Category: Fans

Ceiling Fan Questions – (Is Bigger Always Better?)

In my house, there are ceiling fans running throughout the house just about all year long.

If one were to burn out, there is no doubt that we be shopping for one very quickly and probably have it up by at least the upcoming weekend.

And you might think since we rely on ceiling fans so heavily to keep the air in our house moving, that we would be ceiling fan experts.

Unfortunately that’s not the case. Whenever there’s a issue with a ceiling fan, Were running to the internet like everyone else.

Shopping for a new ceiling fan is not exactly intuitive especially when I’m looking at the ceiling at the vast selection no ceiling fans at Lowe’s.

And trying to figure out why a ceiling fan is making a racket is not exactly in my wheelhouse of skill sets.

So what I’ve compiled here is a few of the things that I’ve learned about ceiling fans that might be able to help you sort through some issues when you’re trying to deal with your own ceiling fan.

Or buying a new one.

What is the Purpose of a Ceiling Fan?

The purpose of a ceiling fan is to move the air in the room. Ceiling fans add a cooling effect to your body in the same way that an outdoor breeze helps cool you off while you were outside.

Ceiling fans do nothing to change the temperature though, they are simply blowing the air lightly or heavily depending on how you set it.

And just like the analogy of an outdoor breeze, if the temperature is warmer, you get a warmer breeze and if the temperatures cooler you get a cooler breeze. And if it’s a calm day, you get a slight breeze, and if it’s too windy day, you may get breezed over.

That is why a ceiling fan can work particularly well in conjunction with an air conditioner. With the AC running, the ceiling fan will blow a cooler breeze across your body and help you to cool off faster.

Is it Cheaper to Run a Fan or AC?

It cost much less to run a ceiling fan than it does in air conditioner so when the weather is warm and it doesn’t exactly make sense to run the air conditioner, the ceiling fan can move the air in the room and help add a slight breeze.

Is it Expensive to Run a Ceiling Fan?

A large ceiling fan uses about 70 to 90 Watts of energy. If you were to run it 24 hours , the cost would be around $1.90.

If you ran the central heat and air for 24 hours, a 3500 watt unit would cost you about $15 a day.

A pretty substantial difference.

So putting the right ceiling fans in your rooms makes a lot of sense economically and can help your AC do a more efficient job of cooling your home.

But…

Getting the right ceiling fan can be tricky when you have to wade through so many choices and styles,

Getting down to the nuts and bolts of what you need in a ceiling fan versus style can be a little intimidating especially if you’re shopping for a fan with your “live in” home decor expert.

What Type of Ceiling Fan Moves the Most Air?

Scientifically, a larger ceiling fan is going to move more air.
Longer blade length means more air that is being pushed down as the ceiling fan turns.

Airflow is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). You’ll find with a little shopping that a larger fan will have a larger CFM. It’s just that simple.

And economically speaking, it’s going to take less energy to to move the air when the span of the blades is longer.

Think about it this way. If you want more air flow out of a ceiling fan, you either get to turn the speed up or get a larger fan that moves more air at a lower speed.

It’s going to cost less for a larger fan at a low speed then a smaller ceiling fan cranked up on high.

Essentially a larger fan on a slow speed will move about the same air as a smaller ceiling fan on a high speed.

So from a practical viewpoint, choosing a larger fan with longer blades that you are intending to run on low, is a better choice when you’re looking for a new ceiling fan.

Some of the other benefits to choosing a larger fan are:

1.If you decide to change the blades,
Changing the blade fan size to a smaller blade is an option because the motor can easily handle less weight.

Where is a smaller fan usually does not have a large enough motor capacity to to be able to carry the additional load without adding strain that will eventually burn it out quicker.

2.  A larger ceiling fan gives you the option of being able to crank up the air flow whereas a smaller ceiling fan is already running at a high speed to get the air flow it has.

What is the Purpose of a Ceiling FanHow Many Blades on a Ceiling Fan Make the Best Air Flow?

Three blade ceiling fans create less drag which translates into more flow of air but they are generally much louder and meant to be used in rooms with taller ceiling heights.

Most homes in the western hemisphere have shorter ceiling heights which brings the ceiling fan closer to the people in the room.

Which means the noise level of the ceiling fan has to be manageable and in order to get a ceiling fan to be quieter, it has to have more blades.

Five blades is the standard for ceiling fans because of the give and take between air flow and noise levels.

Also home ceiling fans are almost always equipped with lighting fixtures and by necessity need to be closer to the people in the room to provide enough light.

Three blade fans are meant to be placed higher up and don’t usually come with a light fixture.

Can a Ceiling Fan be too Large for a Room?

A ceiling fan can be too large for a room when there is not enough clearance between the blades and anything else that is hanging on the wall or hanging from the ceiling.

The general rule of thumb is that you do not want to ceiling fan within a foot of anything that it could possibly come in contact with.

The other issue is that a big ceiling fan just may not fit the style of a room or just be too bulky.

Sure you could get a huge ceiling  fan and run it on low in a small room and get better airflow then you would a small ceiling fan but there is still things like aesthetics to consider.

Picking a ceiling fan with the largest cfm that meets the criteria of style also, is the way to get the best airflow and the biggest bang for your money.

Q&A

Are ceiling fan arms universal?

Ceiling fan arms are not universal. The best way to ensure that you are getting the proper replacement arm for your ceiling fan is to check the model number of your fan with the listing of which ceiling fans a package of replacement arms will accommodate.

Otherwise take the broken part with you to the hardware store and compare the hose to make sure that they will interchange.

Are ceiling fan down rods universal?

Ceiling fan down rods are generally not universal. Though many manufacturers use the same type of down rods, that is not always the case and it is suggested to check with the manufacturer to ensure that you are purchasing the right replacement.

Are ceiling fan blades interchangeable?

Ceiling fan blades are interchangeable for the most part. Most hardware stores carry a generic selection of ceiling fan blades that can be swapped out easily.
  Some ceiling fan blades will have a specific screw hole layout that you will not be able to find a generic replacement for. In that case you’ll have to go through the manufacturer.

What is a ceiling fan rated outlet box?

A ceiling fan rated outlet box is a electrical box that is designed to support the weight of a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan electrical box must be screwed securely to a stud inside of your framework. A large ceiling fan can weigh as much as 50 lb. Ensuring that it is fastened to the ceiling is vital.

