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DIY guideCeiling fan

Reverse a ceiling fan for the season

Flip a ceiling fan's direction: a cool breeze in summer, warm air moved down in winter.

  • 2 to 5 min
  • 4 steps
  • Every step animated
Reverse a ceiling fan for the season: the animation’s first picture

4 steps

Tap a step to watch it again.

  1. Switch the fan off and wait until the blades stop completely.

    Never reach toward moving blades.
  2. Look on the side of the motor housing for a small slide switch. Some fans change direction from the remote or a wall control instead.

    Use a steady step ladder, not a chair.
  3. Slide the switch to its other side.

  4. Turn the fan on. In summer, looking up, the blades should turn counterclockwise and you'll feel a breeze. In winter, clockwise on low, to push warm air down the walls.

What you need

  • A sturdy step ladder

Call a pro if

  • The fan wobbles hard or rattles
  • The switch doesn't change its direction
  • The fan or its light has stopped working

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.

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