A contra-rotating fan system includes a fan chassis. A first fan in the fan chassis includes blades that provide airflow in a first direction when the first fan rotates in a second direction, and provide airflow in a third direction opposite the first direction when the first fan rotates in a fourth direction opposite the second direction. A second fan adjacent the first fan in the fan chassis includes the same number of blades as the first fan. The first fan and the second fan rotate at the same time in opposite directions. The blades on the second fan provide airflow in the first direction when the first fan rotates in the second direction and the second fan rotates in the fourth direction, and provides airflow in the third direction when the first fan rotates in the fourth direction and the second fan rotates in the second direction.