The Simple Ceiling Fan Trick That Will Lower Your Energy Bill This Winter

A quick household adjustment can improve comfort and help you save on heating costs this season. According to home maintenance and HVAC experts, reversing the direction of your home's ceiling fans is a small to-do with a big impact. “Switching your ceiling fan can help the air circulate more effectively, so you don’t have pockets of hot or stagnant air,” explains Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Handyman. “Now that the cold is here to stay, a correct ceiling fan can help you stay warm and toasty this winter.”

Below, here's why this overlooked winter-prep task can save energy and the dos and don'ts of doing it safely.

Why Reversing Your Ceiling Fan Blades Is Essential

During winter, warm air naturally rises above everyone’s heads to the ceiling and starts to build up—which makes your furnace run more than it should. Your ceiling fan can help conduct and improve this airflow, depending on the direction of its blades. "Clockwise during winter will create an updraft, pulling cold air up from the floor while pushing out and down the warm air coming from your heating vents," explains Joe Slom, general manager of Wolcott, a home services company. "Counter-clockwise for summer helps create a downdraft, pushing the cool air from your vents throughout the room."

The Immediate Benefits

Once reversed, air circulation throughout the room should immediately improve. “Because hot air rises, your room can feel cold in the winter—especially if your HVAC vents are up near the ceiling,” Slom says. “By changing the direction of your ceiling fan to clockwise, you force greater distribution of warm air, making your room feel more comfortable. It can also help you avoid that stuffy feeling that comes from running your furnace too long.”

In just a few minutes, you should feel the temperature even out in the room as the airflow redistributes upward and downward. 

Design Longevity

In addition to improved comfort, a properly turning ceiling fan can also help protect the interior of your home. For instance, if heat collects near light fixtures, it can bake the paint off walls unevenly. Fans—turning clockwise—spread it out across the room. "The pattern helps avoid pockets of heat buildup near ceiling-mounted light fixtures or drywall seams," says Danny Niemela, vice president and CFO at ArDan Construction, a luxury home remodeling company. "That also helps drywall stay free of mold in humid climates."

Improved Efficiency

Improved air circulation means you'll feel the effects of your heating system more thoroughly and faster. “Consequently, your system doesn’t need to run for as long to achieve comfortable levels,” says Slom. “Shorter or less frequent operation of your heating system leads to lower energy usage and reduced energy bills.” 

This also equals a longer life for your HVAC system. “Rooms that are more than nine feet tall will really benefit because the higher the ceiling, the more hot air will pool near the top at temperature differences of up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit,” explains Niemela. “The fan evens out that gradient in just a few minutes, which is something a furnace cannot do by itself.”

Remember, ceiling fans are not meant to replace HVAC systems. “Rather, it allows them to not have to work as hard, sometimes cutting costs by 30 percent if used correctly,” Shimek adds. “Fans can spread the cool or hot air being pushed out by an HVAC into all parts of a room, allowing the systems to push out less air.”

The Dos and Don'ts of Safely Reversing a Ceiling Fan

• DO cut the power. Make sure your power is off at the circuit breaker to ensure no electrical injuries. After changing direction, set the fan to a low speed and see if you feel a strong breeze, suggests Shimek. If so, it might not be switched to the proper winter mode.
• DON'T stop a fan while it's spinning. Fan blades are like an airplane propeller—they have to be tuned properly. “If you suddenly stop the blades while they’re mid-cycle, you disrupt its pattern and throw it off its axis,” says Michael DeMartino, senior vice president of installations at Power Home Remodeling.
• DO clean your blades. Use a compressed air duster to blow dust out of the motor. “This is an often-neglected household chore, and it can make a difference in your home’s air quality as ceiling fan blades collect a lot of dust,” Slom says. Consider using a pillowcase to trap dust while you clean each fan blade.
• DON'T attach additional pull chains or cords. While it may be tempting to hang decorative objects or to yank the chain multiple times in quick succession to control its speed, don’t. "It pulls your fan off center and it’ll eventually cause long-term damage," warns DeMartino. "Instead, take your time and pull the chain slowly to get your fans operating at the speed you want."
• DO maintenance and safety checks. Wipe down the light kit, tighten the blade screws, and check for wobble. If you can push and pull on the motor housing more than half an inch, either it needs to be balanced or the mounting bracket screws are loose. “A fan spinning at 180 revolutions per minute that is not perfectly centered will vibrate a ceiling box loose after a while,” Niemela says. “I have had to replace fans that were originally installed for under $100, but cost the homeowner $1,500 in drywall repair because it vibrated loose and cracked their ceiling.”