You need to be careful that you are not just helping the air cool faster against surfaces like windows. You would get benefit ensuring the windows have full curtains and pelmits to break the air exchange cycle against any windows.

I was told ceiling fans cost approx. $7.00 a month..Is this true?…AJO

Craig,
Good post on the ceiling fans. America seems to have forgotten all the lessons we learned in the ’70s after the Arab oil embargos and this one deserved to be dusted off and put out there for the younger folks.
Jack

After reading your answer above is it then correct to have the fan work in the direction to pull up the air from the floor to aid in cooling with the air conditioner? Thank you

You say have the fan turning the opposite direction for the winter. My question is…which way is the opposite? Clock wise for winter and counter clockwise for summer? I have always wondered about this.
Thank you,
Lorraine

You should really indicate whether clockwise or counterclockwise when talking about ceiling fans and their role in heating and cooling.

I have known this fact, on reversing fans to re-distribute heat at the ceiling, since 1981!
I installed seven reversible fans in my home and three in my Mother’s home, in that year! It’s great that FPL lets their customers know of this savings idea! Obviously many fan owners have been born since that time! Yes, it really does work and save money, too!!

I would like tips on how to rotate what fans you have on in which rooms to get the best cooling.
I understand that you should turn the fan off when you leave a room. Is this correct? Does this
mean then that you normally would not have all of your fans running at the same time.
We are away in the summer but leave our A/C at
78-80. Usually rotate two fans in our larger
rooms to help cool. What should we be dooing?
Thanks

Is it more efficient to leave a ceiling fan on low in a bedroom to keep the temperature lower all day, or to turn it off when you leave? It seems if I turn it off, the air conditioner has to run longer to cool the room at night.

Ceiling fans do exactly the same movement of air whether in winter or summer mode. The only difference is that in summer mode (counter clock wise)you feel the movement of air.

so which way IS REVERSE?????
is it clockwise looking UP. this has always confused me.

when running your air condition should the ceiling fan turn clock wise or counter clock wise?

I haven’t turned on my heat this year, other than once to make sure it was functional. SW Florida FTW!

I have a condo here in Florida and I live here only from November to April. I have seiling fans in each apartment. Do you think that it is a good decision to let the fans runs when I’m not here from May to November. Samething for A/C and humidistat.

Is it less expensive to run your ceiling fans with the windows open during the cooler weekends then running the AC?

using ceiling fans during summer months: is this an energy saver setting fans on low always making it feel cooler and setting ac at higher setting? also leaving ac air handler on always does this save energy

a Question: which direction is for summer (warm weather).
If I reverse, which way should the blades turn?

Should I invest in a solar water heater.

By suggesting that ceiling fans be run in reverse in Florida during the winter do you mean counter- clockwise?

I am confuse as to what is reverse. Clockwise or counter clock? I could never notice the flow. Thank you..

During the blow downward or upward I don’t see the difference in the energy consumption and as consequence in savings. In any case the ceiling fans need the same amount of energy along any season.

What is the ideal ac temperature when I am away from my home in the summer

Question…………I have a wall switch to turn my hot water heater on and off……..I only use hot water to shower/bath with during the winter
months……..is it more economical to turn it on when I need hot water and then turn it off, versus leaving it on all the time……during the winter, never have it on in the summer….thanks.

S. M. Writer

Re: Your e-mail about the savings gained by using natural gas. FYI We have no natural gas supplied to the Savannah’s on north Merritt Island! Is there any plans to make it available in the future?

I am glad to see that FPL is using videos. They are much easier to follow than a written blog. Plus I like to see there is a real energy expert who is more of a scientist than a marketing person. Good job.

It would be more informative to specify ‘reverse’ as clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. I do not know the rotation direction which the author describes as ‘reverse’.

What is “backwards”? Clockwise or counterclockwise?

Do ceiling fans help, in any way, to leave on in a vacant house or condo in SW Florida during the summer months when owners are “up-north” – or, are ceiling fans entirely for “creature comfort”?

My husband and I disagree on which is the correct way to use the fan to cool the room. If you look up at the fan, should the blades be moving in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction? Every married couple we have asked have also disagreed with each other. Please settle this.

I just purchased two air purifiers and wondering how they will effect my electric bill.

Okay, so if I am looking up at the fan during the winter which way should it turn?

Hello, Great tip on ceiling fan use, but does anyone actually use their heating system in Florida? We may warm up the house on occasion, but certainly we would not reverse our 7 fans for that brief period. Too much trouble to save a dollars’ worth of electricity don’t you think?

Thanks, Earl T.

Good information here. Fans can be used a lot more than people probably realize including ground fans used in combination to help to bring in outside air and redistribute it throughout a dwelling that does not otherwise have good cross ventilation.

The ‘off’ position isn’t a bad option for South Florida during Winter.

its feb and 84 degrees

“turn your ceiling fan in the opposite direction”….does that mean clockwise or counter clockwise in the Florida winter?

It would be useful if you could tell us which way, clockwise or reverse, the fans should be turning when you look them from under for instance to achieve either results. Thanks.

Many thanks for your above info about ceiling fans.

I wonder if it makes a difference how many blades the fans have?
I have seen them with 3, 4, 5 blades and also of different shapes?

Also, is it smart to install a fan in small kitchens in condominiums? We do not even have exhaust system….

Thanks in advance.

Lilian

Instead of saying “run your fan in reverse”, it would be more helpful if you would specify either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

i will try the reverse, my problem is that everytime I turn on the heat, it stays on for about fithteen min. and the breaker trips, what can I do about that?

Every month there is a new and reliable tip from you at FPL-other electric suppliers should take a tip from you folks!!!thanks

so to be clear…in the summer fans should run clockwise and in the winter fans should run counterclockwise?

Please remind me…..ceiling fans to run clockwise or counter-clockwise normally (when a/c is on)??

Some people wrote in to ask should the fan be turning clockwise or counter clockwise in summer and winter? Ceiling fans typically rotate counterclockwise when you look up at the fan while the fan is blowing the air downward. That is the normal operating mode in summer or anytime you want to feel cooler without lowering the A/C thermostat. If you have a fan with a reversing switch to blow the air upwards on low speed while space heating in winter for better heat distribution, then the typical fan blowing air up will be rotating clockwise when viewed from underneath.

Summer mode pushes hot air from the ceiling directly down to the floor where the cool air is, in order to completely cool the room. You know it is in summer mode when you feel the breeze blowing on you. In winter mode, the fan pulls cold air up from the floor to the ceiling, and the warm air down with no direct breeze. If you feel a direct breeze, it’s in summer mode.

High, vaulted ceiling in our great room, so I believe in and subscribe to the theory. But my wife always complains and says it is just blowing cold air on her (especially when it is really cold out) and wants to put the fan off, leaving ałl the hot air to rise. When I go upstairs, there is not only a “feel” of a 5 – 6 degree temperature difference, but it can be seen on the digital readout of the thermostat! Question: what does one do about cold, complaining wives who always want to put the fan off and don’t believe the the theory??

COMPUTER:
Is it more costly to leave the computer on all
day or turn it off until you may need it later??