Staying warm is at the forefront of everyone's minds during the winter months. Of course, outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and building a snowman are all fun ways to spend a snow day. After that, any excuse to stay inside is good one. (Bonus points if it includes curling up by the fireplace with a hot chocolate in hand.) Still, while you may be cranking up the thermostat to ensure that everyone in your household is snug and cozy, you might want to consider another factor: your ceiling fan.
Believe it or not, the ceiling fan can actually help you make your home warmer! Based on last year's winter weather predictions of freezing temperatures, some of us will take all the advice we can get to keep the chills outside. Just like changing the ceiling fan direction in summer to stay cool, the r logic is true in the wintertime. After learning this tip, you'll be able to heat up your home quickly and more efficiently! Read on for everything you need to know.
The Ceiling Fan Direction for Winter
First of all, it's important to know that the ceiling fan alone is not a suitable indoor heating system. In the winter months, make sure your ceiling fan blades rotate clockwise. Why? The short answer is that heat rises in any given space. The clockwise spin creates an updraft and circulates warm air around the room. This trick alone can help reduce utility and electric bills by over 15 percent!
This is especially true for homes with high ceilings. People tend to crank up their thermostat so that their home can feel warmer, which raises the utility bill. Just remember: When it's spinning clockwise, set it at the lowest speed. This evenly distributes heat throughout the room and prevents a chilly draft. To make sure that your ceiling fan is indeed turning clockwise, it's best practice to stand under it for a more accurate view. You'll know if it's turning counterclockwise (aka the incorrect direction in this case) if you feel a rush of air when standing underneath it.
What to Look for in a Ceiling Fan
Obviously, buying a ceiling fan for your home is an investment that's worth it year-round—not just winter! So here are a few things to know before purchasing just any fan:
First, you need to think of the location. Hanging a ceiling fan in a living room is a lot different than hanging one in a bathroom or outdoor location like a patio. The difference is that an outdoor setting requires a fan to meet Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) wet/damp rating. That's the main feature you need to know, but there are also other things to consider, such as mounting type (a flush mount for low ceilings or a downrod mount for high or vaulted ceilings). From there, you can consider personal preferences like style (coastal, cottage, or something more modern), different features (do you prefer a remote controlled fan or one with a pull chain?), lighting, and airflow efficiency.
Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
