Ceiling Fan Direction

A ceiling fan is the most inexpensive and a needy device that helps to keep the room warmer or cooler. Though it might not be possible for it to provide relief during the harsh summer season but knowing the ethics of ceiling fan direction can definitely help to beat the heat moderately.

It never did cross our mind that the direction of a ceiling fan would make such a lot of difference.

There are two directions that are incorporated within the fan. They come with a forward and reverse setting. When we select the forward direction, the air is blown down by the fan. A person standing under the fan the breeze can be felt. When the reverse direction is selected, the rotation of the blades is reversed and the air is blown up. The person standing under the fan won’t feel the breeze.

There is a lot of scientific rationale involved in explaining this phenomenon. We are aware that hot air rises up and the cool air sinks down.
Hence, in winter keeping the fan in reverse direction helps in circulating the warm air without directly blowing the air down. The hot air rising up gently gets mixed since the fan blades are turning in a reverse direction. Likewise, in summers running the fan in a forward direction produces a chilling effect as the air gradually brushes against the skin.
But this procedure has been recommended by the fan makers for fans that are hanging from a standard 8 feet high ceiling.

The person from Lamp Depot Marcus says that when the fans are located in higher ceilings like stairwells the opposite needs to be done for producing the desired effect. The paradox can be explained in a similar fashion. As we know cool air sinks to the bottom and hot air rises which causes the upper level to be hotter. Hence, keeping the fan in a blowing up direction causes the cool air coming from the vents on the top where they want it.
Similarly in the winter, running the fan in a downward fashion causes the warm air to seep into the lower levels of the house where major part of the day is spent.

Another factor which helps in producing the warming or the cooling effect is the speed of the fan, which plays a major role in large rooms. Slow speed takes the air and moves it instead of blowing the air which in turn causes the surrounding temperature to cool. These all work for some tie only. After an even temperature is reached the fan at low speeds help to separate the warm air and doset cause it to rise again.

While in summer a breeze is created by the high speed fans irrespective of the direction. The only difference it makes is whether we want the air to blow on our faces or on the walls.
The most common application of this phenomenon is that when someone in the family smokes inside the room, the ceiling fans should be turned in a reverse direction which would help in drawing out the smoke towards the walls away from the place you are sitting. This phenomenon is mostly used in cigar lounges where along with exhaust vents they use this process to draw smoke out of the desired area.

If the confusion still persists as to which direction the fan should be set in which season, the best way to find out is to test yourself. Whatever direction you are comfortable with should be taken as the right direction. After all comfort is the thing which everyone strives for.