The Bedfan Experiment

trikkonceptz · 08-28-10, 06:37 PM

Well in my quest to lower my power usage at home I came across a product that shows some promise. It's called a bed fan; Night Sweats - Sleeping Hot - Sweating at Night | The BedFan Cools

The premise, by keeping you cool under the sheets you will need less airconditioning to keep you cool above the sheets.

I agree with alot of what they say, why cool an entire house to cool the room you sleep in. In addition despite it being cool outside your sheets, your body heat is what makes you uncomfortable forcing you to make the house cooler.

Shipped to my door it was $94

If I can keep the home 5 - 7 degrees warmer during the night then I may call this a success. Once it arrives I will begin the documentation and post the results of my electric bills.

My next investment / project: a Dehumidifier, my house gets so humid the tiles become slimy... but I digress, one mod at a time to track results properly .. wish me luck.

NiHaoMike · 08-28-10, 10:12 PM

Looks like it would be possible to build your own for $20 or so of all new parts - a PC fan or two connected to a power supply. Actually, I already have such a setup, using a fan that is too slow for a modern PC.

Daox · 08-29-10, 08:57 AM

Interesting setup. It sounds like it would work good if you don't mind the movement of air over you. It might take some getting used to.

trikkonceptz · 08-29-10, 11:39 AM

Building one would not be difficult, however, making the housing for the air to travel and the supporting hardware to attach it to the bed and keep it in place would make the venture to time consuming with unknown results.

I am far from able to just throw away $100 right now, but this calculated risk could seriously pay off when I consider how much power it takes to keep my house cool at night knowing I just really need 2 rooms kept cool.

Sometimes its better to simply support the pioneers that started the same way as you did NihaoMike, rather than reinvent their device just to save a buck or two.

WD-40 · 08-30-10, 09:20 AM

While its an interesting concept .. have any of you ever looked under your beds.. its a nightmare of dust bunnies the size of cats in my house.
I wouldn't want any of the dust and crap thats under my bed to get blown into my bed.
And I don't see anyone volunteering to clean it up on a regular basis .. I think this needs a serious rethink as to the air source. Just my 2 cents worth.

Daox · 08-30-10, 09:38 AM

Haha, while that may be true, I'm sure its not much hassle to clean under the bed a little.

trikkonceptz · 08-30-10, 10:58 AM

I see your concern, however, my floors are wood, we found an interesting invention called swiffer, which keeps the dust bunnies away. Besides you can turn the unit and face the fans out and draw air from th "clean side" of your bed as well.

I am anxiously awaiting the device .. more reports to come ..

Ryland · 08-30-10, 12:52 PM

It's a good idea to move the air that is under your bed, otherwise you do get dust build up, you also loose alot of water while you sleep (if I remember correctly it's about a quart of water) all of that is going in to your bedding, so even if you can move the air under your bed in the day time it will help it to dry out and feel cooler at night, this is part of why you shouldn't place a mattress directly on a floor or on a solid platform, you need that air movement.

WD-40 · 08-31-10, 08:56 AM

Ok what about the wife with smelly feet ..or the husband that farts all night ... all that lovely smell being forced up to your nose .. mmmm
Another issue is allergy to dust etc. My wife sleeps with her head completely under the covers at night so all the air will be in her face.
I'm being serious here this can be an issue thats real in my case anyway.
The Idea is good but the implementation needs more thought.
maybe use the fan in reverse at the foot of the bed and have air input from say midway on the sides.
I'm just saying is all.

trikkonceptz · 08-31-10, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WD-40

Ok what about the wife with smelly feet ..or the husband that farts all night ... all that lovely smell being forced up to your nose .. mmmm
Another issue is allergy to dust etc. My wife sleeps with her head completely under the covers at night so all the air will be in her face.
I'm being serious here this can be an issue thats real in my case anyway.
The Idea is good but the implementation needs more thought.
maybe use the fan in reverse at the foot of the bed and have air input from say midway on the sides.
I'm just saying is all.

