Ceiling Fan Physics 101

Which way the ceiling fan should turn is a lot like changing the clocks – it generates a lot of confusion, and often people forget to do it. Lots of people don’t even know that their ceiling fan goes both ways. But most ceiling fans have a button on the propellor base that, if pushed toward the ceiling, makes the fan blades rotate clockwise and, if pushed toward the floor, makes the fan blades rotate counter-clockwise.

In 1895, Emerson Fans introduced the world’s first ceiling fan that could run on an alternating electric current. Though central air conditioning largely reduced ceiling fans from must-have appliance to it’d-be-nice-if. Still the ceiling fan is used all over the country – in homes with and without other air conditioning – and a multi-million dollar industry has grown. Some fans are just fans. Some fans also include light fixtures. There are contemporary aluminum fans and the traditional wood blade fan. Ceiling fans come with remote controls.

In the winter, a ceiling fan should rotate clockwise. The theory behind this is that the flow of air pushes upward. Hot air rises (the theory behind the hot air balloon and Rush Limbaugh) so the air hits that collected hot air and distributes it through the room.

In the summer, a ceiling fan should rotate counter-clockwise. The theory here is just the opposite of winter. The flow of air pushes down. On its own, the fan will produce a force of air – that’s why, if you stand under a ceiling fan in summer, you’ll feel a breeze. The ceiling fan works well in circulating cool air in conjunction with a room air conditioner.

Another tip to maximizing your ceiling fan experience is to make sure you take a dust rag and clean each blade. Dust accumulates on the sides of the blades and the “undersides” – the part of the blade that faces the ceiling. After all you don’t want to breathe dust.