# Reversing an old ceiling fan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833 "2009-01-11T20:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess_of_the_Derbyville)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/1 "2009-01-11T20:58:51Z")
I have a great old Hunter ceiling fan that came with my house. It is approximately 30 years old, has two speeds, fast and faster, and doesn’t have a reverse switch on the housing like my newer fans. I vaguely recall the former owner saying something about how turning the blades around would get the same effect as reversing the motor, but I can’t get my brain around it. Anybody know how to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/2 "2009-01-11T21:10:08Z")
It probably can’t be done. Unless it was designed for this, reversing the blades would put a load on the motor, and probably burn it out early. Then you’d have to buy a new fan. So you might as well just go ahead and do that now. Replacing a ceiling fan is not hard – you already have the wiring in place and a support box – that’s the hardest parts already done. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/3 "2009-01-11T21:12:31Z")
If there’s no reverse switch, you’re stuck–unless you know how to rewind an induction motor. Reversing the blades will change nothing except which side is up, and might result in unbalancing the fan if you’re not careful (no big deal, you just have to rebalance it). OTOH, reversing the fan direction isn’t important to efficiency, it’s merely a matter of comfort (e.g., do you want to feel the air blowing on you or not?) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/4 "2009-01-11T21:13:47Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Unless it was designed for this, reversing the blades would put a load on the motor, and probably burn it out early. Huh? This is not meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/5 "2009-01-11T21:42:33Z")
I think what the OP wants is to change the attack angle of the blades. Here’s a lead: [Hunter 23702 52-Inch Hotel Original Ceiling Fan with Adaptair, Satin Black - Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014A4MK4?smid=A3AJRDETKTZLCR&tag=yahoo-tools-mp-20&linkCode=asn) > [@](#): > > Introduced in 1896, Hunter’s patented Adaptair adjustable blade pitch technology allows the pitch to all four blades to be infinitely adjusted with a single lever. Designed in the days before electrically reversible motors, the Adaptair system represents Hunter’s rich tradition of innovative technology, a traditional that continues today. Further Googling should provide more specific information. ---
**Author:** ![Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess_of_the_Derbyville)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/6 "2009-01-11T23:29:05Z")
Thanks for the link, **rowrrbazzle**. That keyword got me started in the right direction. I found some vintage fan forums that may have the info I need. Replacing the fan is not a problem, I’ve already moved it twice, from my living room to my bedroom to the living room of a loft apartment I rent out. I just prefer to revamp and reuse than to buy new. Plus it’s a collectors item, looks good and works great for summertime cooling. But my new tenant is complaining that his living room is cold. It has exposed brick walls and a 16’ ceiling so I’m not sure what he was expecting but I’m willing to spend a couple hundred to show concern for his needs and keep him happy. I had an energy audit done and running the fan in reverse to bring the heat down from the high ceiling was the main low-cost suggestion. So if this fan can’t be reversed, I’ll go shopping for a new one. Shame, since I probably won’t get the same quality but I’ll find a place for the old one. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/7 "2009-01-11T23:35:56Z")
> [@Tess\_of\_the\_Derbyville](#): > > I had an energy audit done and running the fan in reverse to bring the heat down from the high ceiling was the main low-cost suggestion. I don’t know where this idea got started, but it’s false. Or, rather, the hot air will be removed from the ceiling and mixed with the room air regardless of which way the fan blows. If it blows up, the hot will be pushed over and down the walls by the cooler air being pulled up and if it blows down, the hot air will blow down while cooler air is drawn up the walls and across the ceiling toward the fan. In ether case, turbulence will mix the air pretty thoroughly so that after a few minutes, all the air is at about the same temperature no matter where it is in the room. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/8 "2009-01-12T00:45:00Z")
It doesn’t matter the direction the fan moves the air. Think of the air moving as a torus It either goes up in the middle and down by the walls or just the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/9 "2009-01-12T01:06:17Z")
It’s not that it won’t work to mix the air, it’s that people don’t want a fan blowing on them when they’re cold. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversing-an-old-ceiling-fan/480833/10 "2009-01-12T01:07:12Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > It’s not that it won’t work to mix the air, it’s that people don’t want a fan blowing on them when they’re cold. Which is what I said in post #3. However, the OP said she was advised that > [@](#): > > …running the fan in reverse to bring the heat down from the high ceiling was the main low-cost suggestion. Which is both incorrect and what I (and **HD** ) was actually responding to.