cheap piece of junk fan that the fivers come with and went to the lighting specialty store to purchase a good quality ceiling fan, that doesn't "hum" when it's on. Both 3400's we had the fan "hummed" a fine tune (worse on the lower speeds) and drove me nuts. Granted, the choices are extremely limited, because of the clearance issues, but we found one we really liked, with FIVE blades, not four, and better control and NO noise. Left the light out too, as there is plenty of lighting without that silly fixture. I never used it anyway. The original fan is now doing duty out in my shop, where noise is no issue.