Comments on: Ceiling Fan Hacks: Save Big on Energy Use

By: BoeZoe

BoeZoe — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:16:47 +0000

The airplane thrust & lift analogies are getting a bit over the top of late, but I’d really like to know how Holly in Australia (comment #22) would have a problem when by the time she wrote it was winter there!
I installed all 6 ceiling fans over 17 yrs. ago in my “old house” by myself(all were K-Mart sale units <$30/ea. with 10 yr. warranties). They still run flawlessly, but that central A/C I got just B4 the turn of the century was necessary to cut humidity. Besides window a/c units were killing my view, inefficient & leaked heat too much in winter. After 20% rate increase granted power co. 2 months ago I went on budget plan. Now I’m wondering if I should look for 14+ degree blade angles on Energy Star rated replacement ceiling fans to boost savings & allow a higher thermostat setting in summer. Any updates to consider before I buy?

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:46:46 +0000

I agree with everyone on how efficient using a fan is…mine is on all the time. However I felt the need to comment on all of the incorrect ‘airplane wing’ comments. A wind doesn’t move air down, nor do the control surfaces lift the plane up (well sorta, but beyond this comment to explain) A wind has a unique shape, called airfoil, and when the plane is pushed forward (via thrust) air is moved across the surface. The air traveling across the top of the wing actually moves a farther distance due to the shape than the air on the bottom. This creates an area of low pressure above the wing. The higher pressure air (on the bottom of the wing) then pushes up on the wing to equalize the pressure, this is known as lift. If you were to replace the fan blades with airplane wings (scaled down of course) and they weren’t at an angle, the wings would pull up from the lift created, but ultimately would not move much air. Therefore, the author was correct in his assesment.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:00:15 +0000

Late to this. Just bought a condo (1st home), and in lieu of using $ I don’t have right now on ceiling fans, bought 2 $20 “platform” fans – the tall kind. In 115 degree (albeit dry) heat, I can attest to the absolute power of blowing air. I can turn up my a/c even at night and sometimes I grab a little blanket during the night- unheard of in these parts. Try it. The worst that happens is you spend $40 … but at least in the low-humidity area, it works!

By: Cole

Cole — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Okay ya’ll need to give it up a little on the whole “airplane wing” deal (from the posts at the top). The wings do help keep the plane up in the air but it is not the wing that lifts the plan. When the Jet Engines or Propellers are going on a plane it causes it to move straight. The plane will not go up or down if it weren’t for the flaps and the elevators; they are what angle to direct the air and allow the aircraft to climb or descend. Sorry just had to get that out. Don’t like it when thing are criticized out of negligence. I’m a mechanic on planes and flight controls are just basic principles that don’t change.
Anyways, love the article and I’ll try the whole fan deal. My energy bill double when the hot months hit. Looking for anything to cut the bills down.

By: Alyson

Alyson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:12:22 +0000

I just thought i would share a website with everyone. http://www.CSNCeilingfans.com has a huge selection of top quality ceiling fans including a large amount of enegry star rated fans. If you’re looking to save money this summer on electricity bills I think you should check it out.

By: sue

sue — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:25:08 +0000

We live in India and are frugal by nature. We have found that running a window Ac for some time to cool down the room, then switching it off and using only a fan will keep you comfortable for several hours. One thing to keep in mind though, is that if you put on a fan AFTER you switch off the ac- you will push all the warm air down, and the room will heat up. So both ac and fan should be on for 2 hours or so. Then the ac can be switched off.
Sue

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:51:55 +0000

@Rob O. About out door ceiling fans. I just moved into a new house and one of the few things that stuck out in my inspections was that the inspector said I had a good outdoor fan. MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS PLASTIC BLADES. As far as size I think like with rooms it depends on the size of the area you want to cool smaller area smaller fan diameter bigger area bigger fan.

By: Val

Val — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:03:49 +0000

We have a high ceiling in our livingroom, with a great fan. My mom’s room is upstairs. It gets hot up there at night while the downstairs stays cool. This is less of a problem with the fan on at night, as it draws the air down. So that air circulation can be significant even if it isn’t blowing on you.

