Are ceiling fans effective ?

[brianks]

I had ceiling fans in my upstairs bedrooms of my townhouse in So. Cal. and became a big fan of them. It would get warm upstairs but as long as I had air moving over my body at night, I remained cool. Nothing like sleeping with no covers AND no LOUD AC going all night sucking up all that power.

Here I have ceiling fans in all the rooms of my house and on my patio. We don't turn on the AC but merely increase the fan speed when it gets warm. Only rarely do we turn on the AC. If the temperature is 30 or below the AC need not be turned on. If it is warmer before we go to bed, 15 minutes of AC will bring temp. down enough to sleep with only fan.

In former house had wireless controller for fans and though expensive can be nice to have at bedside and easily change speed without getting out of bed. Wireless controller will even work the lights if you have any in your fan. Another advantage of the wireless controller is the 9 speeds you can get with it. Fan has three speeds with controller another three settings. Whatever speed you set on the fan, the controller will give you three speeds to use at that setting for a total of 9 speeds. I liked that for many times all we wanted is a very slow speed to just move air over us on the bed and was all we needed. This very slow speed is not possible with the conventional three speeds of the fan.

Getting rid of the wobble of the fan or more correctly Balancing the blades is an easy procedure. Most installers just put fans in without balancing them AND throw away the balancing kit that comes with the fan, not knowing what it is. Make sure you get to the box after it is opened and save the balancing kit. Easy to follow the instructions for balancing the fan out so you have no wobble. My latest new house has 7 ceiling fans installed by the builder. One fan was not balanced and when I said something they all had a blank look. Fortunately, someone left one balancing kit around the house and I found it and was able to balance the fan perfectly.

Lots of other good advise and information previously I was unaware of. If I have to replace any of my fans, sure it will be very helpful.

[johnnyk]

Another alternative is to have a sweet Thai lady fanning you with a banana leaf. A bit more expensive though in the long run!

[hhfarang]

Has anyone tried to install a ceiling fan themselves?

I've installed many of them both here and in the U.S. but always in ceilings that were pre-wired and pre-fitted with the support structure for a fan. Putting the fan together, hanging it, and balancing it are fairly easy tasks but if you've never done it before don't attempt it unless you have instructions in a language you understand.

[Pagey]

So many posters complain that the OP never returns so here is my feedback now I am back home.

In Home Pro they had offers on fans for just over 2,000 Baht, can't remember the name but it began with C but armed with my replies I checked the others looking for names quoted by you guys.

They had a Sunlight at 3190 Baht but the blades were plywood.

They had a Compass with 5 aluminium blades for 5190 Baht with 500 Baht to fit to existing electric supply which seemed to fit the spec given in all the replies.

So I went to Big Keaung and asked to see fans by Compass or Sunlight and I was told they are the same company and was given a brochure with both names on.

I looked for the same Compass one from Home Pro, model R105, for a price comparison and it was 4990 Baht. I asked for discount and they said they would fit it for free so waiving the normal 500 Baht fee.

I had to wait for 3 or 4 days as they did not have it in stock but they called me when it was in and arranged fitting the next day. All hunky dory except it does not come with bulbs and the pull chains were too short to reach even for me stood on tip toes so a Thai girl has no chance !

5 big bulbs, 2 smaller ones and 2 extra length chains added another 500 baht to the cost.

Used the fan every night and was cool enough and reasonably quiet at low speeds.

Thank you all for the advice.

[hhfarang]

Speaking of ceiling fans, we have one that still looks new and was not used very much, but for some reason when I turned it on a few days ago it crackled and I could see sparks in the motor vents and now it is dead. Since it still looks brand new and is a fairly expensive fan, can the motor be repaired (probably rewound)? If so, does anyone know where that may be done and the approximate cost?

[nickinkip]

Wow, just checked these mothers out (Dyson)they are awesome, rather expensive though at £183. for a 12" desk fan, but i have to give credit where its due. I personally prefered the pedestal fan, that way it would blow on me all the time and not on my Thai girlfriend (always cold).

[Nereus]

Speaking of ceiling fans, we have one that still looks new and was not used very much, but for some reason when I turned it on a few days ago it crackled and I could see sparks in the motor vents and now it is dead. Since it still looks brand new and is a fairly expensive fan, can the motor be repaired (probably rewound)? If so, does anyone know where that may be done and the approximate cost?

Most of then have at least a 5 year warranty, some better types a lot more. Regardless, it may not be burnt out, as that is pretty rare. It is more likely to be a capacitor that has dried out and blew up when you switched it on. I had one (Sunlight) that failed a while ago and it was repaired free of charge, but I did take it direct to their outlet in Bangkok. I guess in Hua Hin the biggest problem would be finding somebody to test / check it.

edit typo

[hhfarang]

^ Yeah, I bought this particular one at HomePro and I've had very bad results from any customer service or returns with them.

