An often overlooked switch on ceiling fans could be the key to staying a bit cooler this summer.
If you’ve ever taken a close look at the fan, you may have noticed a small switch located on the side of the fan base. The switch, which is found on nearly every fan, can change the direction the fan spins.
Using that switch according to the season will not only keep you more comfortable, but it can also help you save money.
In the summer, make sure that your fan is going in a counterclockwise direction, which forces cool air directly downward and creates a “wind chill effect,” according to Home Depot. In the winter, you can switch it up so the fan rotates clockwise at a low speed, circulating the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling.
What size fan is best?
If you have ceiling fans as well as air conditioning, using the fan correctly will allow you to raise the thermostat by roughly 4 degrees Fahrenheit and still feel just as comfortable, according to the Department of Energy. In moderately hot weather, you may even be able to turn off the AC. The DOE reminds people to turn off fans in unoccupied rooms.
If you’re in the market for a ceiling fan, larger fan blades will move more air than smaller ones, but you have to make sure it’s an appropriate size for the space.
The Department of Energy recommends a 36- or 44-inch diameter fan for rooms up to 225 square feet. If the room is larger, consider a fan that is 52 inches or more, but keep in mind that if the room is longer than 18 feet one fan may not be enough.
Ventilation with the proper fan will allow you to raise the thermostat by roughly 4 degrees without discomfort, according to the Department of Energy.
Bracing for (another) hot summer
Following recent trends, this summer is expected to be especially brutal, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
The report, issued in mid-May, found that all states are favored to experience above-average summer heat.
The likelihood of a scorching summer varies regionally with the following states seeing the highest probability, according to NOAA: Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico.
New England, south Florida and a large swath of the Mountain West are also at an elevated likelihood of a hotter-than-normal summer.
Alix Martichoux contributed to this report.
