What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Fans?
Circulation fans are just that… circulating fans. They move the existing air that is provided to them. The limitation of any circulation fan is that it cannot change the temperature of the air it circulates. If you provide a fan hot, humid air… it moves hot, humid air. If you provide a fan cold, dry air… yep, it moves cold, dry air. There are, however, numerous advantages to circulating the air with fans. The primary advantage is a thorough mixing of the air envelope, eliminating hot/cold spots from wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor.
During the heating season, HVLS fans operate at very slow speeds to disrupt satisfaction from occurring and keep warm air at ground level – where it is needed for the occupants of the structure. In the cooling season, fan speeds are increased to create a ‘wind-chill’ from the velocity of air movement. This doesn’t change the temperature of the air but does make it ‘feel’ much cooler to the occupant.
"The primary advantage is a thorough mixing of the air envelope, eliminating hot/cold spots from wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor.... "