Most fans are reversible: One direction pushes air down, creating a nice summer breeze; the other direction sucks air up, helping you distribute heat in winter. There's normally a switch on the motor to change the fan's direction.
Is Your Fan Turning in the Right Direction for Summer?
Image: Michael Spreitzer & HouseLogic
- Stand beneath the running fan, and if you feel a cooling breeze, it’s turning correctly.
- If not, change directions, usually by flicking a switch on the fan’s base.
Typically, it's counterclockwise or left for summer and clockwise for winter, but the best method is to follow the steps above.
Funny note: We read about a clever person who used bubbles to see which direction his fan was blowing.