Do ceiling fans really help?

yooperdave · Nov 17, 2003

I have a now partially remodeled building with cinder block walls and no insulation in the ceiling. The room in question is about 22' x 33' x 11' high.

I put in a couple of propane wall heaters in one corner with 2 ceiling fans in the hopes of circulating the warmed air around.

Will the heat just escape out of the ceiling to the second floor or will the fans really distribute the localized heat?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

bebster · Nov 17, 2003

The fans will help some, by pushing the heat that rises down into the living area. However, you'll still lose heat through the ceiling big time. I'd seriously consider insulating the ceiling. At 11' high, you could insulate from the inside with 2" of R-10 foam insulation (they sell it at Home Depot for about $10 for 2x8 sheet). You could probably just glue it to the ceiling if you didn't mind the appearance. If you did, you could add a cosmetic layer over it (like panelling of some sort).

Thomas · Nov 17, 2003

You may want to consider insulation in the ceiling to save heating dollars,but yes ceiling fans do make it more comfortable..depending on the speed tho.L,M,H.

34F..cloudy sky.

Bob_Skurka · Nov 17, 2003

Also, remember to run the fans backwards!

If the fans are set to push the air DOWN then you will feel colder. This is due to the direct breeze against your skin and the evaporative effect on your skin (creating what is termed by the TV weatherman as "wind chill").

If the fans are set to pull the air UP, it will force the air outward (because it hits the ceiling) and it will create air currents that run down the perimeter of the room washing warm air down the walls.

In the summer you should have the fans pushing hot air down to mix it with the cool air at the bottom of the room and the direct cooling effect of the breeze will also make you feel cooler. In the winter the fans should pull cooler up to the ceiling to mix it with the hot air that is trapped on the ceiling and force the mixture of the air down along the walls, minimizing the cooling breeze. We do this in our warehouse (60,000 square feet) and it seems to help significantly.

Junkman · Nov 18, 2003

pushing down...... pulling up ........ please put a directional word to each.... standing under the fan, looking up, is that clockwise or counter clockwise? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

OkeeDon · Nov 18, 2003

The fan motors are reversible. You install it as directed, then change a little switch to reverse the direction of the motor to push down or pull up.

kokopelli2 · Nov 18, 2003

clockwise, up. counterclockwise down. in the winter you should only run the fan on low, nothing else. you also need to start the fan when you want to heat the room and leave it on until you are done. it is not like the summer when you want a breeze. if you want to de-stratifiy the air (get rid of the heat layers) you need to leave the fan on low. this will mix the air at others have said. in my house i turn all my fans on low in reverse when i turn my heat on and leave them that way until i turn my heat off in the spring. help alot, but i have insulation too.