Comments on: 7 Things You May Not Know About Ceiling Fans

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 05:16:19 +0000

In reply to abailes. Thanks so much. I learned a
Thanks so much. I learned a lot today.

By: Jeremi

Jeremi — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 17:44:42 +0000

In reply to david dugay. Well i want to know how this
Well i want to know how this fear of decapitation came across you don't walk on the ceiling near the fan so being near enough to the fan is impossible during normal operation. if the fan hangs low enough to hit you its to low and needs to be removed. unless of course the fan fell in which case id be worried about the fin falling on top of me not being decapitated id be worried of the weight of the fan hitting my head and killing me. especially if its an old hunter fan that probably weighs 40+ pounds because it has a cast iron motor housing. Now i do like to leave the fans on all the time to circulate the air and keep the air fresh and not stale i usually turn the thermostat up to 85 when the house is empty so i leave the fans on to keep air moving. when we are home i usually have the thermostat at 80unless i have company over. at night i do keep it at 74 when going to sleep our fans stay on medium i haven't worried about the cos of running them it seems like such a small amount. i usually have the fans blowing up mainly because again they are just on to circulate the air i can still feel them i cant have the fans blowing directly down because of glaucoma and it bothers the eyes.

By: Bill Dashfield

Bill Dashfield — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 11:10:20 +0000

Worth pointing out that
Worth pointing out that modern fans with DC motors and LED lights use a lot less power and generate less heat. We’ve put in a large 4-bladed fan that uses 8-25W depending on speed, and an 18W LED that gives as much light as a 24W CFL or a 150W old style light bulb.

How worthwhile a ceiling fan is depends on your situation, climate, insulation etc. We live in Wellington New Zealand which being close to the sea does not have extremes of temperature, and like many/most NZ houses does not have central heating nor air-conditioning. We put the fan in for winter: a recent Consumer study shows that if a room is warmed with a heater – we have a pot belly stove, they tested with an electric convection heater – it can reduce the energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature at sitting height by 60%.

In summer we find using shade sails over the sunny windows (north facing down here!) and opening windows and doors is enough except on very hot, still days. We expect the ceiling fan to help a lot then.

Of course, the cheapest, most efficient way to save energy and keep your place cool in summer and warm in winter is to insulate it well and paint the the outside a light colour (Mediterranean houses have white walls and roofs; we have white walls and when our steel roof needs repainting it will become light gray or silver).

By the way, research at Bristol University UK found that LED lights attracted fewer insects than CFL or incandescent (old style) lights – and many fewer biting insects!

cheers
Bill

PS To answer some questions in the comments:

Big blades and (hence) slower fan speed best is best for efficiency.

Rotation direction of fan in summer/winter depends on the fan design. But for all fans, in summer it should blow air down, with the fan rotating with the highest edges of the blades leading (think of each blade as a wedge pushing the air down) and you should feel a draught (draft) coming down when you stand under the fan. In winter the fan should lift the air up so it rotates with the lowest edge of the blades leading, and you shouldn’t feel a draught.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 20:32:38 +0000

Should ceiling fans be on
Should ceiling fans be on when using an attic fan or whole house fan? If so what direction should it turn to help?

By: Mary JO

Mary JO — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 01:07:53 +0000

so, I read this article to
so, I read this article to find out whether I should have the 2 ceiling fans I bought years ago installed, I do not have air conditioning. so, should I? I have a high “V” ceiling in my living room and the front side of the room, toward the outside, is glass.

By: Linnea

Linnea — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 22:14:44 +0000

This site is so informative,
This site is so informative, thank you. I have been on a mission to replace my 5 ceiling fans and reading about the pros and cons of size, blade # etc. I’m now thinking I might have them removed altogether. Learning the 2 basic truths that ceiling fans (1) heat air and (2) cool people is a genuine “duh” realization. And certainly prompts me to turn off the fans unless I’m in the room. Who knew? Thank you for educating me!

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 06:17:59 +0000

… in the case of ceiling
… in the case of ceiling fans creating heat because they use electricity, ALL electric fans create heat but I have never felt the heat because it’s not hardly noticable to the point that it doesn’t even make sense why this was mentioned in the article.

By: Carol Spiegel

Carol Spiegel — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 03:32:41 +0000

I'm thinking about use of a
I’m thinking about use of a ceiling fan in a gazebo and COVID-19. Does the fan cause turbulence or, because there are no walls, is the air flow more like laminar flow so only outdoor air flows over the occupants only once. I’m not sure that’s clear. Thanks

By: Crystal Karlson

Crystal Karlson — Sat, 23 May 2020 12:12:05 +0000

In reply to Melody. Looking up at the fan,
Looking up at the fan, counter clockwise in summer.

By: Marty

Marty — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 21:16:31 +0000

Does the number of blades
Does the number of blades make any difference to efficacy? Also, what about using a fan in winter in a divided stairwell to draw up warmer air from an open basement wood stove?