Ceiling fan in summer
Summer in the city… a great mood and long days are a delight for everyone who is looking forward to a break from the cold weather. However, to prevent long sleepless nights filled tossing and turning in bed due to heat inside the house we recommend energy-efficient ceiling fans!
If you have ever spent some time in a room without air conditioning and circulation of air, you know just how uncomfortable and stressful it can be. Muggy air can actually put us in a bad mood: decline of performance, poor concentration and low blood pressure are just a few possible side effects. Opening the windows is only helpful to a limited degree or not at all: at night a cold draught occurs, during the day even more heat can get inside.
Do you enjoy feeling the wind on your bicycle or motorbike on a hot summer‘s day? Or have you ever held your head out of an open window in public transport only to get some relief on warm days? You are not alone, just like this natural draught we perceive air circulated by ceiling fans as pleasant cooling.
Does a ceiling fan change the surrounding temperature?
Ceiling, desk or wall-mounted model – a fan provides a considerable fresh breeze, but it does not actually change the measurable room temperature! The circulation of the air mass is what creates the cooling effect on the skin. That is why we tend to assume the entire room is chilled down. Simply measure the temperature and compare the result and you will realise nothing has changed drastically. Your indoor thermometer will continue to show constant summery degrees long after the fan has been switched on. However, the cooling effect on the body can actually be proven. An infrared camera illustrates how the skin loses warmth due to the fan. There is no magic behind it – we are solving the mystery here in this guide.
How does cooling by fans work?
Humans have a body temperature of about 37 °C, which often exceeds the temperature of the immediate surroundings. That means we constantly release heat energy. This heat transfer is a thermodynamic process and completely natural. Surrounded by stale and stagnant, as it is the case in enclosed rooms for example, a thin layer of warm air forms around “hot-blooded“ bodies and objects. It is a bit hotter than the rest of the air in the room and prevents rapid cooling, acting as a means of insulation. Those thin layers of heat is more commonly known as heat haze which can be observed during summer, e.g. on the asphalt on streets. The haze becomes visible because the light is refracted slightly different inside this hot layer.
Factor 1: Insulating layer of heat is blown away
Due to the exhange of air mass promoted by the fan the thin layer of heat above our skin evaporates. It blends evenly with the rest of the indoor air and is replaced by slightly cooler air. This missing warmth immediately next to the skin as a factor why the fan appears to cool. The newly supplied air actually causes a stronger thermal exchange – the human gives off more energy again and the skin cools down. Schlieren photography makes this phenomenon visible and shows how the insulating layer literally “thins out“ when using a fan. This process however not only applies to the humans, but rather to all warm bodies.
Factor 2: Evaporation
The second factor is a specific phenomenon of the human body: Subjected to heat we start sweating to regulate the temperature by ourselves. In order to provide enough energy for the evaporation process, body warmth is again taken from the upper skin layer. This act itself has a slightly cooling effect (evaporation chill). The fan promotes the body’s own evaporation process seeing that the sweat continuously evaporates and needs to be produced anew. The skin therefore cools down faster than without the use of a fan.
We perceive this entire process as very pleasant and refreshing. The many different controller units that are available, such as rotary or pull switches, wall controllers or remote controls allow you to regulate the rotation speed of the ceiling fan and therefore the intensity of the cooling effect in a very individual and precise manner. Every human feels differently about cold, and in the end there shouldn’t be any strong draughts, only a relief from the heat.
Once the fan is switched off you will soon be able to feel the “real“ ambient temperature again after a short while.
Ceiling fans – a real alternative to air conditioning systems?
Especially in small and medium-sized rooms ceiling fans are a low priced and efficient alternative to conventional air conditioning because they are less cost-intensive, low-maintenance and can be customised faster to individual requirements. They are characterised by simple handling and a demand-oriented operation. This prevents unnecessary electricity costs for air conditioners that are turned on at all times. Installing ceiling fans is also quite easy and can be done without much limitation by structural conditions. There are even fans with an appropriate size for small chambers and kitchens. Many devices can even be mounted to sloping ceilings and there are super flat solutions for rooms with low ceilings. Apart from use at private homes, ceiling fans are a popular choice for the industrial sector, hotel and catering industry or smaller and medium-sized offices. In case of larger models the diameter of the blades measures more than 1.60 metres! Have a look at our guide: Which diameter is best for my room?
Ceiling fans provide a nice atmosphere, are a great addition to the interior and can be relocated easily when changing residence or offices. Apart from design and diameter a low noise level should be emphasised when it comes to appliances in living rooms, bedrooms and children’s rooms. This information is always stated in the detailed item description.
If you attach great importance to resource conservation and climatisation, you can make a considerable contribution by using a ceiling fan: Today’s models work wonders when it comes to saving energy and even allow you to save heat energy and heating costs with their optional winter mode. That means your “summer temp“ can actually be used year-round and help optimise indoor climate in summer and winter in equal measure. Integrated lamps can be used without operating the fan itself as well – either with a conventional bulb type or environmentally-friendly LED light.
Enjoy a carefree summer – With a ventilation unit that stands by your side year-round:
- Cooling in summer
- Heat recovery in winter
- Low power consumption
- Lighting
- Simple handling and usage
Picture sources:
Product pictures © creoven.de
Transpiration © tiburi - pixabay.com
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