Summer fan rotation = clockwise, Winter = counter-clockwise |
I thought I’d blogged this before but a quick search didn’t reveal the answer here, so I’m blogging it again. In the summer make sure the blades are spinning clockwise and in the winter counter-clockwise.
Fan change reminder script
When it gets too hot you’ll be reminded to search for the cooler setting and vice versa in the winter, but I decided I wanted to whip up some quick PHP code to automatically remind me on one of the admin pages I use. Something along these lines could be done in just about any language, perhaps as a widget/module/gadget, whichever you prefer.
/* display summer message change on from day 150-155 of the year (late May)
display winter message change from day 300-305 (late October)
*/
$day_of_year = date(“z”);
if($day_of_year > 150 and $day_of_year < 155) {
print “Summer time, set fans clockwise”;
} elseif($day_of_year > 300 and $day_of_year < 305) {
print “Winter time, set fans counter-clockwise”;
}
display winter message change from day 300-305 (late October)
*/
$day_of_year = date(“z”);
if($day_of_year > 150 and $day_of_year < 155) {
print “Summer time, set fans clockwise”;
} elseif($day_of_year > 300 and $day_of_year < 305) {
print “Winter time, set fans counter-clockwise”;
}
Did this post make you go hmm?
(9 votes, average: 3.44 out of 5)
Loading ...
Backwards, other way around unless you have ceilings over 8′.
Comment by x — June 4, 2006 @ 10:27 am PST
Now all you need to do is automate the fan switch, and replace your print statements with calls to:
if (fan_dir() != newdir) {
set_fan_dir(newdir);
}
Just add code.
Comment by Sterling Camden — June 4, 2006 @ 10:58 am PST
X - that’s an interesting point, do you have a source for that? I think you have it backwards, see: wonderquest.com/Fans.htm. For taller than 8′ standard ceilings the reverse is sometimes true.
Comment by TDavid — June 4, 2006 @ 1:17 pm PST
[…] Most Hmm-worthy posts from June 3 - June 9, 2006 - Summer fan rotation = clockwise, Winter = counter-clockwise (3) [june 3] - Magellan RoadMate 800 Portable GPS vs. Tablet PC vs. Pocket PC and UMPC (5) [june 4] - What is your guilty pleasure? (1) [june 5] - Hmm Gone Wild, now what does your website sound like? (4) [june 5] - 6 stories on 666 starting here and ending here [june 6] - MLB makes bush league move complaining about Slingbox usage (2) [june 7] - How many years do you have left according to DeathForecast.com? (6) [june 7] - *How to create, maintain and manage a secure password system (2) [june 8] - Get your checkbook ready, House votes down Net Neutrality (0) [june 9] […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Hmmcast #11: More secure password management, House votes down Net Neutrality and more — June 9, 2006 @ 2:39 pm PST
TDavid, X is correct. From http://www.wonderquest.com/Fans.htm you are assuming that “forward” = clockwise and “reverse” = counterclockwise. No where does it state the direction; Forward/Reverse are just settings for the fan switch. Refer to http://www.farreys.com/ceiling_fans/fan_faq.html:
In what direction should I operate my ceiling fans during summer and winter?
Summer: Counter Clockwise
Winter: Clockwise
Also, just test it out yourself: Set the fan to forward/counterclockwise, if you feel the air blowing down on you, this is the correct setting for the fan in the summer.
Comment by Nick Burns — August 11, 2006 @ 9:03 pm PST
Winter is clockwise, summer is counter clockwise
Comment by Marilynn — October 22, 2006 @ 8:56 pm PST
Counterclockwise in summer as per the passage below taken from the Hunter Fan Company Website. It states clockwise in winter, so it is Counterclockwise in summer
7. Can the fan be used in the winter for any beneficial purpose?
A ceiling fan can help lower energy consumption in the winter by up to 10%. The temperature of the air in a heated room varies in layers; the air near the ceiling is warmer than the air near the floor, because warm air rises. A ceiling fan can help push the warmer air that is trapped near the ceiling back down into the room, thus de-stratifying the layers of warm air. As a result, the warm air is circulated where it is needed, and the heating system does not overwork to warm the room. To properly de-stratify a warmed room, the ceiling fan should be run in a clockwise direction. This pushes the air up against the ceilings and down the walls, to gently re-circulate the warm air without creating a cooling wind chill effect.
Comment by kathy — June 18, 2007 @ 8:15 pm PST
This is exactly the opposite of correct. See housewares.about.com/od/coolingheating/f/ceilfanrotation.htm and www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Ceiling_Fan_Rotation–T941.html .
Comment by John Walsh — May 26, 2008 @ 10:26 am PST
This is not true for every make and model. My Hapton Bay is an example of this. The best way to tell is to “feel the breeze”…….. wouldn’t it be great if that was the answer to every life question.
Comment by Libby — June 6, 2008 @ 6:44 am PST
I beg to differ with you on this but counter-clockwise is the way to go in the summertime. Most every other website will tell you the same thing. Yes, it does depend on the angle of the blades but most are made the same. Clockwise….. counter-clockwise………… what to do? If you don’t get the answer you want then just experiment on your own. Good luck and stay coooooool!!
Comment by DJ Johnson — June 22, 2009 @ 8:07 pm PST
Ceiling fan with the blade tilting up from left to right should be clockwise in summer and counterclockwise in winter. Ceiling fan with the blade tilting down from left to right like most ceiling fans and in the picture should be counterclockwise in summer and clockwise in winter. Arrows in picture is wrong.
Comment by Jonah Musto — June 29, 2009 @ 8:21 am PST