Ceiling Fan Direction

Ceiling fans are usually used in summer. They make cool air flow around the room, giving us respite from the heat. However, they can also be used to circulate warm air in winter, because of a small but useful feature of changing the direction of their blades. Fans consist of a button at the back of the blades, which when flicked, changes the direction of rotation of the blades of the fan.

Ceiling fans can rotate both counterclockwise and clockwise. There is a button, generally located behind the rotor, which is used to change the rotation direction of the blades.

When the blades of a fan are moving in a counterclockwise motion, they pull the air from around the room, providing you with a gentle breeze. In scientific terms, it is known as the wind chill factor. Hence, the blades suck in the air around the room and blow the same towards you, making you feel cooler.

Thus, this counterclockwise motion proves to be very utile during the hot summer months. This, however, is of no use during the winter. This is where the clockwise rotation of fan comes in handy.

When fans rotate clockwise, the effect produced is the opposite to the one where they rotate counterclockwise. In a clockwise rotation, the fan sucks air from the surroundings (similar to an exhaust fan) and circulates it to the other parts of the room.

During winter, warmer air is concentrated closer to the ceiling and hence, when the fan pulls the comparatively cooler air towards itself, the warmer air is pushed downwards, suddenly making the room a lot warmer.

Steps to Change Direction

• Turn off the fan
• You will need a stool, chair, or stand for changing the fan direction if the fan is suspended from a high ceiling. These will prop you up to the height of the fan.
• Run your hand across the part of the fan behind the blades. There will be a toggle switch.

• Flick the switch the other way to change the direction.
• Restart the fan.

Hence, changing the direction of a fan's rotation only involves four simple steps. The fan is an amazing climate control contraption which proves its utility not only in the summer, but also during the winter.