What is the average weight of a ceiling fan?

The average weight of a ceiling fan is 20 to 50  lbs. The most a ceiling fan box can hold is 50 lb without it being marked otherwise. A medium sized ceiling fan with a lighting fixture and five blades weighs an average of 25 lb.

Our ceiling fan blades reversible?

Ceiling fan blades are generally reversible and painted a different color on the back side of the blade so that you can easily change the look of the ceiling fan by flipping the ceiling fan blades.

What is the button on a ceiling fan for?

The button on the ceiling fan is there to change the direction of the motor. The up or right position of the button will typically cause your ceiling fan to spin clockwise.

Which way should a ceiling fan turn in the summer?

Counterclockwise is the direction of a ceiling fan that pushes the air down and causes a cool breeze that can give you relief during the summer months.

What is the lowest ceiling height for a ceiling fan?

The lowest ceiling height that you can use a ceiling fan in is 8 ft.

How Many Watts Does a Fan Use? (7 Fan Types Examined)

Right now, we are at the beginning of the month of March. We are just starting to feel warmer days and relief from the winter. Some days are cooler and some almost summer like. But windy to be sure.

This is about the time of the year people began to pull out the fans.

In our house, We have fans in every room, except the kitchen and the bathrooms.

We have a ceiling fan in every bedroom and in the living room, that stays on constantly. And in the master bedroom there is two tower fans on each side of the bed that run almost all year long.

You would think with all the fans running that we must be using a ton of energy and our electric bill is outrageous.

But comparably, when you look at the wattage of an average fan which is usually around a 100 w and compare it to say a space heater that uses up to 1500 w on high, the difference is quite striking.

how many watts does a box fan useHow many watts does a fan use?

40 w up to 120 w is the average.

How much does it cost to run a 120 w fan 24 hours a day?

23 cents a day or 7 dollars a month.
$3.50 if you only run it at night for the entire month.

But that is a estimate based on the average price per kilowatt hour in the United States per state. Which is 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour.

Those numbers can vary greatly if you live in say Hawaii. Where the price per kilowatt hour is 29.14 cents. Which means the cost to run a 120 watt fan for 24 hours in the aloha state is more like 83 cents a day and $26 a month.

You can figure out how much energy any of your appliances use by using a simple formula.

Watts x Hours(used) ÷1000 x cents per kilowatt hour

How many watts does a ceiling fan use?

The average wattage of a standard 52″ ceiling fan is anywhere from 50 to 120 w.

For instance the Hampton Bay classic 52-in ceiling fan with remote and lights uses only 53 Watts on high, 23 Watts on medium, in 10 watts on low.

Where as the similarly sized Casablanca luxurious Correne 56″ uses 100 w on high.

Hint: Does running a ceiling fan help your AC?

Using a ceiling fan in conjunction with your AC can actually help lower your overall cooling cost because it will help circulate the cool air coming from your AC much easier.
It will also spread out the cool air coming from your air conditioner much faster which in turn will take a load off of your AC unit.

How many watts does a 20″ box fan use?

A 20-in box fan uses anywhere from 50 to 90 Watts.

The typical lasko box fan that you see piled on pallets in the middle of Walmart is rated at 54 Watts.

The same exact style by Comfort Zone uses 75 w

Hint: Box fans are the most economical for the amount of air that they blow for the money.
But they’re not the easiest to find a good place for.
Is someone in your house is a guitar player, guitar stands make a excellent diy solution to adjusting the placement of a box fan.

How many watts does a tower fan use?

The average wattage of a 42-in tower fan is 54 to 82 Watts.

A side-by-side comparison of the Lasko 42-in tower fan with the Vornado 42-in tower fan shows that the Lasko uses 54 w on high whereas the Vornado uses 82 Watts on high.

How many watts does a Stand (pedestal) fan use?

Standing Pedestal fans are usually a little less powerful than a box fan and for the same reason use less energy than other kinds of fans.

The 16 inch pedestal fan by Lasko only uses 42 Watts.

How many watts does a 20″ floor fan use?

Floor fans typically move a lot more air than a pedestal fan and the amount of wattage that they use reflects that.
The average 20 inch floor fan uses 120 w

The Lasko 20 inch floor fan uses 127 Watts where is the Toshiba comes in at 120 watts on high.

What is the wattage of a table fan?

Table fan wattage ranges from 30 to 50 w

The most energy efficient table fan we found was the Hunter retro 12″ that uses 35 Watts.
The runner-up was the comfort zone at 40 Watts.
And in last place surprisingly, was the Lasko at 48 w

How many watts does a 24″commercial fan use?

240 w is the average.
Once you get into the commercial fan and professional air mover area, the amount of energy it takes to run these becomes quite a bit higher.
Air movers are designed to push a great deal of air into an area in a short amount of time.
Out of every type of fan, air movers use the most energy by far.

How many watts does an air mover use?

About 400 w is the average.
The Rigid air mover uses exactly that.

how many watts does a box fan use

How do you position a fan to get the best out of it?

How you position the fan and where you put it can make all the difference in how effective a fan is regardless of the wattage that it is using.

In the springtime, putting a box fan in the window and blowing the cool air from the outside into the inside is a great way to cool the house off. The humming of the fan also has the unintended effect of discouraging insects from coming through the window.

Placing a fan where it can easily pull in air is the trick to getting the air moving. Many times people will want to place a fan closer to the wall or the drapes to get it out of the middle of the room, but that has the effect of limiting the amount of air that can move through the fan. Thus the fan should always be in an open area where air can easily enter it.

Keeping the fan clean is also a easy way to get a lot better effectiveness out of it.

Though you will not find this problem with the ceiling fan, every other type of fan has a tendency to gather dust and Lent on the back grill. If the dirt and dust are allowed to get thick enough, they will keep air from flowing through the fan.
By cleaning the grime and dust off the back of a fan, you will be amazed at how well that old fan works.

Most of time you view a fan as a way to cool off the air inside of a room or inside of a computer, etc.

But a fan is simply a way to move air from one place to another and can be used to move the warm air from the ceiling down by simply switching the direction of the ceiling fan from counterclockwise to clockwise.

This works because as you know, heat rises.
By reversing the direction of the blades you can pull the heat from the ceiling into the room.

Is There a Fan that Blows Cold Air vs. Just Air?

Is there a type of fan that blows cold air versus just plain air?

