Comments on: Heat Rises…and Falls — Stack Effect, Air Movement, & Heat Flow

By: mmyop

mmyop — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 08:33:41 +0000

Lol… seems like the point
Lol… seems like the point is “one leaves and the other comes in at the same time.” Is there a balance, always? If it is cold in a building and hot outside, that cold air will join the heat. And the opposite. Where is the heat if an enclosure is 32f and so is the outside?

By: Kelly Merke, P.Eng.

Kelly Merke, P.Eng. — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:13:21 +0000

If I said "Cars are blue
If I said "Cars are blue..." I would certainly not be 'wrong' either, but I would also not be helpful. If I qualified that by further stating "... and cars are other colors too." would perhaps be even less helpful. It would however, in the world of BS, provoke comments and drive blog traffic and prompt some individuals who want to be helpful to make comments where they would otherwise not. Mission accompished Allison. ;)

I try to never say "heat rises" but instead here's how I choose to handle it.

I say "We know there are three forms of heat - convective, conductive and radiant - and they are all working together. When warm air rises, that is primarily concerning the convective form. We're first aiming to get a handle on that one because it can dominate heat loss if not effectively controlled."

Its helpful, I find, to quickly and up front take the time with a client to explain the 3 forms. I find that most people 'get it' and it provides foundation for a host of other explanations that eventually follow.

If I said "Heat rises", that is the only part anyone would remember (no matter what qualification you append to it). The proof is likely that in your own mind, as in mine, it gained a strong foothold in my earliest childhood memories (long before I knew how much BS I was in for).

Please know that I have long ago curtailed my desire to police so called improper use of words like "concrete vs. cement" or "irrespective vs irregardless" or "fuel vs gas" because they don't really affect the understanding of a concept.

On the otherhand, when it comes to BS, clarity and understanding has along way to go and needs support by eliminating that unhelpful phrase.

Long live "Warm air rises."

Nice blog. Since it serves to clarfy more than confuse the end sum is always positive. :)

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:02:23 +0000

John B.: I
John B.: I did see Bud's discussion on HEP and wasn't swayed by his argument. I've got another article on this topic coming out tomorrow morning, so check back then.

By: John Brooks

John Brooks — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:59:58 +0000

Allison, You always seem to
Allison, You always seem to choose your words very carefully.

I am curious if Bud Poll's November blog at Home Energy Pros prompted or influenced the wording in this blog?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:39:28 +0000

We could call this thread
We could call this thread positve pressure.dp

By: John Brooks

John Brooks — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:38:32 +0000

Bud & others are
Bud & others are welcome to comment here:

What must we say?

By: David Richardson

David Richardson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:45:15 +0000

Nice job on keeping it simple
Nice job on keeping it simple Allison!

By: Jon LaMonte

Jon LaMonte — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:46:12 +0000

Clarence: Thanks for the
Clarence: Thanks for the comment. I love reading people's blogs on these types of subjects. Often the writer forgets who the ultimate entity is that is being served, the home or building owner. That is why I appreciate Allison's blogs so much because they not only educate and create a useful forum for us energy nerds, but they are also usually clear enough for the lay person to understand and learn from as well.
I always get a kick out of the comment sections because it is often obvious that that ultimate purpose is lost in translation or semantics.

By: Clarence J. Colwart, III

Clarence J. Colwart, III — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:07:43 +0000

The comment by Jon LaMonte
The comment by Jon LaMonte brushes closest to what should be the point: demonstrating to clients a basic understanding and importance to controlling the air flow in their buildings and homes. Technical precision of the processes occuring is not needed hear and would interfere with the intended COMMUNICATION. I(the client) don't care what came first, the chicken or the egg. I need the eggs to make french toast.

By: Bud Poll

Bud Poll — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:30:17 +0000

Thanks for the video, he is
Thanks for the video, he is very entertaining and does make a definite statement about cold air is the force behind warm air moving up.

Bud