Benefits of using ceiling fans in winter

Ceiling fans are a low-cost cooling option in summer but can also help keep your home warm during winter as well. As a bonus using the ceiling fan can reduce heating bills along the way.

A ceiling fan can assist a reverse cycle air conditioner or heater to evenly heat a large area, especially one with high ceilings or a double story space like a stairwell or mezzanine level which tend to lose a lot of heat as it rises.

Winter mode

Switching the fan blades to turn in the opposite direction during winter will gently draw the warm air up and circulate it down the edges of the room.

Have you ever stood on a chair in a heated room and observed how warm it was up there? The constant circulation stops hot air from rising up and sitting near the ceiling. Apart from the super tall most of us live closer to the floor than the ceiling, this means our heaters are generating a lot of heat that we are simply not utilising.

Often on cold days turning up the thermostat fails to increase the warmth of a room very much, what it does is drive up the heating bill. Turning up the heat can be costly and ineffective, utilising the warm air already in the room (just up by the ceiling) with a ceiling fan can save on power bills and increase comfort levels in your home.

Ceiling fans are cheap to run, as they only need to be on a very low speed to assist the heater to warm your home. The fan won't change the temperature of the room but it will redistribute the warm air already there to where you are.

Adjusting the direction of the ceiling fan for winter

The switch is often located on the hub or motor of the fan and may be labeled winter/summer or forward/reverse. Remote control ceiling fans may have the switch on the remote. Check the user manual if you can't easily find the switch.

Remember to turn the ceiling fan off when you leave a room to maximise energy efficiency of your home this winter.

‍