Not really. Once you add cold air to a fan, it basically becomes an air conditioner or an evaporative cooler.

An air conditioner is really just a fan that blows refrigerated air.

Albeit much more sophisticated than that since it it dehumidifies as it cools the air, but fundamentally the same.

And a evaporative cooler is a fan that blows air off of pads that are soaked in water.

Technically a fan is just a motor that has propellers attached to it to move air.
The temperature of the air that a fan is  moving may seem to be cooler because of the wind chill effect that it is creating,  but the temperature is the same going in, as it is coming out of a fan.

And logically once you begin to cool the air off any other way, whether it be through a refrigerant or damped pads,

you can no longer call it a fan because you have begun to condition the air with an outside element, which then makes it an air conditioner.

But whatever you want to call it, the point is to get some cool air on you when you’re hot.

diy air conditioner

DIY Air Conditioner

You have probably heard of DIY air conditioners that are basically fans that blow over ice, done with beer coolers.

If you want to take the time and put in a little more effort, this type of DIY fan/ AC is a excellent way to get a fan to feel like an air conditioner.

The ideal is to cut circular holes, a large one on top for a fan to blow into, and two on the sides to connect some flexible duct too. (This is done using a circular blade saw, the type that you use for a door handle, only much bigger. And a power drill.)
Connect connect the flexible duct to the hose that you cut on the sides using duct tape or aluminum tape.
Feel the beer cooler with ice up to the point of the flexible duct.
Plug the fan in and turn it on.
Enjoy the cool air coming off of the ice through the flexible duct.

your going to need a constant supply of ice as well as a cleaning schedule because you are looking at a recipe for mold when you combine a container of water with heat in a dark place.

evaporative cooler

Evaporative coolers work much like the DIY beer cooler air conditioners you see on YouTube.

They are usually window type air conditioners that have a water supply that keeps pads soaked with water as a fan blows cool air off of the water into the house.

Evaporative coolers or Swamp coolers have one major flaw, they increase the humidity in the room.

You’ve probably heard the saying” it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”.

That’s because the humidity can make it feel much hotter than it actually is during the warm and hot months.

And it’s not an accident, that evaporative coolers have taken on the nickname ” swamp coolers. And thats because in the right conditions, an evaporative cooler can make a room feel like a swamp.

That’s not to say that there’s not a place for them, everyone likes the feeling of cool air coming off of the ocean or a lake.

But it’s all the same premise.

Portable Air ConditionerPortable Air Conditioner

Refrigerated Air Conditioners have the advantage of being used as a fan when you don’t need the colder air.

And the advantage of reducing the relative indoor humidity which can be at the source of the temperature inside of the house.

Recap

Are you looking for a fan that blows cold air like an air conditioner?

Unfortunately you’re not going to have too much luck with a fan blowing cold air like an air conditioner unless you can first cool the air off before the fan blows it.

Which is technically what an air conditioner is.

And evaporative cooler is a type of fan that blows air off of water which makes the air feel cooler. But this type a fan is also called a swamp cooler because of its tendency to fill the house full of moisture, making it feel like a swamp.

And since, the high humidity in warm weather is as much a factor in the heat, adding more humidity to the air it’s only going to make it feel that much more uncomfortable.

But if you’re just looking for a personal fan and want to make it a little cooler, they do make small evaporative coolers that feel just fine blowing on you whereas trying to cool down a whole house or room may make it feel balmy.

There are plenty of DIY solutions for making a fan blow cold air. Most amount to the same technique of blowing the air over ice or water.

A better solution is a small mobile refrigerated air unit. They will not only blow cold air, they will help reduce the humidity in the room at the same time.

The biggest downside is they have to be vented. So that means either using a window air conditioner or running the provided ductwork to a window or attic.

Dehumidifier vs. Fan for the Bathroom

Using a dehumidifier versus a fan for indoor humidity. Which one is better?

Excessive humidity inside of your home can happen for multitude of reasons including flooding, leaks, poor insulation especially in the basement and crawl spaces, or the rainy season has just descended on you. But the most common place that you find excessive moisture in the air is the bathroom.

Regardless, living with high humidity inside of the house not only effects your  level of comfort and overall wellness, it also effects the structure of your home as well as your belongings.

Dehumidifier vs. fan 

A fan can be useful to reduce indoor humidity as long as it is blowing dry outdoor air into the room, but it is not controlled or measured.

On the other hand, a dehumidifier will reduce a controllable , measured amount of humidity and does not depend on the outside air being dry.

If you have an issue with high humidity inside of your home, the humidity outside is more likely going to be very high than low.

In a circumstances where the humidity is not overbearing but not exactly helping you out either, placing fans around the room can have a drying effect on the air. If you were trying to paint or some other type of similar art project where you need a dry environment, having a couple of fans osculating and moving air around the room can probably give you the amount of dryness you need for your project.

But other indoor humidity issues, like a damp basement, you need a way to control the amount of humidity in the room because of the problems of mold and fungus it comes with it.

The only way you can get this type of control is by using a dehumidifier that will extract the humidity out of the air to the proper relative humidity is reached.

Dehumidifier vs exhaust fan

Dehumidifier vs exhaust fan

Most people have exhaust fans in their bathrooms so that the moisture left in the air by the shower and bath can be expelled out of the house so but it does not have a chance to promote mold in the drywall and window frames.

But though you typically do fine exhaust fans in the bathroom and the kitchen, they are really not found too much in other areas of the house.

Dehumidifiers and fans or exhaust fans are not enemies. Nor do they have to work exclusive of each other.

Using the exhaust fans in the bathroom in the kitchen or a great idea and do a great job. But they do not work for the whole house.

A Dehumidifier can only help an exhaust fan to reduce the humidity in the house. Likewise, exhaust fans can only help with the dehumidifier do its job.

“The main difference is that a dehumidifier can extract and remove the exact amount of humidity that you need it to whereas a fan doesn’t have the capacity to be measured.”

The second way a fan can help a dehumidifier is the use of a high-powered air mover fan. An air mover is a fan created especially for drying and is usually used on construction sites as a means of speeding up the time it takes for paint to dry and blowing away the fumes left behind by the paint.

An air mover is not generally a piece of machinery that you’ll want to use in your home unless you plan on removing everything from the walls and putting everything away that can be blown away.

