Anyone got a ceiling fan?

[Simpo Two]

Yesterday I tried a tower fan to move the air around in my house a bit. It was OK but being 4' high it's rather obvious and takes up a chunk of space. It will also need to be kept somewhere when not needed.

Then somebody mentioned ceiling fans. Apparently they're quieter (big blades going slowly) and being up on the ceiling there's no space or storage issue. But to trial one it will need to be wired in and need a hole in the ceiling, so it's not easily reversible if it doesn't do the job.

My question is this: my lounge/diner is 25' long, 12' wide at one end and 10' wide at the other. Each end has central light which I want to keep. If I put one 42" ceiling fan in the middle between them, would it be effective?

[Camoradi]

Many ceiling fans come with a light in the centre, so I assumed people fit them in place of the ceiling light. If you have this you could swap it in / out

Not sure how correct this is from a wiring point of view though?

[Mr Whippy]

PIV system?

Obviously lots of other things to consider, but moving air around should largely happen via brownian motion and occupation.

The issue of static/stale air is if it's the wrong kind of air (humid, or full of pollutants etc)

[Sway]

I'd go for two, with light, fitted where the lights are.

That'll also allow you to run both at a slower speed, reducing noise even further and increasing airflow - one in the middle of a fairly big room I think will leave dead areas, or need to be run reasonably fast to really gain the benefit.

[ARHarh]

I have been using a ceiling fan in the bedroom for 25 years now, I wouldn't be without it. The same fan, bought from Ikea 25 years or so ago. Now in its 3rd house. We use it a lot so much so the paint has worn off the end of the blades. it is probably on all night for 25% of the year. It can make a noise when on full speed but you get used to it

[Gastons_Revenge]

I've been looking at putting one in the bedroom to futureproof for further (and nastier) heatwaves we'll be getting. How easy are they to install?

[ARHarh]

They are heavy and need a good fixing. You take the blades off and any shade then it just like fitting a normal light fitting. You will probably need to remove the rose and rewire a bit. But most off all you will need a joist to hang it from.

[Martin_Hx]

Had these in bedrooms for 30+ years, only needs to be on the lowest setting to make a difference, so very quiet.

Would hightly recommend!

[Mr Pointy]

Simpo Two said:

Yesterday I tried a tower fan to move the air around in my house a bit. It was OK but being 4' high it's rather obvious and takes up a chunk of space. It will also need to be kept somewhere when not needed.

Then somebody mentioned ceiling fans. Apparently they're quieter (big blades going slowly) and being up on the ceiling there's no space or storage issue. But to trial one it will need to be wired in and need a hole in the ceiling, so it's not easily reversible if it doesn't do the job.

My question is this: my lounge/diner is 25' long, 12' wide at one end and 10' wide at the other. Each end has central light which I want to keep. If I put one 42" ceiling fan in the middle between them, would it be effective?

I'd definately fit two as they don't blow sideways much so one in the middle is likely to be disappointing. I have one with a light in the middle over my office desk & it's brilliant - even on the lowest speed it's very cooling. The difficulty comes with wiring & control as most of them operate via a remote control, which is fine but means the wall light switch doesn't work although it does make installation simple as you simply pick up the previous light wiring.

[ewanjp]

I fitted one in our bedroom last year - it's great! Was easy to install - went in to the loft above, fitted a good noggin where required and then just stuck it up. God send in weather like this.

[Sheepshanks]

Simpo Two said:

Each end has central light which I want to keep.

Are the lights fixed to the ceiling? If they're on cords they'll be blown about.

We have a all white (which they don't show now) version of this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HGX95P1?ref=ppx_yo2... in a downstairs guest bedroom that's about 14' square with a vaulted ceiling (the builders put a plinth into the ceiling to mount it on). It's bonkers on all but its slowest speed and I prefer it blowing upwards as the breeze comes down the walls instead of being blasted at you although in room that wasn't a bedroom that might be OK. It's silent on its first speed too.

I read the mounting needs to be substantial not because of the weight, but because of the rotating forces.

[Jakg]

Simpo Two said:

Anyone got a ceiling fan?

Yes, several. Big fan.

Simpo Two said:

But to trial one it will need to be wired in and need a hole in the ceiling, so it's not easily reversible if it doesn't do the job.

It's a <10mm hole for some T&E, easy to patch later.

Simpo Two said:

My question is this: my lounge/diner is 25' long, 12' wide at one end and 10' wide at the other. Each end has central light which I want to keep. If I put one 42" ceiling fan in the middle between them, would it be effective?

