How to Position Fans for Optimal Airflow to Cool a Room
On a hot summer day, sitting in a room with a chilled drink while cool air flows through sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? But, unfortunately, people spend their days in front of the fan because the air doesn’t reach every corner.
This is why it is vital to position the fan optimally so that no one ends up sitting in front of it and hogging up all the cool air. But, how do you position fans to cool a room?
You need to adjust the fan to cover the whole room. You can either keep it at a height or angle it in a direction with an even air distribution.
Many cooling fans with powerful motors bounce air off the walls and ceiling, covering the whole room. Or you can go for a ceiling fan, which circulates air evenly across the room.
Factors That Affect Your Search
Before you go out to buy a fan, there are some factors that may affect your search.
- Size Of The Room
All the other factors, like fan size and motor, depend on this one factor, the size of the room. Fans circulate air in the room and bring down the temperature. So if the room is huge, then there is more air to be distributed.
If you want to cool a large room, you need a heavy-duty fan with a powerful motor.
- Fan Size
Cooling fans come in all sizes; big and compact. The size of the fan depends on your purpose. Whether you want it to cool a vast space, a room, or for personal use in an office or desk.
There are small, handheld fans that you can keep on your desk while working. However, they only blow cool air enough for one person. Then there are floor fans or window fans, which are powerful enough to cool a whole room.
- Motor
A motor is to a fan, what an engine is to a car. It is the source of the power fans need to blow air in a room. If the motor has more power, the fan will move at a higher speed, circulating more air.
However, the more mighty the motor, the more energy it consumes. So do not overcompensate in choosing the engine if you do not need it. For example, you can make do with a less powerful motor if you want to use it in a small room.
Features To Look For?
If you are looking for a fan that cools an entire room, these are the must-have features. Take a look:
- Automatic Oscillation
You can find fans with automatic oscillation in many houses, restaurants, and office lobbies. They are so popular because of their coverage. These fans can rotate a full 180 degrees in one oscillation, cooling the entire room.
- Adjustable Height
With adjustable height, you can just extend the pole of the fan, so only the base of the fan takes up space, and the rest is freed up. This is an excellent feature if you have less space in the room. It is also helpful if you are standing or sitting at a height.
- Adjustable Head
Fans can be rotated horizontally or vertically. Some fans can even spin a full 360 degrees. This is mainly used to concentrate the flow of air in one direction.
- Speed Level
Fans usually come with 2-4 speed levels. The higher the speed level, the more air the fan circulates in a room. The highest speed level will generate a lot of movement, resulting in more cooling.
But battery-operated fans don’t last long at high speed. So as the battery drains, you will see the fan’s performance and range go down.
- CFM
CFM stands for “cubic feet per minute.” It is the distance a fan’s airflow covers. It is equivalent to the power of the fan. You can find the CFM of a fan listed in its specifications.
Where Should Fans Be Placed To Cool A Room?
Since ceiling fans are fixed in one place, you cannot change their position. But with portable fans, you have the liberty to position them in a way that suits you best.
You can either mount them on the wall facing the whole room. This way, fans with automatic head spin will cover each part of the room in a complete oscillation.
You can also use multiple fans and place them in different corners of the room. This way, there will be extra fans to cool different sections of the room. We will also show you how to use two box fans to cool the room.
Strategic Ways To Position Fans
There are many tips and tricks out there that tell you how to optimally position fans. The trick is to increase the amount of air circulating in the room to evaporate sweat faster and push the hot air out.
While some fans may have enough power to cool a room, placing them in the perfect place can increase their effectiveness by a lot. So let us learn how to position a fan to cool a room optimally:
Using A Box Window Fan
You can cool your room and even a multiple-story house using window box fans. They can be used to expel hot air out or pull cool air inwards, so it is best to use two window fans at a time.
This strategy will only work if the temperature outside is higher than inside. Therefore, it is ideal to attempt it in the early morning or late at night.
- First off, install one fan in the window of the room that you want to cool. Then install a fan in the room opposite to it.
- The fan in the opposite room will push hot air out of the house, and the other fan will suck cold air inward, bringing down the room’s temperature.
- In a multi-story house, install one fan upstairs to blow out hot air because it is lighter and rises. Install a fan downstairs to pull air inward to cool the room.
Don’t Obstruct The Path Of A Fan
The position of the fan also depends on the decor of the room. The hot air blown by the fan can be absorbed by the walls and the furniture, which will increase the temperature of the room.
So, to prevent this, you need to position the fan so that its path is not obstructed. It is ideal to mount it on a wall and put it on automatic oscillation, where it will cover the remaining three walls.