Recap

A fan and a dehumidifier can both help reduce humidity in the air but the difference is, it is the job of a dehumidifier to remove humidity from the air and it does so according to how it is programmed.

A Fan on the other hand, even though it does have some drying capacity because oh the natural blowing on something to dry it aspect, does not extract humidity from the air and does not do nearly as good of a job as reducing humidity as a dehumidifier. Nor is it measurable or controllable like a dehumidifier.

One exception is an exhaust fan that is put inside of a bathroom or kitchen for the express purpose of removing moisture created by showering and cooking. Another exception is the use of a commercial air mover, which is a high velocity fan meant that is used to help dry out construction sites as well as remove fumes.
Yet even in these cases it’s not measurable or controllable.

But as a fan, a dehumidifier is only good for blowing hot air on you. Not usually the effect you want from a fan.

See Also: Humidifier vs. Vaporizer

How to Lower Humidity in a House?

What humidity level is uncomfortable?

As the old saying goes ” it’s not the heat, it’s the Humidity”

Most people have a hard time dealing with high humidity. The temperature can be somewhat mild but then humidity outside can make it feel extra hot. Andt at a certain time of the year, namely the late summer heading into fall, there are days when you can turn the air conditioner on and not even feel it because of the humidity in the air.

According to shorstmeyer.com, the humidity that most people start to feel uncomfortable is about 65% with the temperature at 90° outside.

Is 65 humidity high?

65% humidity is about the top of the scale before it becomes too miserable for most people. At 65%, according to the heat index, the temperature at 88 degrees feels more like 98°.

Is 70 percent humidity high?

70% humidity can make a 96° day feel like 126° outside. And at 70% humidity, dust mites and mold begin to be a real problem. For persons allergic to dust mites and mold spores 70% humidity can be more than hot, it can be a nightmare.

What causes high humidity in a house?

High humidity can begin in the house with the simplest everyday activities that you wouldn’t give too much of a thought to otherwise.

High humidity in the house can start from activities like:

1. Cooking – boiling water
2. Bathing – showering
3. Drying your clothes
4. Washing the dishes
5. Dirty AC filters
6. Setting the thermostat to “on” rather than Auto
7. Location-climate

Other reasons can include actual structure problems like:

1. Poor ventilation
2. Improper insulation
3. Weather stripping need replaced

How to lower humidity in house

1. Dehumidifier
2. Air Conditioning
3. Ventilation and exhaust fans
4. Heater
5. Dehumidifying plants
6. Fans
7. Shorter & Cooler showers
8. Change thermostat to “auto”
9. Crack the window
10. Charcoal dehumidifier
11. Rock Salt dehumidifier
12. Rice dehumidifier
13. Cat litter

1. Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers are mobile devices that work almost entirely the same way that a air conditioner does to remove humidity except that it expels heat into the room rather than cool air.

Dehumidifiers are great for areas like a damp basement or an areas where there has been leaking pipes and or water damage.

Dehumidifiers reduce the moisture by pulling air over refrigerated coils that cause the moisture in the air to condense.

The moisture is then captured into a tank or ran outside with a garden hose.

What humidity level is uncomfortable2. Air conditioning

Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are essentially the same machine only the air conditioners are used to cool the air and dehumidify the air as a byproduct.

Air conditioning is one of the easiest and most effective ways of reducing the humidity inside of the home provided it’s a refrigerated unit that condenses the humidity into the air and moves it outside.
Other types of air conditioners called “swamp coolers” or “evaporative air coolers” will increase the humidity because they are basically fans blowing over water.

3. Ventilation and exhaust

The main rooms in the house that have exhaust fans are the rooms the create the most humidity. The bathroom and the kitchen.
Showers and baths will steam up the house quicker than anything. It’s important to keep the exhaust fan running while you are taking a shower or bath to reduce humidity damage to your structure as well as mildew and mold production.

The kitchen is also a room that creates a lot of humidity from cooking and boiling water. It’s important to keep a lid on your pots and have the exhaust fan running to reduce the humidity produced by simply cooking.

4. Heater

Though most of the time people notice the level of humidity in the air is during the summer, winter also has its fair share of humidity buildup inside of the home.

You probably noticed water droplets and condensation building up on the Windows during the winter.

One of the easiest things to do during the winter to reduce the humidity is simply running the heater. Hot dry air coming from the heater will naturally dry out the moisture in the air.

5. Dehumidifying plants

Plants are natural dehumidifiers. And some prefer more humidity than others.
Some house plants that you can put in your home to help reduce the humidity in the house are:
a. English ivy
b. Boston fern
c. Peace lily
d. Reed palm

6. Fans

Using fans positioned around the house is also a natural way to reduce the humidity. Having fans operating is a simple way to dry the air out.

7. Shorter and cooler showers

A simple way to keep your bathroom from becoming a steamy Haze is to turn the temperature down on the water and not run it as long.
Another word if you don’t like the steamy feeling in the room don’t produce the steam in the first place.

8. Change AC thermostat to auto

There are many proponents for keeping your air conditioning thermostat on the on position because helps keep the air more evenly cooled when the AC cycles off.
But the other side of that argument is that the condensation never gets a chance to drip out before it evaporates and gets blown back into the house as humidity.
Keeping your thermostat on “auto” will help the dehumidifying function of the AC work much better and save you money in the long run.

9. Crack the windows

Sometimes the easiest way to reduce the humidity inside is to crack the window and open the door.
Of course if the humidity outside is 90%, this is not going to work.
But if the inside of the house feels extra muggy, opening the windows and letting the air exchange will help freshen up the room and keep the humidity down.

The next four suggestions falls under the “home remedies for absorbing moisture” heading. These are products that you probably have around the house already that you may not have known were excellent for absorbing moisture and reducing the humidity in the air.

10. Charcoal dehumidifier

Charcoal is a natural dehumidifier that can be a super easy DIY project.
According to Readers digest, charcoal briquettes can be placed in a coffee can with hose punched into the lid and placed in humid areas to absorb moisture.

Placing charcoal briquettes in bookshelves that have glass doors is a librarians trick for keeping musty odors and mowed from getting inside of old books

11. Rock salt dehumidifier

If you have ever owned a pink Himalayan salt lamp, you have noticed that it appears to leak water.
But in actuality it is not leaking water but pulling moisture out of the air onto itself and dripping off.
The same concept can be used with rock salt.
The rock salt humidifier can be easily built by taking an everyday planting pot and filling it with rock salt. The planter works good because as the salt draws moisture to itself and leaks it has a place to leak into instead of the floor.

