Ceiling fans - any opinions?

bjorn_toby_wilde

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053695#Comment_82053695

If it helps, three gang switches are available.

emchoc

Considering one here as well - any guidance on how to choose based on ceiling height?

This guide https://www.broughtons.com/content/163/ceiling-fans-buyers-guide/ says "This size guide is based on rooms with ceilings of 8ft/2.43m. For rooms with higher ceilings a drop rod should be used to drop the fan down to 8ft/2.43m above the floor". My ceilings are 10ft - this would look ridiculous. Is this really correct??

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6674201/ceiling-fans-any-opinions

Fans cant change room temperature, and if they did it would be to increase them from the heat caused by the motor. What fans can do is create movement of air which makes you feel cooler. We have one because our home came with one. In summer its useful and fairly quiet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053695#Comment_82053695

We have a similar problem, three zones in the room but only two light switches so the lighting in the "dining room" and "lounge" has to be the same. Our solution was to get smart bulbs so yes flicking the switch will turn them both on but you can then use the app or the Flic button to turn one of the zones off. Ideally I'd use the firms switch but it was never made for the UK market and whilst there is a 220v version (for Australia) it won't fit a UK backbox because in Oz regs require it to be safe to use without a backbox and whilst it would fit a US backbox they are all far too deep for our walls.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82052090#Comment_82052090

One tip, make sure you clean it damned well before reserving its spin… major dust shower if you forget.

Personally never found reverse direction does much but our home does have low ceilings, maybe if they were much higher it would add more benefit.

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82052090#Comment_82052090

Can you explain how having a ceiling fan in reverse can help with heating in the Winter?

In Summer a fan can not change/reduce the actual temperature of a room , so how can it heat a room in Winter ?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057107#Comment_82057107

It doesnt, it redistributes the heat is the idea…. in winter you have radiators on, the warm air rises to the ceiling but you tend to sit/lay in the lower part of the room not the ceiling where its warmest. The idea is the fan in reverse will force that warm air at the ceiling down to where you are.

anon_ymous

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057107#Comment_82057107

Well that's the theoreticals about it. I also don't have ceiling fans in any room but one (which can't reverse)

The idea is it helps the heat rise up

anon_ymous

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056939#Comment_82056939

I've also got low ceilings tbf. I guess the reality isn't necessarily the theory

One thing where the theory and reality work so well, is honeycomb thermal blackout blinds especially if they're electric and smart. My God, they make your house much much cooler. The blinds can get very expensive (ie: £600 per window) but your cooling requirements are significantly diminished

The theory is 80% light reflected and 50% heat retained. I've found that's actually very close to reality especially when you automate them. I found in the living room, I didn't even need an AC. I just needed a small fan and that was sufficient

jonnydeppiwish!

Thanks all for your comment - really appreciate them!

Alanf_3

Always find Air conditioning too drying in hotels on holiday, so we turn it off or develop a very dry throat..

A ceiling fan does the trick, cools us down and not noisy except on the highest settings. We got a smart one, controlled by Alexa, so we can control starting and stopping.

Remember that it won't cool the room, so don't run it unless you're there. But it will cool you.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057934#Comment_82057934

Worked in an office building with smart blinds, detectors on the roof assess the sun/heat and adjust all the buildings blinds automatically lowering/raising and opening/closing them which we as tenants couldn't override. In principle a reasonable system but they seem to have given no thought to the fact that the mid-lower levels were shadowed by neighbouring buildings so yes they were saving the upper floors from being heated up by strong direct sunlight but us in the middle just spent summer in perpetual gloom plus early morning the glass building next door would glare into our floor but we couldn't change the blinds

Allegedly there was an option to gain control of them but the cost was massive and given the blinds were "eco" it didnt fit with the companies positioning to not allow them to operate automatically.