Winter is fast approaching, and with it, the dreaded heating bill. Running a gas heater, or even a split system, all day and night long can cause your gas or power bill to skyrocket into the realms of unaffordability.
But here’s something many people don’t realise - your ceiling fan might just be your secret weapon this winter. Used the right way, it can help you stay warm and cut down on those dreaded energy bills.
Let’s take a closer look at how to flip the switch (literally) and make your fan work harder for you in the colder months.
Really? A Ceiling Fan in Winter?
Yes, you read that right. For most of us, ceiling fans and summer go hand in hand when we're coping with 40-plus-degree heat or trying to sleep through a muggy, humid evening.
But did you know ceiling fans can be just as useful in winter and even slash your heating costs? If you don’t have a ceiling fan, you might look for a ceiling fan installation near me in order to get one.
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Before you grab one for every room, there are a few things you should know about using them to save energy. If you pop one up and don’t adjust your thermostat settings, you might feel a little more comfy but your electric bill could take a hit.
For example, in the summer, remember: fans don’t cool the air or the room - they cool you by creating a breeze. So, don’t leave them running when the room’s empty! When you’ve got the fan on, you’ll be cool enough to turn up the A/C a few degrees, which saves way more energy than the fan uses.
But here’s the winter trick - most ceiling fans have a reverse or "winter mode." This feature pulls the cooler air up and pushes the warm air from the ceiling down into your living space, keeping you cozy without cranking up the heat.
So, in the colder months, check the fan blades' pitch to make sure they’re rotating in the right direction (usually counterclockwise) and set the fan to low for optimal warm-air circulation. It’s a simple way to cut back on heating costs while staying comfortable!
Using Reverse or Winter Mode
When winter rolls around, don’t forget to flip the little switch on your ceiling fan to reverse the blade rotation. Set it to low speed and it’ll gently circulate the warm air that naturally rises, pushing it back down to where you actually need it.
Some newer ceiling fans go one better, with built-in heaters and remote controls. In summer, they work just like a regular fan. But come winter, they automatically reverse direction and warm the room. It’s a smart way to take advantage of zone heating - only warming the spaces you’re using, instead of the whole house.
Fan size matters, too. A 36-inch fan is great for smaller rooms (up to 150 square feet), a 48-inch fan suits medium rooms (up to 300 square feet), and a 52-inch fan works for larger rooms (up to 450 square feet). Bigger space? Consider installing two fans, spaced a quarter of the way in from opposing walls for balanced airflow.
And it’s worth thinking about having some backup solutions for combatting power outages as Australia’s climate can swing from freezing to blazing hot (sometimes within the same week). So it’s worth having a plan for summer too, especially when the grid’s under pressure. A ceiling fan is a low-energy way to stay cool when the power goes out, or when you're trying to ease the load on your A/C.
If you're shopping around, look for an Energy Star–rated model with a steep blade pitch. They move more air, make less noise, and are less likely to wobble. And even the best fan might need a quick tweak with balancing weights if it starts to shake at higher speeds.
How You Can Save More
We’re all feeling the cost of living, and while power bills at home are dropping, they’re still rising for businesses. So, running a heater and a fan at the same time might sound really expensive, but the opposite is true, believe it or not.
Fans, in general, are far cheaper to run than gas-hungry ducted heaters (by a large amount), and reverse mode on your ceiling fan means that your heater has to do far less work to maintain a constant pleasant temperature throughout your home.
It will even reduce your energy bill. Using a ceiling fan in reverse mode – in combination with smart home heating and cooling, will significantly reduce the amount of power you need to maintain a comfortable room temperature in a living space, thereby lowering your heating bill and saving you money.
The great thing is that you can use a lower setting on your heater, as the combined effort of the heater and the ceiling fan will work to keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the winter months.
Does My Fan Have a Reverse Mode?
Most modern ceiling fans have reverse mode, but the issue can be getting to the switch to change the modes manually. It might be a simple setting on your ceiling fan's remote control, a switch on the wall, or a physical switch on the ceiling fan motor.
In some cases, with older ceiling fans, the only way to get to the switch might be by removing the casing to get to the motor, which is a major pain to get to. In most cases, you will need a step ladder or something similar in order to reach the switch and turn your ceiling fan on to winter mode.
Can You Use Normal Mode?
Technically, yes, you can, but it won't be as pleasant. In normal mode, the fan blades spin counterclockwise, which pushes the air directly downward. This may sound like it’s moving the warm air from the ceiling down, but the reality is, it’s pushing cool air that’s trapped near the floor.
This creates a gusty, forced airflow that feels more like a draft than the gentle warmth you're after. Instead of evenly distributing heat, the fan disrupts the natural flow of air, making the room feel uncomfortable and chilly, especially near the floor where most of us are sitting or standing.
In winter, you want to avoid this blast of cold air and aim for a more controlled circulation that helps redistribute the warm air without creating an uncomfortable breeze.
Will a Pedestal Fan Work in This Way Too?
Unfortunately, the answer is no, it won't work. While both types of fans move air, they do so in different ways, and that makes all the difference, especially when you’re trying to create a comfortable, evenly heated room.
As you likely know, warm air naturally rises because it’s less dense than cooler air. In the winter, this means that the heat generated by your heater or furnace tends to collect near the ceiling, leaving the lower part of the room cooler.
A ceiling fan, especially when set to reverse, redistributes airflow to create an even, comfortable warmth throughout the room. A pedestal fan, on the other hand, works differently. It’s designed to blow air horizontally, rather than vertically.
While it can circulate the cooler air near the floor, it doesn’t have the ability to pull the warm air trapped at the ceiling down. It simply moves the cooler air around, making the room feel drafty instead of warm.
Keeping Warm Without Blowing the Budget
Ceiling fans in reverse are a clever way to stretch your heating further but they’re not the only trick. There are plenty of simple, budget-friendly ways to stay toasty in winter without running up your energy bill.
Start by layering up. Think cosy jumpers, thick socks or even an Oodie if you're feeling fancy. At night, electric blankets and hot water bottles can make your bed feel like a warm hug.
And don’t forget the basics like making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed so cold draughts stay outside where they belong.
Together, these small changes can make a big difference to your comfort. And your power bill.