12. Rice dehumidifier

You’ve probably heard that if you drop your phone into the toilet you can throw it in some rice afterwards. I’m not sure I’ve ever known anyone that that is work for. But rice can definitely soak up moisture from the air over a period of time.
After all, you can put a cup of rice in a pan and fill it with water and the rice will practically absorb every bit of the water.
This is the same concept as placing small containers of rice around a room to help with humidity.

13. Cat litter dehumidifier

Kitty litter is excellent at absorbing moisture. Not only can it be used for your cats, it will also draw a moisture from the air.
An easy DIY cat litter dehumidifier is to fill a tube sock with kitty litter and hang it in the closet or wherever you’re having an issue with moisture.

One application is to hang it from the rear view mirror in your car, which can help keep your windshield from condensation building up on the inside.

Cat litter dehumidifierRecap

Humidity is the difference the temperature being mild outside and insufferably hot.
At 65 and 70% humidity, the temperature can feel 20° hotter.
And when the humidity is at those levels, household allergens like dust mites rise in population considerably.

But when you have high humidity in your house, there are many things you can do to reduce the humidity including some easy do-it-yourself dehumidifiers that can be made with products you already have around the house.

Is it Bad to Sleep with a Fan Blowing on You?-Pros and Cons

Is it bad to sleep with a fan blowing on you? That can be a contentious question, depending on who you ask. There are quite a few proponents for the good , and the bad issues of sleeping with the fan on you. But you might find that the answer is not that clear cut.

Some people say it is unhealthy, other people don’t have a problem with it.

And the truth is, both are right. There are times when sleeping at the fan on you is exactly what you need to cool off and get some sleep,

But there is also times when having air blowing directly on you can cause you to have some issues in other areas.

So let’s do our best to break it down and see how if we can come to some agreement on the subject.

Benefits of sleeping with a fan

1. Cools you down
2. White noise
3. Circulate the air
4. Reduce hot and cold spots in your home.
5. Reduces odors

1. Cool you down.

When it is hot, especially hot and sticky  like it gets in the south at night where I live, putting a fan on you is the difference between going to sleep or not.
There’s not too many things more miserable than trying to get to sleep in a hot room with no airflow.

Taking a shower helps but that’s not always an option especially when you’re not in your own house, not to mention those nights when you can wash the sweat off and be sweaty again in 20 minutes.

Benefits of sleeping with a fan2. Sleeping with a fan for noise

The sound of a fan humming can be a good thing to help drown out other loud sounds that can keep you from getting to sleep good.
Whether it’s the person in the room with you snoring, or the TV on and the other room, for the traffic outside,
Erratic sounds while you are sleeping can jar you awake and make it harder to get back to sleep after you’ve been startled.

A fan can make an excellent white noise machine when you don’t have any other source of white noise around.

Of course there is a million videos of rain sounds, ocean sounds, or whatever sounds you need to help you sleep available on YouTube if you have your phone.

3. Circulates the air

If you’re having a hard time getting to sleep, laying in a dry stale room with no air flowing doesn’t help.
Opening the window is a good choice to get some air flowing in the room when you have a window to open.
But opening a window is not always an option because of security risk or the exasperation of noise outside that we already mentioned.
Running a fan while you’re asleep is a good way to create some airflow in a less than fresh environment.

4. Supplement the air conditioning

a. Uneven air – hot and cold spots

Even when you have central heat and air that distributes air conditioning into every single room, you can have hotspots where the vented incoming air does not get to as well.

One option is to keep the “on” setting on your AC thermostat left in the ” on ” position so that the AC fan continues to run after the AC has powered down.

But this will still leave some spots where the air does not get to as well and cost more money to operate.

And keeping the fan running continuously evaporates the condensation and blows it back into the house in the form of humidity. Which only makes the air feel hotter and stickier.

Using a fan as a supplement to your air conditioning can help move the cool air from your AC vents through your room and onto yourself better.

b. Air conditioning is also expensive to keep running at cool setting all night. Most experts agree that you should turn your thermostat up as hot as you can actually take the heat, to avoid an outlandish Energy bill during the summer months.

5.  Reduces odors

The bedroom can be a, let’s say “unfresh” room to sleep in.
Body odors, especially collective body odors when you sleep in the same room with someone else can build up and make a room unfresh and hard to get to sleep in.

Many people sleep in the same room with their baby to be able to conveniently change and nurse them through the night.

Though necessary, the smell of a dirty diaper can be enough to wake you up.
Having a fan in the bedroom can keep the air flowing and reduce smells.

Though you probably don’t want to keep the fan right on the baby. Babies tend to have a much more sensitive respiratory system that can be a lot more susceptible to airborne bacteria.

Side effects of sleeping with a fan on youSide effects of sleeping with a fan on you

1. Noisy
2. Body aches
3 Can cause congestion
4. Sore throat
5. Dry eyes
6. Dehydration
7. Ear pain
8. Allergies and asthma

There are a lot of good points to not sleeping with a fan on you. Do they outweigh the positive, you’ll have to decide.

1. Noisy

Some people need absolute quiet to sleep. And though fan noise can be considered a source of white noise to help you sleep by some, for others, a fan is just too loud.

If you’re a person that thinks you would enjoy the benefits of sleeping with a fan but they are too loud, you should know that there are many fans available that are very very quiet these days.

2. Can sleeping under a fan cause body aches?

As strange as it may seem, sleeping with a fan with the air directed right on you can cause you to tense up and wake up with body aches. The flow of concentrated cool air on you can cause your muscles to constrict and leave you feeling stiff when you wake up.

Another issue is that it can become too cool while you’re asleep, and you will naturally turn away which may leave you in an uncomfortable position that will also leave you sore in the morning.

There’s also that period of time where the seasons are transitioning and one night you may need a fan on you where is the next night, it’s too much. There’s no benefit to keeping a fan on you when the temperature does not warrant it.

3.  Does sleeping under a fan cause congestion?

Generally sleeping under a fan helps keep the air moving enough that you get a good night’s sleep.

But if you’re feeling sinusy or you can tell that you’ve got a cold coming on, sleeping directly in front of a fan will more than likely exasperate the problem.

And believe me, having a summer cold with a congested head and chest is even more miserable when you are burning up but sitting in front of the fan is only making you feel worse.