[dtaai-maai]

I had ceiling fans in my upstairs bedrooms of my townhouse in So. Cal. and became a big fan of them.

That would make you a fan fan then...


sorrysorrysorrysorry

[wpcoe]

I've installed many a ceiling fan, mostly when I still lived in America. I *always* put the fan arms/blades on *after* installing the motor unit onto the ceiling. From the sounds of it here, most of you folks assemble the entire fan, i.e. install the arms and blades, while it is on the floor and then hoist the entire thing up? I can see where that would be heavy and awkward and need two people. Also, it would invite the opportunity to bend arms out of balance if you bump into anything on the way up, no?

I've not yet done a new installation here, due to the type of ceiling constructions: no nice firm 2x4 (or 2x6) grid ceiling frames. However, I replaced three fans in my previous condo, and it was a breeze. For a new install, I'd be nervous about making the thing braced well enough, unless it was on an exposed concrete ceiling where it'd be bolted directly into the concrete.

[Whaler]

I think you should check if there is any long term health issues using ceiling fans as they are only cooling you by increasing the evaporation of sweating on your skin therefore dehydrating you faster. I think it interferes or removes how the body controls and radiates heat by rapidly removing the layer of air around your body.

Of course short term use for stopping heat exhaustion is one thing but long term to save electricity especially in an enclosed enviroment I'm not so sure

With AC your body is not sweating with ceiling fans you will need to drink more fluids to compensate

http://www.epa.gov/hiri/about/pdf/EHEguide_final.pdf

From US EPA guideline on exessive heat event guideline

4.2.2 Provide information on proper use of portable electric fans during EHEs
The TWG also strongly recommends that, as part of a public education program, cities
emphasize that portable electric fans are not the simple cooling solution they appear to
be. Because of the limits of conduction and convection, using a portable electric fan alone
when heat index temperatures exceed 99°f actually increases the heat stress the body must
respond to by blowing air that is warmer than the ideal body temperature over the skin
surface (American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs, 1997; CDC, 2004c). In
these conditions, portable electric fans provide a cooling effect by evaporating sweat. The
increased circulation of hot air and increased sweat evaporation can, however, speed the
onset of heat-attributable conditions (e.g., heat exhaustion).

Thus, portable electric fans need to be used with caution and under specific circumstances
during an EHE, such as exhausting hot air from a room or drawing in cooler air through
an open window. Generally, portable electric fans may not be a practical and safe cooling
mechanism during an EHE in homes that are already hot and are not air-conditioned;
their use should be discouraged unless the fans are bringing in significantly cooler air
from outside the dwelling. If a resident must stay in these dwellings, and if they are unable
to access an air-conditioned environment, safer cooling approaches would include taking
frequent cool showers and drinking cool, nonalcoholic fluids (e.g., ice water). Because of
the importance of this issue, and the contradictory messages people may have received
about using portable electric fans during EHEs, Appendix B provides a series of guidelines
for fan use during EHEs.

Appendix B

The widespread availability and ease of using portable electric fans draw
many people to use them for personal cooling during an EHE. Portable
electric fans can, however, increase the circulation of hot air, which
increases thermal stress and health risks during EHE conditions.
As a result, portable electric fans need to be used with caution and under
specific circumstances during an EHE. Here is a list of Do’s and Don’t’s
for their use:
Do
Use a portable electric fan in or next to an open window so heat can
exhaust to the outside (box fans are best).
Use a portable electric fan to bring in cooler air from the outside.
Plug your portable electric fan directly into a wall outlet. If you need
an extension cord, check that it is UL (Underwriter Laboratories)
approved in the United States or CSA (Canadian Standards
Approved) approved in Canada.
Don’t
Use a portable electric fan in a closed room without windows or
doors open to the outside.
Believe that portable electric fans cool air. They don’t. They just move
the air around and keep you cool by helping to evaporate your sweat.
Use a portable electric fan to blow extremely hot air on yourself. This
can accelerate the risk of heat exhaustion.
Use a fan as a substitute for spending time in an air-conditioned
facility during an EHE.
If you are afraid to open your window to use a portable
electric fan, choose other ways to keep cool (e.g., cool
showers, spend time in an air-conditioned location).

[dtaai-maai]

... with ceiling fans you will need to drink more fluids to compensate

This is achievable...

[Whaler]

... with ceiling fans you will need to drink more fluids to compensate

This is achievable...

I'll drink to that

[Rob W]

An other tip if using remote control fans is to set the address of each one before getting them installed , its normally done with dip switches in the remote and in the fan its self.
i am pointing this out because I have 4 fitted and did not think off doing this first.
After they were fitted they all worked at the same time so one remote change all four in the house most annoying when you want the fan on and your son wants it off.
So when I went to set the addresses i found the guys had put the fan controller in the cieling which could not be reached.
lessons learnt at the cost of two guys to cut holes in the cieling retive the controller and make good the hole.
Rob

[bozzman101]

if your over 4 ft tall can be good!!!!!!