Save Money By Using Your Ceiling Fan in the Winter

Winter is quickly approaching, and now is the time to begin your home winter projects in order to ensure that your home is winterized and weather proof. Although most people only think of using their ceiling fans in the summer, turning on your ceiling fan when the weather gets cold could actually save you up to 10% on your heating bill when used in conjunction with your existing heating system.

Turning on your ceiling fan during the cooler months actually makes sense - a ceiling fan set to turn clockwise on low speed helps circulate warm air and push it down towards the center of a room. When using your central heating system during the winter, warm air that comes out of the registers in each room will naturally rise. Because these registers are up high, hot air will build at the ceiling level and gradually work its way to the floor level. Many people are unaware that many BTUs are wasted heating the ceilings of a home – areas where additional heat does not make a difference. With that being said, in order to get this hot air down, off the ceiling, and to the areas you need it most, using a ceiling fan will force warm air near the ceiling down into occupied spaces.

However, keep in mind that in the summer, ceiling fans are run in the counter-clockwise position. To use your ceiling fan during the winter months, reverse the motor and operate it at low speed in the clockwise direction. If your fan is mounted on a high ceiling, use a step ladder or an 8 foot ladder to get up to the fan and reverse the direction of the blades. This will produce an updraft that equalizes the temperature at the floor and ceiling levels, which will also prevent your heating unit from being overworked. As well, don’t forget to adjust your thermostat in order to realize even more energy savings.