Using ceiling fans during the winter

Daox · 10-15-08, 11:08 AM

How many of you use your ceiling fan during the cooler months?

If you run your ceiling fan so it blows upwards you don't get a cool draft over you, but still mixes up the air in the room. With the fan on its lowest setting, you use very little energy and gain a few degrees in the room you are in.

Here is some testing that was done on builditsolar.com. As you can see, he has tons of heat just sitting up at the top of his room.

Thermal Stratification With High Ceilings -- A Test

insaneintenti0n · 10-15-08, 11:38 AM

i still haven't really tried using em much. but my ceilings are nowhere near that height...

toyobug · 10-15-08, 11:41 AM

hot air rises.
if your vents are in the ceiling (mine are) then you may want to run them on low.
I can tell the difference when the heat "kicks on" you feel the heat blowing around the room, that is until you acclimate to the temp change.

PaleMelanesian · 10-15-08, 11:50 AM

Not really, I haven't. I have LOW ceilings, rather than high. There's not much room for a fan without getting into the head-chopping region. With higher ceilings, I'd certainly give it a try.

SVOboy · 10-15-08, 12:20 PM

That's really interesting, I'd never even thought of it. I'll have to give this tip to my mom,

Daox · 10-15-08, 12:22 PM

If you check the bottom test (there are two) its for a room with a much lower ceiling. Once the fire place is lit up, there is a HUGE difference between 1' and 8'. As you can see, with radiant flooring the temperature is fairly uniform.

groar · 10-15-08, 03:48 PM

Our ceiling fans have been installed this summer, so it will be our first winter with ceiling fans. They can rotate in both directions so I note this idea and we may try it when we'll have to heat again.

Denis.

dremd · 10-15-08, 07:52 PM

Ofcourse I do; I use them whenever the A/C is running :-)

No Seriously I reverse them whenever it gets cold (<65F). (Still running A/C here)

cmittle · 10-16-08, 07:23 AM

I haven't before, but I can tell you that I will be getting the ladder up and switching the fan in my living room this afternoon. I'm going to give it a shot.

Thanks,
Cory

truckncycle · 10-24-08, 07:25 PM

We don't even use the ceiling fan in our bedroom in the Summer.

View Poll Results: Do you use your ceiling fan in the winter?
Yes	8	57.14%
No	6	42.86%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

10-15-08, 11:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,228	Using ceiling fans during the winter How many of you use your ceiling fan during the cooler months? If you run your ceiling fan so it blows upwards you don't get a cool draft over you, but still mixes up the air in the room. With the fan on its lowest setting, you use very little energy and gain a few degrees in the room you are in. Here is some testing that was done on builditsolar.com. As you can see, he has tons of heat just sitting up at the top of his room. Thermal Stratification With High Ceilings -- A Test (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!) __________________ 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.

10-15-08, 12:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,228	If you check the bottom test (there are two) its for a room with a much lower ceiling. Once the fire place is lit up, there is a HUGE difference between 1' and 8'. As you can see, with radiant flooring the temperature is fairly uniform. __________________ 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.

10-15-08, 03:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
groar X-Frenchy: very Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toulouse, France Posts: 153	Our ceiling fans have been installed this summer, so it will be our first winter with ceiling fans. They can rotate in both directions so I note this idea and we may try it when we'll have to heat again. Denis. __________________ Earth absorbs 1.8 t CO2/head/yr, while a French generates 6.2 t CO2/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. kg saved 06/08-08/09: 1816.9+382.9 (ecodriving / 1420mi not driven) = 2199.8 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (2.66 kg/l diesel) kg saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : 187 kg/yr To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. (59.1 g/kWh) Radioactive wastes saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : Long life (>100,000 years) : 2.85 g/yr (0.9 mg/kWh) Short life (<300 years) : 31.7 g/yr (10.0 mg/kWh) Based upon "official" French figures...

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10-15-08, 11:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
insaneintenti0n Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 152	i still haven't really tried using em much. but my ceilings are nowhere near that height...

10-15-08, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
toyobug avid DIY'r Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MS. Gulf Coast Posts: 154	hot air rises. if your vents are in the ceiling (mine are) then you may want to run them on low. I can tell the difference when the heat "kicks on" you feel the heat blowing around the room, that is until you acclimate to the temp change.

10-15-08, 11:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
PaleMelanesian Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 44	Not really, I haven't. I have LOW ceilings, rather than high. There's not much room for a fan without getting into the head-chopping region. With higher ceilings, I'd certainly give it a try.

10-15-08, 12:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
SVOboy Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 243	That's really interesting, I'd never even thought of it. I'll have to give this tip to my mom,

10-15-08, 07:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
dremd Need More Eco Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Scott, La Posts: 125	Ofcourse I do; I use them whenever the A/C is running :-) No Seriously I reverse them whenever it gets cold (<65F). (Still running A/C here)

10-16-08, 07:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
cmittle Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 55	I haven't before, but I can tell you that I will be getting the ladder up and switching the fan in my living room this afternoon. I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks, Cory

10-24-08, 07:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
truckncycle Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 81	We don't even use the ceiling fan in our bedroom in the Summer.