Hot weather and ... fans?

Ok, there's a debate going on in the House of M regarding fans. (No names, no pack drill )

There is one train of thought which thinks that putting the fan on with windows open is the correct way to go.

The alternative train of thought is pull the windows to and then put the fan on.

Thoughts?

 

Whichever makes you feel the coolest?

 

Funny you should say that, Fern ...

... there are two trains of thought on that one ...

1) ...

...

 

Put a fan on the ceilin if they are high

 

Is that *with* open windows, or closed?

 

Fans only move the warm air around.
They dont actually lower the temperature.
So I cant see it matters much if you have the windows open or shut when using them.

One thing though, open the windows at nights and close them during the day.
Best way to make the most of your house insulation.

 

The fan is in a high room with the back door open at about 6 inch's, i don't think it will make any differents if it's open or closed, the movent of air is what you need to make it cooler

 

Good tip, thank you, Pete

 

I retrieved my still working fan, after 20 years in the loft a week ago. That shows how many good summers we've had in recent years.

'M', windows open for fresh air and the fan on to stir it up. Why shut summer out!

 

I'm just enjoying the hot weather & keeping a bottle of water in the fridge.

 

Window open, fan on , pulling outside air into house .

 

The fan will have the effect of making it feel cooler as you get the breeze against skin. Some people put ice cold water underneath it, so that the air is reasonably cooled? Can't say I've done it as I don't have a fan!

My top tips are to maximise the cooler night time air as above, but also to be aware of what rooms get the sun when. Close the curtains in rooms in direct sunlight in the hottest part of the day, but keep windows open. And don't underestimate a draft, either through or if you're like me and live in a back to back, up! I think this is where a fan could help, to keep the air moving.

I have the attic and bedroom windows open at night in this weather, and the cold air draws much more noticeably through the house when the attic door is open.

 

Casting my mind back to the 60s and holidays in Italy
Not much aircon in those days, unless you stayed in very posh hotels.

All rooms had shutters which opened onto the balcony.
When they made up the rooms they always lowered the shutter.
We would then come back about midday and open it up, thinking we were letting in some fresh air.

It just let the heat in, I realise that now, they knew what they were doing, keeping the heat out.

Anything above 30 and I close all doors and windows during the day, it works.

 

At night time, its window open, fan on, covers off.

Pete is right that fans only move the air about and don't actually cool it, but they do still cool you for two reasons. 1) The air immediately next to your skin will be heated by your body to the temperature of your skin, and as air is an excellent insulator, you stay warm as long as the air is still. The fan moves the air around, so air that is maybe 20'C is moved to replace the air next to your skin that might be 30'C or more. 2) Skin is (or should be) moist. For moisture to evaporate, it needs to draw heat from somewhere. Moving air disturbs water molecules on your skin and they try to evaporate. In order to do so they have to draw heat from somewhere, so they draw it from your skin, hence cooling you

The first point is how air cooling works in engines. The second point is how a fridge works