By: Joseph @ Debit versus Credit

Joseph @ Debit versus Credit — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:10:17 +0000

Trent,

I had no idea there was such a HUGE difference in the power consumption between a fan and a central air unit. It makes sense… after all why shouldn’t a fan take up MUCH less energy? I think this post is very practical advice and I congratulate you for it.

I’ll be linking to this post on my blog roundup this weekend!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:30:53 +0000

I would say that install it yourself might be OK in some cases, but in general, I would say HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! It won’t be that much more expensive. Also, make sure you hire a TRUSTED professional with good references. My uncle had a ceiling fan installed in their bedroom when his house was renovated and it fell – right onto their bed. Fortunately it was during the day and they were in another room. The fan was not installed according to the directions that came with it so it didn’t last very long. Make sure your professional reads the directions even if they think they know what they are doing!

By: Baker

Baker — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:22:44 +0000

Honestly if you don’ know what you’re doing don’t install a ceiling fan by yourself. That video is not completely correct and really doesn’t apply in areas where houses must have all electric in conduit.

By: Linda O

Linda O — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:52:19 +0000

Thanks for the great article! I always get the fan directions mixed up. I’ll keep this bookmarked, just in case I forget again :-)

By: Rob O.

Rob O. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:17:56 +0000

We’re planning to install a ceiling fan outdoors under our tall patio cover to help cool things off and – so we’re told – keep flying insects away. Any advice on this? We don’t have humidity to worry about here, but still are there certain models more suited to outdoor use?

And what about 3-blade versus 5-blade models – do the number of blades really affect the amount of air the fan can move or is the overall fan diameter a more relevant factor?

By: John

John — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:10:41 +0000

Helpful article. I always wondered about the angle of the blades, now I know, over 12 degrees. I’ve seen little fans that would blow you over and I’ve seen big fans that couldn’t blow a feather. As with other things why would “someone” design a fan, manufacture it, distribute it, and sell it, if it doesn’t work ?

john b.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:00:43 +0000

Oh Thank you! thank you, thank you, we just got 2 freecycled ceiling fans to put in our and our daughters bedrooms we have one in the living room and it makes a HUGE difference in how the room feels.. the video will make installing these so much easier.. we are going to try and go the whole summer without our AC.
Kitty

By: K

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:03:08 +0000

Fans can make you feel much cooler but I agree with ArcAngel. They are only effective when you are in the room. But even more so, if you keep the windows closed, the fan motor actually increases the temperature in the room. So if the temperature is the same or even slightly warmer outside, it’s best to do without AC and run the fans. But if it is much hotter outside and you must keep the windows closed, Trent’s advice is right on.

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:16:24 +0000

Thanks for this. I feel kind of dumb. I never realized they can go in different directions. The fan in the bedroom always worked great (was pushing air down) while the one in the living room never did anything! Apparently it was on winter mode… Who knew.

Apparently winter mode only has two speed settings while summer has 3. Solved the mystery of why the fan was never turning off when we clicked it!

By: TParkerson

TParkerson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:11:57 +0000

Count me among the legion of fan fans…DH will tell you that I am a fanatic about ours! Here in hot sticky FL, they really do help. If you study the way our grandparents built their homes, they were usually raised foundation with large shady overhanging porches and windows for cross breezes. I have also found that ventillating the house aalows them to breathe, thus ridding them of allergens and contaminants…open up folks, you’ll be healthier!!

For those of you with low ceiling, you should look into corner mounted oscillating fans. They are like the old style fans with metal blades and a metal “cage” over the blades. A company called Fanimation makes several styles and I’m sure there are others. Or, Vornado makes and ABSOLUTELY amazing floor fan that moves air like a tornado, yet takes up only a small amount of space. Either way, the air is moving in your room and that is the goal.

Here’s to many happy, breezy days for you and yours!

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:52:07 +0000

Great post. I never thought about the angle of blades before. Good information.

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:24:12 +0000

I don’t disagree with any of the points made, but I still intend on getting AC as soon as I can afford to. I live in Australia, where Summer days can get to around 45 degrees celcius (113 degrees fahrenheit), and sometimes the nights only dip down to 27 degrees (80 degrees fahrenheit) before climbing back up again.
On this horrible, humid nights my ceiling fan just doesn’t cut it and I just don’t get any sleep.
God, I hate Summer.