Which way should your ceiling fan spin in winter and summer?

In summer, set it to spin counterclockwise when you look up, so the air blows down on you.^⁠[1,2] The breeze helps you feel cooler, but it doesn’t make the room’s air any cooler.^⁠[1]

Stand under the fan and check that you feel a breeze.^⁠[1] Switches look different on every fan, so trust the air more than the switch.^⁠[2]

In winter, set it to spin clockwise on low when you look up.^⁠[1,2] That pulls air up under the fan, which brings the warm air near the ceiling back down into the room.^⁠[4] The fan doesn’t make heat. It moves the warmth you already have.^⁠[4]

Keep it on low, because a faster speed can make a chilly breeze.^⁠[2] If it feels drafty, or no warmer, turn it down or off. And if the room doesn’t need heat, you can skip winter mode.

Stand under the fan and look up.^⁠[2] Watch one blade as it passes the top of the circle. Low speed makes it easier to see.

• If it moves to your left, the fan is spinning counterclockwise.
• If it moves to your right, it’s spinning clockwise.

Then check the air. In summer you should feel a breeze on you.^⁠[2] In winter you want a gentle flow, without a chilly draft.^⁠[1,2]

Your fan may have a small switch on its body, a remote or an app.^⁠[2] The steps are different for each, so follow your fan’s manual.^⁠[2,5]

Check the manual before you decide something’s wrong. Some fans reverse with a remote or an app instead of a switch.^⁠[2] Use the steps for your own model, not another fan’s.^⁠[2,5] If the manual doesn’t mention a reverse setting, your fan may not have one.

If the fan’s light flickers, that’s a different problem. See our guide to what to check when lights flicker.

Not always. ENERGY STAR pairs using a fan with changing your thermostat.^⁠[1] In summer, the breeze may let you set the AC warmer and still feel comfortable.

The fan uses electricity too, so running it with the AC set the same isn’t a saving. In winter, it moves warm air you already have, and it doesn’t make heat.^⁠[1,4] If your heat is included in your rent, a warmer room may not change your electric bill.

How much electricity a fan uses depends on the model. Its EnergyGuide label helps you compare, and your cost depends on how much you run it and your local price.^⁠[6] Find the label on the maker’s website, then estimate your ceiling fan’s running cost. For the bigger picture, see what uses the most electricity at home.

No. Turn the fan off when nobody’s in the room, in summer and winter.^⁠[1,4] The breeze cools people, not the room, so there’s no need to switch it on before you get home.^⁠[1]

When you’re home, run it when it makes you more comfortable. On a mild day, you might want it one afternoon and not the next.

Once your fan feels right, we can help with your bills too. When you connect your electricity account, we look for ways to save while you keep paying your utility as usual.^⁠[7] It’s free to sign up, with no contracts.

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