In this guide, we want to help you understand the benefits of having your ceiling fan spinning in the proper direction for optimal comfort and savings!
Ceiling Fan in Summer
In the summertime, we want to ensure our ceiling fan delivers cooling airflow. The strong breeze clears out stuffy rooms, quickly dries up any sweat on our bodies, and helps to bring down the room temperature. For this to happen, you must put your ceiling fan in Summer Mode to push air downwards. In summer mode, the ceiling fan blades should spin in a counter clock motion, as shown in the diagram below.
Benefits of Summer Mode:
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Monthly Light Bill Savings
Putting your ceiling fan in summer mode can help you cool off quicker, thus reducing the amount of time you need to have your central AC running. Because ceiling fans use much less energy than central AC units, this will save you money on your monthly light bill.
Did you know that, on average, 12% of Americans’ energy bills are made up of air conditioning charges? To learn more about reducing your energy consumption, check out our “Benefits of Smart Ceiling Fans” Article.
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Instant Cooling
AC Units cannot instantly change the temperature of a room. First, you need to turn the fan on, wait 25 – 30 minutes for it to kick in, and finally begin feeling a difference up to an hour later. Putting your ceiling fan in summer mode will help to circulate air so you can start feeling cooler instantly. Pro-Tip: With Smafan’s Smart ceiling fans, you can schedule your fan to turn on remotely, so your space can begin cooling down before you arrive!
Ceiling Fan in Winter
A lot of the confusion from the viral TikTok came from homeowners not realizing that ceiling fans are just as helpful in the winter as they are in the summer. While in the summertime you want your ceiling fan to push air down. To heat your room during the winter months, set your ceiling fan to the appropriate winter setting by adjusting the direction and speed of the blades, which will blend warm air with cold air. For this, your ceiling fan has to be spinning clockwise, lifting air as it rotates.
Benefits of Winter Mode:
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Quicker Warming
Think back to your science classes: what does warm air tend to do? It rises! This is why you need your ceiling fan and heater to work as a team. The heater helps to emit warm air, while the ceiling fan helps blend that warm air that collects at the top with the air in the rest of the room. This blending will help you increase the room temperature faster.
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Reduce Power Consumption
When your ceiling fan and heater work together, this reduces the time you must have your heater running, thus reducing power consumption. If you’re not careful, energy bills can get just as high in the winter, especially in areas that experience below-zero temperatures.
How to Switch Between Winter & Summer Modes
Now that you know the difference and the benefits, it’s time to learn how to switch your fan between winter and summer modes. Most fans have a manual switch found on the motor hub near the blades. You may need a step ladder to get near your ceiling fan and manually flip the switch.
**It can be different for each ceiling fan make and model, so if you are having trouble locating the switch, refer to your installation manual.
❗ Remember to turn off your fan before getting near it. ❗
How to Control Smart Ceiling Fan
If you have a Smafan Smart Ceiling Fan, lucky for you, the process is a lot safer and easier (no ladders necessary!):
- Using the Remote:On the Smafan remote, you will see an F/R button at the Top-Center. This button stands for Forward/Reverse. Depending on the direction your fan is currently spinning in, clicking this button once will change the direction. If your ceiling fan is currently spinning in a counterclockwise motion, clicking it once will change the direction to clockwise, and vice-versa.
- Using the Carro Home App:Using the Carro Home App, select your fan from the list of devices. On the Bottom-Left corner, you will see an orange Summer-Mode button. Tap this button to change the direction of your ceiling fan.
- Using Voice Commands: Once you’ve linked your Smart ceiling fan to your Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts, you can configure a voice command to change your ceiling fan direction. It can be a command as simple as, “Alexa, put the fan in winter mode” which will help you save time and effort in the future.
Some Exceptional Setting
Just like ceiling fans are helpful in the summer and winter, they are also convenient in almost any space in your home. Here are some additional setting recommendations so you can experience comfort at all times!
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Dining Room: Counterclockwise at Medium/Low Speed
The dining room can be a lively place, especially when the entire family gets together. Many people chatting, eating, and laughing away all at once can warm up a small space rather quickly. To help your dining room remain fresh and comfortable without having your food get cold, set your fan to spin counterclockwise at a medium/low speed.
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For Those Who Smoke: Clockwise at Medium Speed
If you are hosting guests who smoke, it can feel uncomfortable to ask them to stop or step outside. A way to help with the odor and visible smoke inside is to open windows and set your fan to spin clockwise at a medium speed. This setting will help lift the smoke so that it is not in your face and move it around so that it leaves the room.
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Outdoor Patio: Counterclockwise at a High Speed
There is nothing better than a summer barbecue outdoors. The food is good; the conversation is great, and the vibes are fun! The only things that can put a damper on your summer evening are smoke, bugs, and heat. Quickly cool your outdoor patio, disperse the smoke, and keep the bugs away by setting your outdoor ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise at high-speed.