No I think the product is sound, logical and a great idea to cut cooling costs. The problem with this device is your circumstance and well everything cannot accomodate everyone. Some of us will just have to suffer with higher electric costs.

Fortunately, our feet dont' smell we are not individuals with allegies, we keep a clean home, we don't fart all night and have a serious need to reduce our energy costs. Its the perfect tool for us...

08-28-10, 06:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
trikkonceptz Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 44 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Bedfan Experiment Well in my quest to lower my power usage at home I came across a product that shows some promise. It's called a bed fan; Night Sweats - Sleeping Hot - Sweating at Night \| The BedFan Cools The premise, by keeping you cool under the sheets you will need less airconditioning to keep you cool above the sheets. I agree with alot of what they say, why cool an entire house to cool the room you sleep in. In addition despite it being cool outside your sheets, your body heat is what makes you uncomfortable forcing you to make the house cooler. Shipped to my door it was $94 If I can keep the home 5 - 7 degrees warmer during the night then I may call this a success. Once it arrives I will begin the documentation and post the results of my electric bills. My next investment / project: a Dehumidifier, my house gets so humid the tiles become slimy... but I digress, one mod at a time to track results properly .. wish me luck. (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!)

08-28-10, 10:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
NiHaoMike Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 201 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Looks like it would be possible to build your own for $20 or so of all new parts - a PC fan or two connected to a power supply. Actually, I already have such a setup, using a fan that is too slow for a modern PC. __________________ Allie Moore and I have a combined carbon footprint much smaller than that of one average American...

08-29-10, 08:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 2,989 Thanks: 131 Thanked 89 Times in 73 Posts	Interesting setup. It sounds like it would work good if you don't mind the movement of air over you. It might take some getting used to. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-30-10, 09:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 2,989 Thanks: 131 Thanked 89 Times in 73 Posts	Haha, while that may be true, I'm sure its not much hassle to clean under the bed a little. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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08-29-10, 11:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
trikkonceptz Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 44 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Building one would not be difficult, however, making the housing for the air to travel and the supporting hardware to attach it to the bed and keep it in place would make the venture to time consuming with unknown results. I am far from able to just throw away $100 right now, but this calculated risk could seriously pay off when I consider how much power it takes to keep my house cool at night knowing I just really need 2 rooms kept cool. Sometimes its better to simply support the pioneers that started the same way as you did NihaoMike, rather than reinvent their device just to save a buck or two.

08-30-10, 09:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
WD-40 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 19 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	While its an interesting concept .. have any of you ever looked under your beds.. its a nightmare of dust bunnies the size of cats in my house. I wouldn't want any of the dust and crap thats under my bed to get blown into my bed. And I don't see anyone volunteering to clean it up on a regular basis .. I think this needs a serious rethink as to the air source. Just my 2 cents worth.

08-30-10, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
trikkonceptz Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 44 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I see your concern, however, my floors are wood, we found an interesting invention called swiffer, which keeps the dust bunnies away. Besides you can turn the unit and face the fans out and draw air from th "clean side" of your bed as well. I am anxiously awaiting the device .. more reports to come ..

08-30-10, 12:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 691 Thanks: 44 Thanked 44 Times in 37 Posts	It's a good idea to move the air that is under your bed, otherwise you do get dust build up, you also loose alot of water while you sleep (if I remember correctly it's about a quart of water) all of that is going in to your bedding, so even if you can move the air under your bed in the day time it will help it to dry out and feel cooler at night, this is part of why you shouldn't place a mattress directly on a floor or on a solid platform, you need that air movement.

08-31-10, 08:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
WD-40 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 19 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok what about the wife with smelly feet ..or the husband that farts all night ... all that lovely smell being forced up to your nose .. mmmm Another issue is allergy to dust etc. My wife sleeps with her head completely under the covers at night so all the air will be in her face. I'm being serious here this can be an issue thats real in my case anyway. The Idea is good but the implementation needs more thought. maybe use the fan in reverse at the foot of the bed and have air input from say midway on the sides. I'm just saying is all.