Which way is your fan fanning?

Gary Dymski | Home Work

July 27, 2006

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There is a switch on my kitchen ceiling fan that goes up and down. Which position should it be in for the summer?

Diana W., Mastic Beach

You tell me. Just run a simple test. Turn on the fan and stand underneath it for a few minutes. If the air flow is blowing down from the ceiling, the fan is in its summer mode. If the rotation of the blades is pulling air up from the floor, then the fan is in its winter mode. In warm weather, the fan is designed to push air down. In cold weather, the fan is designed to pull air upward so warm air near the ceiling is recirculated back toward the living area.

On my fan at home, I pay little attention to the switch but watch the rotation of the blades. When my blades move counterclockwise, air is forced down toward the floor, so the fan is set for summer.