One of the easiest ways to make your home more comfortable while saving money and energy is using the ceiling fans in your home. Just flip a switch and you have improved, very inexpensive cooling, and heating. That’s right, it’s possible to reverse the direction of a ceiling fan and use it to help you use less heating in the fall and winter.

Here’s how you can use your ceiling fan to stay warm this winter.

#### See how much you can save with home energy changes

## How Ceiling Fans Reduce Energy Used for Heating and Cooling

A ceiling fan can raise or lower how warm a room feels [by about 4 degrees](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/fans-cooling?nrg_redirect=307661) according to the US Department of Energy. This lets you [set your thermostat](/content/home-electrification/recommended-thermostat-settings-for-each-season/index.html) about four degrees warmer in the summer or cooler in the winter.

For each degree you turn down your thermostat in heating season, you save 1-3% on energy and your heating costs according to the [Department of Energy](https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/environment-energy-coordination/take-two-degree-challenge-save-energy-and-money-season#:~:text=Going%20by%20DOE's%20estimates%2C%20you,up%2C%20so%20do%20the%20savings.).

During the summer, [the Florida Solar Energy Center](https://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FSEC-PF-306-96.pdf) found Florida home cooling energy use decreases 10-15% for each degree you raise your thermostat.

## Which Direction Should a Ceiling Fan Spin in the Winter?

When you want a warmer room, change your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise. You'll usually find a switch on the fan's main body.

Now, the fan distributes warm air, which naturally rises, back down into the room, without creating a cooling breeze. Again, the actual temperature doesn't change. You're simply using the warmer air more effectively.

## Which Direction Should a Ceiling Fan Spin in the Summer?

When you want to cool a room, run your ceiling fan counterclockwise. It’s how we normally use ceiling fans. Rotating counterclockwise, a ceiling fan pushes air down. This creates a wind chill effect on your body, making you feel cooler even as the room's actual temperature remains unchanged.

## How to Change Ceiling Fan Direction

Reversing a ceiling fan’s direction is simple, but there are safety steps. First, turn the fan off.

Use a ladder or a stable stepstool to reach the main part or motor casing of the fan, find the switch or lever and flip it. Some fans now have remote or app control or a wall switch to reverse the direction.

## Tips for Ceiling Fan Use in All Seasons

The [US Energy Information Administration](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/homes.php) reported, in 2020, 52% of an average home’s annual energy consumption was for heating and cooling. Any way you reduce that big chunk of your energy bill makes a difference.

Since a fan changes only the condition near it, it’s a waste of energy to run it when no one’s in the room.

Clean the fan regularly. A fan can spread dust or pet hair and a dirty motor or blades lose efficiency.

[Home solar panels](/content/solar/solar-panels-for-home/index.html) can power your home, including for ceiling fans, and save you money. You may also stand to save with [energy-efficient heating and cooling and other energy upgrades](https://luminance.palmetto.com/home/energy-advisor/address). To learn more and see an estimate of your savings, use our [solar savings](/content/benefits-calculator/index.html) tool.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Does it save energy to use a ceiling fan with my heating or cooling?**

Yes, even if you use ceiling fans, but still need AC in a [Texas](/content/local/texas/index.html) summer or heat in a [Vermont](/content/local/vermont/index.html) winter, you can save energy and money if it lets you adjust your thermostat setting. If you save 10-15% of energy use per degree on your thermostat, a 4-degree difference equals 40-60% less energy usage.

**Are new ceiling fans more efficient than older models?**

Yes, new ceiling fans often have improvements such as more efficient blade design and smart or remote controls which help performance and energy savings. For the best energy-efficient ceiling fans on the market, [Energy Star-certified](https://www.energystar.gov/products/ceiling_fans) ceiling fans are about 44% more efficient than other ceiling fans.