eli5: If hot air rises and cool air falls, why are we told to have our ceiling fans blow up in the winter and down in the summer? Wouldn’t it make more sense to pull the air in the opposite direction it naturally goes to help it circulate?

Question

eli5: If hot air rises and cool air falls, why are we told to have our ceiling fans blow up in the winter and down in the summer? Wouldn’t it make more sense to pull the air in the opposite direction it naturally goes to help it circulate?

In: 6539

Answer 1

Also, within a minute or so of turning the fan on, you’re moving enough air to effectively eliminate the variation between the ceiling and the floor. The higher the fan speed, the more effective this mixing effect becomes. Ceilings typically have few obstacles to air flow than floors, so “winter mode” achieves a more effective circulation effect.