Winter Ceiling Fan

So, I was reading the news this morning and I came across an article that Amazon was backing a German company Tado, that is making a smart heating and AC thermostat.  One of the three pillars of the company is to help you manage your home’s climate and to make it more comfortable and convenient and cost-effective.

The article goes on to say that  “This includes being able to connect your existing central heating or air conditioning to the Internet for remote and smartphone control, but also geo-location and other “smart” features that detect when residents are leaving or approaching home, the weather is changing, or when windows are opened.” (Click here to read the entire article)

I think this is very innovative and cool for those of us that have smartphones and broadband at our homes, but it got me thinking of something that most people overlook and they already have one or many in their homes but do not use in the winter months.

Ceiling fans can also improve your home’s climate and make it more comfortable.  Ceiling fans, can keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They can also help you cut down on heating and cooling costs.

During the warm months, your fan should run counterclockwise. This allows it to create a breeze and lower the temperature by an average of six degrees. Not only that, but it can also cut cooling costs by nearly 30 percent. In winter, run the fan clockwise. This pushes the warm air that is near the ceiling down and allows it distribute throughout the room.

Exception to Fan Reversal

If your ceiling fan is mounted on a two-story cathedral or a vaulted ceiling, the fan is too high to create a discernible wind chill, and therefore, can stay in a counterclockwise setting all year round.

Today, most ceiling fans include remote controls or wall controls that adjust the direction in which the fan blades rotate, which makes reversing your ceiling fan as simple as pressing a button.

If your ceiling fan does not include a remote or wall control, look for a toggle-switch on the motor housing just below the blades. Flip the switch to change the direction of the fan blades. For vertical switches, flip the switch down for summer direction (downward airflow) or flip the switch up for winter direction (upward airflow). For horizontal switches, flip the switch to the left for summer direction (downward airflow) or flip the switch to the right for winter direction (upward airflow).

Remember

Make sure that you clean the blades of the fan prior to reversing the direction. All of the lint and dust that the fans have collected on the blades over the past 6 months will be blown off the blades into your room after you reverse the direction of the blades.

Radiator Heater

If you are wanting more warmth in the winter you can place a radiator heater near the wall or in the corner of a room while the fan is running in reverse mode. The fan will move air through the radiator heater and it will heat he room up without having to turn the central heat for the entire house. Once the room is at the desired temperature you can put the radiator heater on the low setting and it will hold the temperature of the room depending on the size of the room and how cold and windy it is outside that day.

I especially like this in the bedroom at night the radiator heater does not make a noise and the central HVAC does not kick on and off all night. Which should also save on the electric bill.

Brown Barn Farm