Ceiling fan does double-duty
Q: I read your article about adjusting a wobbly ceiling fan and saw the tip about having the blades push downward in the summer. How do you do that? Do they need to spin in a certain direction, or do I have to do something else? — A.N., Sonoma, Calif.
A: Most ceiling fans have a small switch located on the base unit, near the fan blades, to change the direction in which the blades rotate. The fan blades are canted (tilted) at a shallow angle. As air meets the resistance of the flat part of a blade, it is redirected along that resisting angle and flows in that direction as it passes the edge of the blade. (Not for long, though — but long enough to be felt in an average-sized living area.)
When you flip the switch and reverse the direction in which the blades rotate, the airflow direction is reversed as well because it is now meeting the flat part of the blade at a different angle.
Switching the direction of the blades is a neat and sometimes cost-efficient way to keep a room comfortable year-round. In the summer, a nice downward breeze from the ceiling fan can make even a non-air-conditioned room feel cool. In the winter, directing the flow upward will gently “stir” the air, moving hot air from the ceiling to the rest of the room and reducing stuffiness without creating a breeze, which can be uncomfortable in January. The main benefit is that the thermostat may not need to be set as high (or as low) to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Be sure to turn the ceiling fan off and wait for the blades to stop spinning before flipping the directional switch. Then, try the fan in both directions and note the differences in the room’s temperature and/or comfort level.
HOME TIP: Your advice on wobbly ceiling fans is good to know — however, some fans come equipped with a ball connection that is designed to allow a fan to achieve a high speed without leaving the ceiling. This results in a slight rocking of the fan, which disturbs some of my guests, but it has not come loose in 25 years of use. — Bob M., via e-mail