Ceiling fans to reduce utility bills....

[DisneyDebbie]

I'm trying to install Hunter brand ceiling fans. I kind of remember that there are different directions that you want the fans to circle (and there is a switch to reverse the rotation). One of the rotations brings the warmer air up (for summer), and the other rotation brings the warm air down (as used in the winter). I don't know which way! Does anyone know more details of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations? I can't seem to find anything in the directions

 

[SandrA9810]

If you're laying on the floor looking up at it, you want it to spin clockwise. You want the air to push down on you to make you feel cooler. Warm air or cool air still feels cooler to your skin when it is being blown on you. That's why a fan being blown on you outside still feels cooler, even if it's sweltering. It's not exactly the temperature of the air, it's the feel of the air.

The reverse mode really doesn't do much for the winter time. At least from what I've read. Living in Florida and now California, there's almost no days without the ceiling fan on.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

From http://housewares.about.com/od/coolingheating/f/ceilfanrotation.htm

During winter heating, to help move warm air that is trapped on the ceiling, blades should turn 'forward' in a clockwise motion. This movement will push up the air and pull the warm trapped air down the sides of the room improving heat distribution.

During hot summer weather, to help produce a comfortable breeze or 'windchill' that cools the skin, blades should rotate in a 'reverse' counter-clockwise motion. The air movement has the same comfortable effect as when you fan yourself with a magazine to get relief from hot, stifling air.

And from http://www.wonderquest.com/Fans.htm

Fans come with a forward and a reverse setting. When you click it to 'forward', the fan blows the air down. Standing under the fan, you will feel a breeze. When you click it to 'reverse', the fan reverses rotation and blows the air up. Now, when you stand under the fan, you won't feel a breeze.

So, during the winter, turn the fan to 'reverse' to circulate the warm air without blowing air down and cooling you in the process. Hot air rises and a ceiling fan, running in reverse, gently mixes the air.

During the summer, on the other hand, turn it to 'forward' to create a wind-chill effect as the air moves against your skin and cools you.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

Thanks!.....I think, they seem to be conflicting,lol! I'll just experiment and see which way I like best

 

[nowellsl]

Thanks!.....I think, they seem to be conflicting,lol! I'll just experiment and see which way I like best

I was thinking the same thing! What is 'reverse' counter-clockwise kindof confusing.

I'm sitting under mine right now and it's turning clockwise. I can feel the breeze It allows me to turn my thermostat up several degrees and still be comfortable!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Thanks!.....I think, they seem to be conflicting,lol! I'll just experiment and see which way I like best

They do seem to conflict. What a mystery.

I was thinking the same thing! What is 'reverse' counter-clockwise kindof confusing.

I'm sitting under mine right now and it's turning clockwise. I can feel the breeze It allows me to turn my thermostat up several degrees and still be comfortable!

Meanwhile, mine is turning counter-clockwise and I can feel the breeze.

 

[nowellsl]

They do seem to conflict. What a mystery.



Meanwhile, mine is turning counter-clockwise and I can feel the breeze.

OK, I looked at it from underneath and I guess it is turning counter clockwise

 

[Gina]

It's counter-clockwise in the summer. I've always remembered it by chanting to myself "counter-clockwise-keeps-me-cool." Yay for mnemonics!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

It's counter-clockwise in the summer. I've always remembered it by chanting to myself "counter-clockwise-keeps-me-cool." Yay for mnemonics!

 

[DisneyDebbie]

So it's all hooked up, and counter-clockwise feels the best to me!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you realize there are some kids who have no idea what clockwise because they are only familiar with digital clocks?

 

[nowellsl]

Do you realize there are some kids who have no idea what clockwise because they are only familiar with digital clocks?

True, they don't know how to tie shoelaces either

 

[DisneyDebbie]

Do you realize there are some kids who have no idea what clockwise because they are only familiar with digital clocks?

I know, that's crazy! When my kids were younger (7ish), they would ask me to tell them the time in numbers (digital). I refused and made them use our wall clock.

I used to work at a restaurant and was APPALLED at the number of servers who couldn't calculate $ change without using their phone......

 

[DisneyDebbie]

True, they don't know how to tie shoelaces either

and apparently it's the "cool" thing in 5th grade to leave your shoes untied and just stuff the laces in.........sigh

 

[SandrA9810]

What ever happened to those curly shoe strings, that look like springs?? The ones you don't have to tie... At least velcro still seems to be on the "baby" side of the line.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If the button is up on the fan the air is being pulled up. And button down is pushing air down.
At least that is the way it is on my fan.

 

[NotUrsula]

What actually counts most is what edge of the fan blade is leading.

If air is going to be pushed down to cool, the blades should be facing such that the top edge of the blade is the one moving forward first. That motion pushes air downward, while if the blade is angled so that the lower edge is the one at the forward edge of the motion, that will pull air upward (which is good in winter to recirculate the cooler air up and force the warmer air down where you are.)

 

[DisneyDebbie]

What actually counts most is what edge of the fan blade is leading.

If air is going to be pushed down to cool, the blades should be facing such that the top edge of the blade is the one moving forward first. That motion pushes air downward, while if the blade is angled so that the lower edge is the one at the forward edge of the motion, that will pull air upward (which is good in winter to recirculate the cooler air up and force the warmer air down where you are.)

This makes sense and it's how my fan is working. Thank You!

 

[ValpoCory]

I'm trying to install Hunter brand ceiling fans. I kind of remember that there are different directions that you want the fans to circle (and there is a switch to reverse the rotation). One of the rotations brings the warmer air up (for summer), and the other rotation brings the warm air down (as used in the winter). I don't know which way! Does anyone know more details of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations? I can't seem to find anything in the directions

Just remember that a running fan actually increases the temperature in a room over time, due to entropy. So in the summer especially, turn those fans off when you leave the room.

 

[marcemc]

I was thinking the same thing! What is 'reverse' counter-clockwise kindof confusing.

I'm sitting under mine right now and it's turning clockwise. I can feel the breeze It allows me to turn my thermostat up several degrees and still be comfortable!

The first time I heard of it was in my Bikram classes, my yoga teacher said "don't worry, during winter time we reverse the fans".

I still dont think that on a room that's 106 degrees with 50% humidity that makes a difference, but hey, I'm not the teacher