The fan may not be the reason you are congested but may not exactly make you feel better either.

Although the feeling of a light breeze coming off a cool mist humidifier fan can be refreshing and help you open up and breathe easier when you’re feeling congested.

4. Sleeping with fan on sore throat

Having a sore throat is related to dry mouth. If you already sleep with your mouth open, having a fan directly on you is going to dry out your throat which may leave it feeling sore.

Positioning the fan away from your face may help you to not get a dry sore throat but still be able to enjoy the benefits of a fan on you while you sleep.

Also, if you are already feeling like you might have a cold coming on, sleeping under a fan may give you the chills and make you feel worse rather than better.

A cool mist humidifier maybe a better option for giving you a slight breeze and adding moisture to the air to help loosen up mucus and moisten your throat so you can swallow easier.

5. can sleeping with a fan on cause dry eyes?

Dry eyes, itchy eyes, and watery eyes
can all get aggravated when you have a fan blowing on you.
Dry and itchy eyes are usually symptoms that are related to allergies.
And having a fan blow around airborne allergens, especially directly on you, could be the reason that you get dry eyes with the fan on.
This is an issue that I am close to.
My own mother carries around a box of tissues because her eyes are so sensitive to allergens that she never knows when just having a fan on is going to make her eyes water so bad she can’t take it.

6. The sleeping with the fan on dehydrate you?

Sweating dehydrates you. Humidity dehydrate you. Heat dehydrates you.

All the reasons why you put a fan on yourself in the first place.

Sleeping with the fan will not dehydrate you but it is not the solution for dehydration either.

If you have a fan on you because you were excessively hot, that should be an indication to you that you need to drink more water.

Staying hydrated will help you cool down more than sleeping with a fan.
But a cool drink and a fan are certainly bosom buddies in the summer.

7. Sleeping with a fan on bad for your ears?

There is an old wives tale or at least a rumor that sleeping under a fan will give you tinnitus.

But the truth is tinnitus is related to being exposed to loud noises or infections and there is really no evidence that having air blowing on you can give you tinnitus.

Though there are certain sleeping positions like your neck being kinked that can exasperate ear problems.

8. Asthma and allergies

Sleeping with a fan on can exasperate allergies and asthma because it keeps airborne triggers moving around through the air while you are sleeping.

Allergens like dust mites go hand in hand with heat and humidity.

When the weather is hot and sticky you can count on having a large population of dust mites in your room.

Unfortunately that is the time when you need to fill the comfort of a fan on you the most.

This is where running a dehumidifier will not only help reduce the allergen population, will reduce the humidity that is amplifying the heat and take the pressure off of your air conditioner all in one shot.

An air purifier in your bedroom is also an excellent device to keep as a companion to your fan so that you can enjoy the benefits of having the fan on without circulating allergens and asthma triggers it can cause you to have a reaction while you are sleeping.

Is it bad to sleep with the fan blowing on you?

Are you a proponent of sleeping with a fan on or do they have too many issues for you to be comfortable with.

It is certainly a subject that can be debatable but it is really up to you and there is no harm in trying it. And it can keep you from running to the thermostat.

 
 

Does Running Furnace Fan Cool House?

Does running furnace fan cool house?

Because the location of the furnace is usually in the attic, and the fact that the attic is the hottest area in the house, you can expect the air coming out of the vents from the furnace fan to be on the warm side rather than cool.

Running furnace fan continuously in summer

Using the HVAC furnace fan continuously in the summer can be a good Idea for a few reasons.

First the ductwork is not only the system that delivers warm and cool air throughout the house, it is also the system that filters the air throughout the house.

Particulates like pollen and pet dander, as well as mold spores and bacteria can be much worse indoors than outside even in industrial areas.

Keeping the fan on your furnace and AC running is one way to combat indoor air quality issues.

HVAC filters are not the only air cleaners that can be employed with the ductwork.
Many people take advantage of in duct air purifiers that use technologies like plasma bipolar ionization.

These air purifiers require that the blower stay on 24/7 to be able to clean the air efficiently.

Running furnace fan continuously in winter

One reason it is a good idea to keep the furnace fan running continuously in winter is that heat rises.
Keeping the fan on will circulate the air throughout the house and keep the temperature more even across the house.

When the thermostat is set to auto, the fan automatically turns off after the temperature is reached.
But since there is nothing to keep the heat moving around down low, it will automatically rise and leave cool spots in the house.

Houses with multiple stories are especially prone to this problem.
The bottom level of the home can get chilly why all the upstairs gets hot.
Keeping the fan on helps move the warm air through the house evenly.

Running furnace fan continuously in winterShould I run my furnace fan continuously

Though the consensus is usually to set your furnace fan on auto because of what seems to be the obvious savings in in energy, the opposite,  can actually be true as well.

As an example, when the blower fan is left on, the warm air generated by the furnace is circulated and keeps the temperature more consistent throughout the house, eliminating cool spots that would normally indicate to the thermostat to fire on.

Which takes more energy than a constant running fan.

Although there is the extra expense of replacing the filters more often, the trade off could be worth it.

Thermostat fan on or Auto in winter

Furnace fan on auto or circulate

The pros of leaving the thermostat fan on auto are:
Less expense upfront in the form of power consumption and fewer filter replacements.
The pros of leaving the thermostat are:
Keeping the heat rounded up more evenly throughout the house.
Cleaner air quality.

Should fan be on when heat is on?

The fan is the part of the furnace that pushes the warm air throughout the house. It stays on while the furnace is heating. if you want the fan to turn off when the heater is not running,  you can set your thermostat to auto. If you prefer to have the fan running after the heater has turned off, then turn your thermostat to on.

furnace fan runs after heat shuts off

The simplest things to check when your furnace fan keeps running are:

Is the thermostat set to Auto or on?

Sometimes it’s the simplest things good make the biggest impact. The fan running all the time could be as easy as someone accidentally turning the fan to the on setting which will keep the fan running continuously.

Another one of the easiest things to check when you’re having any type of problem with your heat is the filters.

If it doesn’t seem like you were fan ever turns off, it could be that you are not able to get the room up to temperature
Because the filters are too dirty.

I would like to see the invoices over a year for a local HVAC technician that was able to fix a problem that someone was having by replacing the furnace filters.

It happens way more than you would think.

