Ceiling fans and winter

I've got regular 8 foot ceilings. I know many people say you can run a ceiling fan on low on the reverse setting during the winter to better dispurse heat. Does anyone think this really works? I think the small draft it will cause even though it's in reverse would be annoying. Also, if heat rises, why would having a fan run in reverse help? Wouldn't that just suck more heat away from the floor?

My guess would be that because the hot air is rising, the fan will pull this hot air up and as it has no where to go it will then hit the roof and be forced back down.

So you're not pushing cold air down with the fan which might make a cold draft.. you are pulling the hot air up.
Of course the fan is still going to cool the air as it moves it so I guess it depends, you may find it creates drafts else where too..

By running in reverse, the air is pulled up and is forced down on the sides of the room rather than straight down on you like in the summer, which would make the air feel cool on the body.

Actually running a paddle fan in reverse is more of a gimmick because it works either way . Basically it pushes down and recirculates the upper air that is stratified in a cathedral ceiling. Not as effective in rooms with standard height (8ft) ceilings .
Personally I find the real benefit of the reverse mode is when installed over a table in a room with a normal ceiling height you don`t get the paper knapkins blowing around , blowing the candles out, and cooling off your dinner quickly.
Regardless paddle fans do help circulate air within any particular room but are much more beneficial in a room with a higher/vaulted/ cathedral type ceilings.

We run our fans year round.

Eric

With little to no activity in a room, air tends to stratify thermal layers.
Heat rises. Coolth sinks.
If you put your hand up on the ceiling in the Winter, it is usually very warm compared to where you are sitting on the couch.
It usually doesn't take a lot of fan to mix it all up.

You used to see indications of these layers of air in smoke filled rooms.

How about the small doorway fans? Do they really move the heat from room to room?