Types Of Fans That Cool A Room
Cooling fans are divided into two categories:
- Household fans
These types of fans are perfect for home or office use. They have a versatile design, keeping in mind that they are easily portable and lightweight.
This makes it easy for the user to carry them from one room to another or take it outside on picnics and whatnot.
They come in various sizes and models, which cool the whole room. And they are ideal for home use. They are also budget-friendly. It is effortless to find a fan on any budget.
- Commercial fans
These are heavy-duty industrial fans used in big factories or large outdoor arenas. They are gigantic and have a powerful motor.
They are durably made and last for a very long time, even under extreme conditions. It is because they can be expensive and cannot be bought again and again.
Types Of Ideal Household Fans To Cool A Room
If you are in the market to buy a fan for home use, aka, to cool your home office, living area, or any other room in the house, then household fans are the best choice. If strategically placed, they can cool a room, and everyone can enjoy the air.
- Floor Fans
Floor fans are ideal for small rooms. It would help if you kept it directly in front of you for the best results. You can also angle it upwards to blow the hot air away and help spread the cold air.
- Window Fans
Window fans offer airflow from outdoors to indoors or vice versa. They work best when it is colder outside. They transfer the cold outside air into the house through the window while blowing the hot air away.
- Tower Fans
Tower fans are a great option that tends to match with most decor. They are narrow and fit in smaller areas. You can get them in many different designs and with many different features.
Tower fans have a wide range of options while tending to be on the quiet side. Some also come with a filter, which prevents you from inhaling dust or pollen. They have more features overall.
- Misting Fans
Mist is water particles suspended in air, which is basically a moist and cool fog. In addition to blowing air, some fans infuse water in it too, which ultimately is how you get misting fans.
They help in cooling the hot air present in the room. They are used in many restaurants, hotels, and clubs. They also tend to be great outdoor fans but that is for another article altogether.
- Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are the classic choice in summers. They are usually mounted on the center of the ceiling. And its blades have a large diameter that, when rotated very fast, covers the entire room.
A ceiling fan creates a vortex that sucks the cold air from the bottom and spreads it throughout the room. It also pulls the warm air upwards.
- Pedestal Fans
These are much more powerful than tower fans and are often used in large living rooms. They also can be rotated left and right, or up and down.
They are flexible and give you more control over the airflow. Oscillating pedestal fans are generally the way to go within this category.
Types Of Ideal Commercial Fans To Cool A Room
These fans are used in large spaces like factories, warehouses, commercial kitchens, construction sites, and stables in extreme heat. Its powerful motor and the high CFM cover more area than household fans.
- Drum Blowers
These heavy-duty fans are enormous and have dynamic power. Moreover, they are sturdy and durably made. Because of their strength, they are used to ventilate vast areas like basements, warehouses, factories, etc.
They have wheels for easy transportation from one place to another.
- High-Velocity Floor Fans
High-velocity floor fans are preferred in large spaces because of their efficiency and durability. They are a far better choice than regular floor fans due to their high speed.
It is made from heavy-duty materials to withstand extreme conditions. And its blades have a larger diameter, increasing the fan’s CFM.
- HVLS Fans
The full-form of HVLS is “high-volume, low-speed.” As the name suggests, it distributes a high volume of air at a low rotation speed.
It is more than 7 feet in diameter and has more blades than standard ceiling fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does a Fan Cool The Room?
Fans don’t cool the room per se. They only blow the hot air out to be replaced by cold air. They also evaporate sweat from the body, which makes you feel pleasant. But they don’t affect the temperature of the room.
- Does Putting Ice In Front Of A Fan Help Cool A Room?
This is a trick many people use to increase the effects of a fan. Placing ice in front of a fan works like a makeshift AC. The air that passes through the ice automatically rises in temperature and cools the room.
- Why Is My Room So Hot Even With The Fan On?
It is because fans blow the hot air out of your room, which rises and is bound to return after a few minutes. This is why you also need to have proper ventilation in the room.
You can switch on the chimney or open a window so the hot air escapes and cold air can enter.
- Where Should A Fan Be Placed To Cool A Room?
Hot air is lighter than cold air, so it rises while cold air stays at the bottom. Position the fan towards a window or a shaded door to blow the hot air out and the cold air can replace it.
Final Takeaway
For all the environmentalists out there, fans are the best choice to beat the heat in the summers. It saves energy and money. They may not be as effective as air conditioners, but you can blow pleasantly cool air around the entirety of the room and relax in it!