If the problem of the fan not turning off doesn’t fall within these simple tips, then there’s probably a malfunction in  the thermostat or the fan motor.

Thermostats are pretty easy to replace but they do cost a little more.

Taking a chance on a guess the thermostat is going out maybe a little more than you’re willing to risk.

It’s probably time to call out the technician at this point.

furnace fan runs after heat shuts offSummary

Running the furnace fan continuously has many benefits like helping provide cleaner air to breathe and eliminating cool spots from the house.

But using the fan on the furnace to cool down the house it’s not something that is easily achievable because the furnace is usually in the Attic where the air is the hottest.

Many people will decide to keep their fan on auto because it creates less expense upfront.

But leaving the fan on continuously can help keep the temperature more even for longer periods of time so that the furnace doesn’t have to kick on as much.

That is also a way of thinking about it that will save you money.
But the are continuously blowing through the filters will mean that they will degrade faster and you will have to purchase more replacement filters throughout the year.

If your furnace fan runs after the heat shuts off,
Do a quick check to make sure that you’re not missing the easy solution first.
Which would be that the fan is set to the on position.

Another easy fix is replacing the filters if they have not been changed in a while.
When the filters are clogged, the air cannot get through and the furnace has a much harder time getting up to temperature.
Clearing the obstruction by replacing the filter maybe the answer you need.

AC Dry Mode -When to use it

Fan Mode on AC? – Should You Be Running the AC Fan Only?

Fan mode on AC is simply a setting on your air conditioner that keeps the blower fan running regardless of whether the cool air is on or not.

There are pros and cons for leaving it on.

One application for running the fan on the air conditioner continuously is the ability to keep the temperature even throughout the house even when the cooling is off.

Another application is the use of induct air purification. indoor air purifiers are installed directly into the plenum and ductwork of your central heat and air system. They require the AC fan mode to be left on continuously.

AC Fan Mode-  Should AC fan be on auto or on?

Being that the AC is one of the biggest energy hogs in the home, running the AC on auto, is usually the best choice because it keeps the utility bill down.

There are several reasons for this.

For one it takes extra energy to run the fan all the time, which means more power consumption.

Two, keeping the fan on continuously when the AC is not running evaporates the moisture that is normally condensed, and sends it back through the system.

The result is higher humidity inside of the house, which means that the AC has to work extra hard when it kicks on to counteract the effect of the humidity.

Running AC fan only

Running the AC fan alone without the air conditioner is a good way of evening out the temperature throughout a house but since the ductwork is typically in the Attic,

More than often means that you’re blowing hot air through the vents since the attic is the hottest room in the house and that’s the starting point for the air that is getting moved through the system.

So using the blower fan on an AC does not equate to using a regular fan.

but if you are using some type of air purification module inside of your ductwork then running the AC fan only is a perfectly good way of getting a whole-house effect of an air purifier.

Should the fan be on when the AC is on?

Yes. The fan on your AC will blow when the unit is set to cool. The fan is what helps distribute the cool air evenly throughout the house. Once the temperature inside the house reaches the desired input that you put into your thermostat, the cool air will stop.

And depending on whether your AC fan is on auto or on, the fan will either turn off with the AC or keep running. Auto on automatically shutts off when the air conditioner shuts off and “fan on” to keep the fan running when the air conditioner turns off.

Does running the fan on my air conditioner reduce humidity?

Running the fan on an air conditioner without the cool air turned on can actually have the opposite effect of reducing humidity.

Leaving the fan running when the AC is not running is a sure way to increase the moisture in the air because any moisture in the system will evaporate and distribute back through your house.

Humidity is actually reduced more when the AC is running on cool. And if your AC has a dry mode, it will reduce humidity further.

Does leaving the AC fan on waste electricity?

Though the AC fan has a couple of good points like keeping the temperature even throughout the house when the AC is not on, it does tend to be a waste of electricity otherwise.

Some systems with built-in air purification systems must have the fan on continuously to keep the air purifiers working efficiently. Sometimes you just can’t get out of paying.

Does fan mode bring in outside air?

Air conditioners rarely bring in air from the outside even when they’re on fan mode. The supply side of the air conditioner is inside the house.

That is one of the primary reasons that air conditioning is known to be a source of indoor air pollution. Because the same air is being distributed through the system and throughout the house.

If the air inside your AC is dirty, then the air inside your house is unhealthy too.

Why does the fan keep running on my air conditioner?

The easiest thing to check when your AC fan won’t stop running is whether or not the mode is set on Auto or On. If it is on, there you have it. Super easy fix.

Another easy check is the HVAC filters. If they get too dirty, then the air can’t flow through the system properly and the system will continue to run trying to reach the desired temperature set on the thermostat.

AC filters are a good place to start when the unit isn’t cooling right too.
There is no telling how much money has been spent on technicians only to find out the filters are clogged.

Those are the easy fixes.

If it is not one of those, then the problem is probably a little worse.
It could be a relay or the thermostat.
Those are fixes that are usually left to  professionals.

Summary

ac fan modeWhat does the fan setting on an air conditioner do?

The fan setting on an air conditioner gives you the ability to run the fan continuously or to have it go on and off automatically when the AC is cooling.

The auto fan mode is generally a little cheaper to run because it doesn’t use the extra power to keep it running all the time.
But there are times when using the fan without the AC cooling is needed.

An example is using in-duct air purifiers in your ductwork. In order for the air purifiers to be efficient, the fan on your AC needs to run all the time.

But running the fan on the AC is not the same as using a regular oscillating tower fan.

It will not do much to cool a room since the air that it is moving in most homes comes from the attic. and not from outside which is a common belief.

The Attic is the hottest area in the house so any are originating from there he was going to be warmer. Not a bad ideal in the winter.

Should Ac Fan Be on Auto or On?

What is auto mode in AC?

Auto mode on the AC simply means that the fan on the air conditioner turns on automatically while the air conditioning is running. Once the room gets to temperature,  it then shuts off.

The ON position for the fan means that the fan will continuously run even when the air conditioner is not running.

Should Ac Fan Be on Auto or On?

Using the AC fan on Auto is considered the energy and money saving mode.

Here are a few reasons why:

Running fan on air conditioner continuously

can:

  1. Increase Energy Bill
  2. Use More Filters
  3. Increase Relative Humidity
  4. Cool Air Leakage
  5. Increase Repairs

What is auto mode in AC1.  Increase the electricity bill.

