What Can an Electric Fan Do For Your Home?
When you think of an electric fan, you might imagine a standard three blade option either pedastal or desktop that blows air across your face on a hot day. In reality, however, electric fans can do much more than that.
Our study questions current guidelines from public health authorities and media outlets during heatwaves that suggest fans are detrimental. We show that they actually provide cooling benefits under many conditions.
1. Cools the Room
Depending on how you use it, an electric fan can do more than just create a cooling breeze around your face. In fact, if you take the time to place it in just the right spot in your home, your fan can actually keep your whole house cool – and help you sleep better at night.
A basic electric fan has a housing with a stator, rotor, and drive shaft bearing assembly on the inside and blades on the outside. The blades, also called wings, have different sizes and angles, which determine how far air is thrown by the electric motor. The outer surface of the housing is coated with a special material that creates a wind-chill effect when the fan runs, cooling your body as it passes by.
While it doesn’t lower the actual temperature of the air, a fan will make you feel cooler by speeding up sweat evaporation and carrying heat away from your body. A large room-size electric fan can be quite effective at cooling a whole space, though it’s best to operate it on a low speed.
One of the concerns raised about the safety of electric fans during a heatwave is that they may accelerate dehydration, especially in older adults and people taking medications that blunt thirst. Nevertheless, research suggests that in most cases of hot weather, an electric fan provides more cooling benefits than avoiding it altogether, even for vulnerable groups.
2. Reduces Smoke
An electric fan can help reduce the levels of smoke in a room. This can be beneficial especially for people who are sensitive to smoke or are having difficulty breathing. It can also reduce the amount of ash that is in the air.
The use of an electric fan can also make dehumidifier it easier for firefighters to move around the building. If the building is a multi-level structure, an electric fan can help move the smoke to a safe place where it can be expelled through an open window or door. It can also be used to cool down the interior of a vehicle or home.
Electric fans can be ceiling or wall mounted, in a window or portable (e.g. floor, table or battery operated hand-held) and can be a part of a household heating and cooling system or used alone. Generally, they are operated by electricity but can also be powered by gas or other fuels such as wood.
There is little evidence on the benefits and harms of using electric fans during heatwaves, though some observational studies (Kaiser 2001; Naughton 2002) suggest mixed results. Further research is needed to determine the effects of electric fans during heatwaves, particularly on older people. This would be best done through randomised trials in naturally occurring heatwaves of electric fans versus no fans and measuring outcomes such as mortality, morbidity and energy consumption.
3. Exhausts Smoke
An electric fan can be used to exhaust contaminated air from buildings and other structures. dehumidifier vendors This type of fan is typically found in emergency exhaust ventilation systems. Its purpose is to force out contaminated air and smoke in case of fire or toxic gas leaks.
In order to work, the electric fan converts electrical energy into mechanical energy through its motor. This energy is then transferred through bearings to a shaft that rotates, causing the fan blades to move and create air flow. The type of air flow that a fan produces depends on the way it is designed. If a fan moves air in a straight line toward its shaft, it is considered axial flow. If it moves air in a sunburst pattern around its shaft, it is centrifugal. Some fans also combine axial and centrifugal motion to produce mixed flow.
If you use an exhaust fan over a stove, it will move the smoke from your house through the gaps around windows, doors and vents in the walls and attic. However, the air displaced by the fan is also drawn in through these gaps by outside air.
You might be able to build an airtight box that would cover your electric fan when not in use, but this is a lot of work and money. It might be better to simply use a backdraft damper when not using the fan. Backdraft dampers are usually little more than plastic flaps that get pushed open when the fan is on, so they are not completely airtight.
4. Cleans the Air
The moving airflow of the electric fan disperses dust in your house, which helps reduce allergens and other contaminants. This means you can breathe more easily, especially if your fan is located in an area where there are cooking fumes or aerosol beauty products.
If you don’t clean your fan regularly, it can attract and collect dust particles from other surfaces in the room, causing them to build up on the grates and blades. These particles are electrically charged and attracted to oppositely charged surfaces like electric fans. If they are left to build up, these particles can irritate your lungs and sinuses and cause a variety of problems such as a sore throat or dry sinuses.
You can clean the exterior of your fan with a damp cloth and some all-purpose cleaner or dish soap. If your fan has a steel grate, you should remove it for a deeper cleaning. If you have a hard time reaching the inside of your fan, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a long-handled duster. If you have a pedestal or bladeless fan, you can use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to clean the outside of its housing and base. Be sure to clean the motor exhaust vents and electrical cord as well, if necessary.
