How Do Ceiling Fans Enhance Winter Heating Efficiency?

[Dreebs]

Homework Statement

Why will operating ceiling fans during the winter improve the house's heating efficiency and reduce the heat flow between the ceiling just below the attic and the cold attic itself?
a. Stirring air always makes it feel warm and helps prevent thermal conductivity.
b. Stirring the air increases the temperature of air near the ceiling just below the attic. That higher temperature at the ceiling results in less heat flow from the ceiling to the attic.
c. Stirred air is hot air, so it doesn't have to be heated to be hot.
d. Stirring the air brings hot air down from the ceilings to where people live and reduces the temperature difference between the ceiling just below the attic and the attic floor.

D, because the fan pushes the hot air on the ceiling out towards the wall. This force causes the air to move downwards heating the house.

 

[Chestermiller]

Homework Statement

Why will operating ceiling fans during the winter improve the house's heating efficiency and reduce the heat flow between the ceiling just below the attic and the cold attic itself?
a. Stirring air always makes it feel warm and helps prevent thermal conductivity.
b. Stirring the air increases the temperature of air near the ceiling just below the attic. That higher temperature at the ceiling results in less heat flow from the ceiling to the attic.
c. Stirred air is hot air, so it doesn't have to be heated to be hot.
d. Stirring the air brings hot air down from the ceilings to where people live and reduces the temperature difference between the ceiling just below the attic and the attic floor.

D, because the fan pushes the hot air on the ceiling out towards the wall. This force causes the air to move downwards heating the house.

I agree that the answer is d, but I disagree with your interpretation of the reason why.