By constantly running the fan you will bump up your energy bill.

2. Increased Filter Replacements

Continuously running the fan will called you to go through more filters because of the extra use.

3.  Increases the level of relative humidity.

When the AC is off, the dehumidifying function of the air conditioner is off to.
The moisture that would drain out while the fan is off doesn’t get a chance and is recirculated around the house with the fan on.
 Which means that the air conditioner has to work extra hard when it kicks back on to combat the extra humidity in the air.
That means a higher energy bill and more chances of service calls.

4.  Cool air leakage.

Air ducts or not foolproof and do have a fair amount of leaks. Keeping the fan running while the air conditioner is off can cause the cool air to leak out faster.

5. General repairs.

The fan motor running 24/7 will shorten the life of the motor. 

There are some advantages to leaving the fan on all the time.

  1.  The fan will help keep the temperature even throughout the house when the AC has turned off.
  2.   The HVAC central heat and air unit is actually a very efficient whole house air purifier when there is UV ionizers placed in the ductwork.

These in duct air purifiers require the air to move through the house regularly  work right.

Running AC fan only?

Having the fan on can help even out the temperature throughout the house by redistributing the air.

But, the AC fan doesn’t really cool down the house on its own. It is primarily used to circulate air through the ductwork and doesn’t have too much of a cooling fan effect otherwise.

The main reason you might want to keep the fan on the air conditioner running continuously is when you are using induct air purification which needs the fan to circulate the clean Air throughout the house.

Running AC fan only

Anion Fan vs. Ionizer vs. Negative ion Generator

Anions or negative ions occurring in nature are very beneficial to the environment and to the humans living in that environment.

The benefits of ions include cleaner air and less static electricity.

Studies also have shown that an abundance of negative ions can have a real effect on mood

And cause a feeling of light hardness both spiritually and mentally.

Ions even have a slowing effect on bacteria and viruses according to some studies.

But can Ion machines that artificially manufacturer anions create the same kind of benefits that occur from ions in nature?

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of ionizers and see what we find out.

Anion fan vs Ionizer fan

Is there a difference between an anion fan and an ionizer fan?

There’s no difference at all. Anion simply means negative ion.

An Anion fan or Ionizer fan are basically a standing tower fan that has a  negative ion

feature.

ionizer fan

Do they work?

A fan and an Ionizer can complement each other but probably not in the way that you would think.

Let me explain.

Negative Ions have a very short life. They have to be “eased” into a room in order to get any type a real square footage covered.

Placing a blowing oscillating fan in front of an ionizer will basically cause any anions being emitted from the machine to dissipate quicker than they will do any good.

If you were to run the ionizer feature on the fan first and let the room build up with ions,

You could then turn the fan on and help blow away the dust created by the ionizer and clear out any leftover ozone a little faster.

But that’s probably not the intended use of the machine.

It is safe to say that an ionizer and a fan or not two devices that work well together.

There are much better ionizers and much better fans then there are any devices that try to combine the two.

Are ionizing fans bad for you?

The ionizer on a fan is very small and creates a very low level of ozone. Not enough to be harmful especially when you factor in how fast the fan will blow the ozone by-product away.

Negative ion generator

A Negative ion generator is exactly what it sounds like. A machine that generates negative ions and emits them into the air.

Do they work?

Yes, the science of a negative ion generator is actually pretty simple.

When negative ions are created and emitted from the machine, because of polarity they instantly latch on to the positive ions or cations in room.

The newly-formed particle is a combination of a negative ion and a positive ion and any debris that gets in the way when the two snap together.

When these newly-formed particles clump together, they become too heavy to float in fall out of the ambient air.

anion fan But…
This is where you start talking about the Side effects of negative ionizers.

1. Though the result of cleaner air is achieved because the debris in the air is too heavy to float and has fallen,

the surfaces in the room, including the walls, tv, and the Ionizer itself will have a layer of dust on them.

There’s actually a term for it.

Great Wall syndrome is the phrase coined to describe how dust is attracted to the wall when a negative ionizer is used.

And because just plain walking around can cause dust to kick back up into the air, negative ion generators only have a temporary affect on the ambient air before they have to be turned on again.

2. The second side effect of using a negative ion generator is the smell of ozone.
Because of the way the ions are created, the process called Corona discharge which is actually a lightning simulation, ozone is created as a by-product.

Though lightning can cause the air to smell and feel much fresher after a thunderstorm, it does not smell fresh in a closed in room.

Depending on the amount of ozone generator, it can be downright pungent.

It can also be harmful to breathe and actually oxidize your lung tissue at too high of levels.

That means of course that a negative ionizer should never be used in the same way that you would use a typical filtering air purifier.

There are rules for ozone generating machines that must be followed in order to ensure they are being operated safely.

1. Never utilize them in an occupied room. With either people or pets.
2. the room should be left to completely dissipate before using it again.

Air Ionizer

Though most of the time, air ionizer is a term that is used synonymous with negative ion generator.

They are not always exactly the same thing.

Bipolar ionizer

Some of the best ion generators emit both positive and negative ions.

These type of ion generators are called bipolar because they use both polarizations of ions clean air.

By releasing both anions and positive ions, the ions good are released instantly combine and trap any debris in the air in the process.

Studies have shown that when bacteria is surrounded by negative and positive ions that the outer membrane of the bacteria cell is damaged, leaving the bacteria inactive.

That’s a much more amazing effect than merely adding weight to airborne particles through negative ionization.

ionizer fanPhoto Catalytic Oxidation

Another type of ionizer that has a disinfecting effect on the germs in the air is called photocatalytic oxidation.

Photo catalytic oxidation uses a ultraviolet lamp targeted titanium oxide catalyst.

The result is a machine that emits hydroxyl ions and hydroperoxide ions.

Hydroperoxide ions disinfect the air in the same way that hydrogen peroxide disinfect a wound.

Imagine spritzing hydrogen peroxide on every airborne contaminant in an area.

That is essentially what a photocatalytic oxidation ionizer does.

Ionization has an amazing effect on the air in the atmosphere around you.

Though naturally recurring ionization is always better, there are some excellent results you can get out of creating anions artificially.

As long as you stay aware that negative ion generation can create ozone is a by-product and you respect it as such,

You can enjoy many of the benefits lionization through the use of an air ionizer and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to replace the  filters.