Change ceiling fans during summer, winter months Published July 12, 2011 By Glynn Batla Resource Efficiency Manager SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Does the direction the ceiling fan turn really make a difference? The answer is yes. Ceiling fans provide great air circulation. These benefits can be optimized by ensuring the ceiling fan blade rotation is correct for circulating warm air during winter or creating a breeze effect during the summer. During the hot summer months, ceiling fans can help produce a comfortable breeze or wind-chill that cools the skin. The fan blades should rotate in a 'reverse' counter-clockwise motion. By changing the direction it can make it feel 5-8 degrees cooler. The air movement from a ceiling fan has the same comfortable effect as being fanned with a magazine when in hot stifling air. Ceiling fans won't keep a home any cooler if they are left on during the day when there isn't any one home, so by turning ceiling fans off when there is no one home will save energy. Although ceiling fans in themselves do not heat or cool a room, their rotation allows improved air circulation, which can greatly improve the comfort and energy efficiency of a living space. During winter heating, to help move warm air that is trapped on the ceiling, blades should turn 'forward' in a clockwise motion. This movement will push up the air and pull the warm trapped air down the sides of the room improving heat distribution. When purchasing a fan, it is more beneficial to choose the largest fan possible for that space in a home. Larger fans don't cost more to operate, have more speed settings and cover larger areas. If there is a large room in a house it may be better to have two fans installed in that area.