Maybe? It depends where you are in relation. It's not really going to cool the room, but it will help make you feel cooler if your under/near it.

Gastons_Revenge said:

I've been looking at putting one in the bedroom to futureproof for further (and nastier) heatwaves we'll be getting. How easy are they to install?

Depends how you want to do it - if you replace a light with one with a light built-in it should be a straight swap assuming there's adequate fixings above.

Bear in mind that the manufacturer (or at least, Westinghouse do) may specify you should use 2-pole isolator which won't be possible like that.

I'm not keen on ones with lights built in so put downlights in instead and then fitted a fan-only unit.

Where access from above, positioned centrally with a noggin to support and then a proper isolator fitted as well.

[Snow and Rocks]

Assuming you spend most of the time in your lounge at one end of the room I would try it out there first.

They moving air does spill around a bit but you get the most benefit directly underneath it. Go as big as you can - it'll mean it can run at lower, and thus quieter, speeds for the same cooling effect.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks all, good replies. I spend most of my time either at one end or the other, not in the middle.

So it seems that I wouldn't get much 'effect' from one fan in the middle, and would need one at each end.

The snag we then hit is that I'm a bit fussy about lighting. Currently I have pendant uplighters at each end for a nice soft light. By contrast the lights on fans are hideous LED blobs that would look nasty on a garage. I don't see how there can be a fan and a pleasant light in the same space...

[Snow and Rocks]

Yeah, separate the light and the fan if at all possible.

The integrated lights are the equivalent of a single bulb in the middle of the ceiling. We don't use any ceiling lights at all and just rely on various wall, table and standard lamps. I guess you could run lights around the fan if you really do want ceiling lamps.

[Simon_GH]

Mr Whippy said:

PIV system?

Obviously lots of other things to consider, but moving air around should largely happen via brownian motion and occupation.

The issue of static/stale air is if it's the wrong kind of air (humid, or full of pollutants etc)

I like the PIV concept but don’t they take air from the loft space which is usually stifling this time of year?

[bimsb6]

Yes, we have a “hunter” fan its been running for years and pretty quiet , don’t buy a cheap one , it’ll sound like a mexican motel fan .

[Simpo Two]

Hunter... found these: https://www.henleyfan.com/hunter-ceiling-fans/

Many look like something out of a 19th century American train but this is probably the closest to what I have in mind, being white and not too tall: https://www.henleyfan.com/shop/hunter-low-profile-...

45" and 52"cm diameter blades so plenty big enough...



I think it will work rather better than this... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C9QLF1S7/ though I do prefer the more modern design.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 21st June 10:12

[DonkeyApple]

Simpo Two said:

Yesterday I tried a tower fan to move the air around in my house a bit. It was OK but being 4' high it's rather obvious and takes up a chunk of space. It will also need to be kept somewhere when not needed.

Then somebody mentioned ceiling fans. Apparently they're quieter (big blades going slowly) and being up on the ceiling there's no space or storage issue. But to trial one it will need to be wired in and need a hole in the ceiling, so it's not easily reversible if it doesn't do the job.

My question is this: my lounge/diner is 25' long, 12' wide at one end and 10' wide at the other. Each end has central light which I want to keep. If I put one 42" ceiling fan in the middle between them, would it be effective?

Ultimately, it depends what you wish to achieve. A ceiling fan works best when you are sitting or lying underneath it. It's a quiet means to flow air over yourself.

However, if you wish to cool a room or move air between rooms then I'd suggest that they are pretty useless.

For moving air around the house the best way is to create a zone of negative pressure in one part of the house and then all the air elsewhere has to gently flow to it. Large extractor fans do this job well.

But the most logical solution would be to fit an aircon wall fan unit in the living room as they're now very cheap and an easy diy install. The box on the outside won't be the prettiest thing but depending where you can place it they can often be well hidden.

£500 gets a unit that will cool a living room and just setting it to take the edge off the heat you don't want will keep running costs down. Aircon can be very expensive for keeping a whole house at 20 degrees but for keeping one room at 23 on the few days a year when it's been high 20s outside for a few days, it's not much cost at all. It also dries the air which helps on the humid days. And if you have a bedroom above the living room then you can easily add a second fan unit and even if it's not the master bedroom you can decamp to it when needed.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks DA; I ruled out 'boxes on walls' a while back in favour of a ducted system but couldn't find anyone to do it, and then prices went up and I decided it wasn't worth it for the upheaval and the few days a year it would be useful.