Ceiling Fan - any good?

[Auzzie Gumtree]

I have a Neo 2.5 insert and it is located in the back lounge - the lounge has high ceilings ~ 20 feet high with a fan - the fan doesn't work ie its broke - is it worth fixing the fan to try and reclaim all the heat from the high ceiling space?

In other words are ceiling fans any good at bringing the heat back down to living areas? Any one have ceiling fans and if so how good do they work?

 

[FPX Dude]

Ceilings fans are a must, especially with that height. Get 'em fixed/replaced and then experiment with up/down mode. I find when on "down" it's like the hair dryer just turned on, wow!

 

[begreen]

Yes, without the fan heat will stratify at the ceiling level. Fix or replace the fan. In the winter, run it in reverse (blowing upward) to reduce draft and increase circulation.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Fans are really cheap these days. A 50+" fan on sale with a lighting kit is normally <$100.

I bought 2 of these and have had great luck with them.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...or-Brushed-Nickel-Ceiling-Fan-46010/100403913

 

[Sprinter]

do they work?

Yes.

 

[tarzan]

Just to reaffirm, yes, a ceiling fan should help considerably to reclaim the heat that is pooling up near the ceiling.

For what it's worth, I deliberately bought a reputable brand ceiling fan and the cheapest fan I could find at Wal Mart and installed them both on the same day over 16 years ago. Both get ran often and both still work fine. The cheap one is a little noisy though.

 

[velvetfoot]

They have ceiling fans with efficient motors now, if it's gonna get run a lot.
In our last house with a cathedral ceiling and an insert, as I was on a ladder installing the fan, the heat gathered up there big time.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

Even in my standard eight foot ceiling rooms there is a huge difference with the fan on and off with the fire burning.

 

[Babaganoosh]

I've got a cathedral ceiling where my stove is located and a fan that's dropped down maybe 2 feet. The defiantly helps mix the air and get the warm air off the ceiling. If you spend a lot of time in the room I'd go with a more expensive fan with a variable speed over one with just 3 settings. You can dial it in without being tied to a certain setting. As someone mentioned above a more expensive fan is usually quieter. Little noises bug me so I love the variable speed fan.

 

[sportbikerider78]

I've got a cathedral ceiling where my stove is located and a fan that's dropped down maybe 2 feet. The defiantly helps mix the air and get the warm air off the ceiling. If you spend a lot of time in the room I'd go with a more expensive fan with a variable speed over one with just 3 settings. You can dial it in without being tied to a certain setting. As someone mentioned above a more expensive fan is usually quieter. Little noises bug me so I love the variable speed fan.

I hard wired this fan switch into a new fan in our bedroom. $50 is steep, but I love the extra speeds and light features.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MOIDA8/?tag=hearthamazon-20

 

[Dix]

Yes, it's worth it.

I have a tri level, with the third level being one room with a ceiling fan. The heat migrates up, and stays there if I don't have the fan on "down". It pushes the warm air back down into the rest of the second level, and creates a convection loop that moves the warm air around.(I have the 13 for the lower level, and that takes care of that area).

Well worth the investment, IMHO.

 

[Jazzberry]

I have a Neo 2.5 insert and it is located in the back lounge - the lounge has high ceilings ~ 20 feet high with a fan - the fan doesn't work ie its broke - is it worth fixing the fan to try and reclaim all the heat from the high ceiling space?

In other words are ceiling fans any good at bringing the heat back down to living areas? Any one have ceiling fans and if so how good do they work?

My kitchen and living room are together in a big open cabin area around 1100 sq ft. Roof is uninsulated 18' at the high point and 9 ft at the low. I put two 70" fans from Lowes up about 2 years ago and they make a huge difference in the summer and in the winter. Really circulates the heat in the winter. Wouldn't be without them.

 

[CheapBassTurd]

We run 4.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

Wow - thanks for all the messages - i'll get it replaced at the weekend and let you know how effective it is.

 

[bag of hammers]

Wow - thanks for all the messages - i'll get it replaced at the weekend and let you know how effective it is.

A bit late to the party, but 1 more vote for replacing the fan. I put up 3 and in a fairly open space they mix the air beautifully running on the lowest speed. I have Hampton Bay Altura, we love the look and the amount of air they move on a slow spin, but they are a bit noisy (cheap Triac IMHO, something I might swap out with a quality speed control unit if / when I get time). When everything is shut down at night except the fans, it's kind of annoying when we're still in the room. You don't need to spend a fortune , but don't be afraid to spend a few $ more if you want super quiet.

 

[Jazzberry]

A bit late to the party, but 1 more vote for replacing the fan. I put up 3 and in a fairly open space they mix the air beautifully running on the lowest speed. I have Hampton Bay Altura, we love the look and the amount of air they move on a slow spin, but they are a bit noisy (cheap Triac IMHO, something I might swap out with a quality speed control unit if / when I get time). When everything is shut down at night except the fans, it's kind of annoying when we're still in the room. You don't need to spend a fortune , but don't be afraid to spend a few $ more if you want super quiet.

Bag of hammers has good advice. As a retired gen contractor I can tell you fans are charged by the noise they don't make. Range exhaust, fart fans, or ceiling fans are all priced the same. A cheap Home Depot fart fan is like $50.00 and it works almost as good as a $300.00 Panasonic. You can't hear yourself fart with the cheapo running and you can't hear the Panasonic run at all.