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Renewable Energy for the Home

ceiling fans with high ceiling to help with heat in winter

7 years ago

I'm planning on putting in new ceiling fans that are on beams about 10' high. I believe the ceiling is 20' high approximately. It is an A frame house.

Right now I have one fan and I'm looking to replace it with two. I believe that will work better, is that true? I was told to allow 2' distance between them and walls.

There are 3 beams running across the room. The first has a fan on it. Next to the middle one is a long ceiling light from the 20' ceiling and on the third beam I plan on having another fan. The full distance of the room is 24'. (The other distance is 26'). (By the way that is a western exposure with full windows.)

Does anyone know which type of fans I should go with that will be the most efficient in pulling hot air down in winter? Does it matter how many blades, angle, length? In the winter I don't want any breeze, so it will be on low. Can they be left on all the time, even in a house that is not usually occupied? Is there a way of knowing if I can in fact set it so there won't be a breeze but will have the ability to push hot air down into the room? Thanks so much for your help.

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Comments (7)

mtvhike
7 years ago
Drawing, please. Is this a flat ceiling or a cathedral ceiling. If the latter, are the 3 beams parallel or perpendicular to the ridge? How high are the beams (against the ceiling or lower)?
jolu5
Original Author
7 years ago
beams are about 14' high, ceiling about 20' high.
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Hi wantoretire_did! Thank you so much for the suggestions! I've been meaning to get to HD and my local ACE for a walk-about. I'm going to go when I have a couple of hours and don't have to rush around. Just walk around with my trusty legal pad and take notes. Lighting is a big part of what I want to look at. I really appreciate your suggestion because that didn't even cross my mind! I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of the fixtures in my house are original, and at 37, they need to retire, lol! I just can't see paying some guy from CL for the rest of my life to come replace bulbs and wash the fixtures! I have electric burners, but I can see how that could easily happen with gas. I'm pretty much leaning against the ceiling fans now; cathyyg made very good points, and these seven ft. ceilings feel so low already, even at my height, that I fear the fans would just draw attention to them. We've got a good system with the fans now, and I don't think ceiling fans are as necessary as I thought they were when I first posted this. Yes! Taking lots of pictures! :-) I hope all is well with you and yours!
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User
7 years ago
The Aug 2016 issue of This Old House has an article titled: All About Ceiling Fans.

1'6" min distance from wall or sloped ceiling. 7'-10' minimum distance from floor. Steer clear of (existing) lights, rotating blades below a light may create a flickering effect.

Occupied space (in sq ft) / 4 = blade span in inches, wider if ceilings are high.

DC motors save up to 70% on electricity.

Higher cfm fans provide a better breeze, usually have more robust motors that will last longer and run quieter.
jolu5
Original Author
7 years ago
does it make sense to put 2 fans instead of just 1?
mtvhike
7 years ago
Do you have wiring in (or on top of) the beams?
jolu5
Original Author
7 years ago
right now the wiring comes along the beam, where the current fan is. I can do the same for the other, or put it in the wall.
User
7 years ago
Actually you want fans blowing UP in the winter to keep the air from layering at the peak. Mixing it with cooler low level air.

Two would be better than one, just for mixing purposes, in a room that big.

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