If your ceiling fan has been running all summer and your house still feels warm and stuffy, it’s easy to assume the fan just… doesn’t work. But chances are, it’s not broken — it’s just set wrong.

Counterclockwise or clockwise? The answer changes with the seasons, and getting it wrong wastes serious energy.

Cranking the AC isn't fixing your stuffy room - but flipping this hidden switch on your ceiling fan just might.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Ceiling fans can help cool a home in the summer, but their usefulness continues into the winter months with the proper setting.