Your Fan Is in the Wrong Place. Here’s Where to Put It for Maximum Coolness

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

With heat waves sweeping the globe, finding ways to cool down is top of mind for many. Something as simple as where you place a window fan in a room can make a difference in your level of comfort. 

You can even take advantage of cross ventilation without fans to make a room feel cooler. You’ll also want to make sure your ceiling fan is rotating the correct direction for the season (yes, there’s a difference!). Here we’ll explore some fan tricks to maximize your comfort and coolness this summer. (For more, check out our tips for how to save on air conditioning with a small home upgrade and 5 signs it’s time to replace your window AC unit.) 

Read more: Best Portable AC Units

Fan location matters

One big thing you may be overlooking when you turn on a fan is its placement. To ensure optimal cooling with a window fan, the Department of Energy suggests installing them in windows where the wind is blowing away from the house. This helps pull the hot air out of your home. 

Make sure other nearby windows are closed so the hot air is forced to travel out the window with the fan. 

To take advantage of cross ventilation, you can open windows in rooms farther away from the fan, especially where wind is blowing toward the house. This works best if the open windows are in cooler, shaded areas rather than direct sunlight so that cooler air is coming into your house as the hotter air is being pulled outside by the window fan.

If your home has more than one story, you should install your fan on the second floor and open windows on the main floor for cross ventilation, according to the DOE. Otherwise, you could install multiple fans in different sections of your home.  

A couple additional tips

Even if you don’t have a window fan, you can create cross ventilation with open windows to make your space a bit more comfortable. Experiment by opening a window where wind blows toward the house and another window across your home where wind blows away from the house. This should help cooler air move into the house and expel the hotter, more stagnant air. 

If you have ceilings fans in your home this summer, make sure it’s rotating counterclockwise to pull warmer air up and push cooler air down. Read more about how to safely switch the direction your ceiling fan rotates.

For more on how to stay cool (and save money) this summer, check out our guide on where to install a thermostat and the ideal thermostat setting to save money without sacrificing comfort.