Ceiling fan direction: Summer vs. Winter

The rule of thumb for maximum effectiveness is downward in warm weather, upward in cold.

I know I'll get flamed for this, and I know this thread is ancient, but it is relavent.

There is NO summer or winter "direction". This is a MYTH.

Circulating heat and cooling is more a product of blade speed than direction, especially in larger rooms.

Slow speeds do not blow the air around causing it to cool. Slow speeds take air and move it. What happens is where ever the air is moved the air that was there is displaced.

In the winter, with the blades blowing upward, the cool air below is SLOWLY moved up and the warmer air above is displaced down around the ceiling and walls.
Now take this supposedly "winter direction" and put the fan on high or medium. You WILL feel a cool breeze along the walls.

With a high ceiling you can leave the fan blowing down in winter and you will do the same thing only the warm air itself is displaced downward and the cool air is moved out by the warm.

Thing is, this all only works for a while. Once all the air is mixed you are at an even temperature plane. The fan in low speed is keeping the warmer air from separating and rising again.


In summer medium and high speeds create a breeze, just like and other fan in a home, regardless of the direction. Do you want the cool breeze blowing straight down from the fan, or indirectly down along the walls?
Simple as that.

I agree with Stan for the most part. Reverse feature is a gimmick, you can keep your fan in downdraft year round and just run it in low during the winter. On most fans, this is counterclockwise.

The REAL Ceiling Fan FAQ:

Frequently asked ceiling fan questions - Ceiling Fans N More