Fans

Fans ensure that the pleasant draught in the room and can Efficiency in heating improve. They are available, for example, as table fans, tower fans or ceiling fans. Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Supporting the circulation of air in a room offers the following advantages:

• the heat from the radiators is better distributed
• A slight draught can significantly reduce the perceived temperature on hot days
• Air exchange during ventilation can be supported

In addition to these advantages, there is one point that is often misunderstood about fans: They do not lower the temperature. Only an air conditioning system can do that. An air conditioning system is basically just a heat pump that transfers heat energy to the outside.

A fan, on the other hand, does not dissipate heat. However, as described above, even a small breeze makes people in a room perceive it as cooler. A good example is a hot day at the beach, which becomes much more bearable with just a little breeze.

You can still lower the room temperature with the help of a fan by switching it on when ventilating: Use it to lower the air exchange on the evening of a warm summer day.

Here you can find more information on how to ventilate your home properly:

• Cooling
• Air cooler

On the way to finding out which fan is right for you, the first question is the exact area of application.

Which fan is the right one?

When choosing a suitable model for you, the following points should not be ignored:

1. Performance of the device
2. Range of functions
3. Power consumption
4. Volume

Let's take a look at these points in detail and clarify which properties suit which circumstances:

Performance

The output is important in relation to the size of the room. A small Table fan usually looks a little lost in a large study. However, it can also have a relatively large effect on air circulation.

In an open-plan office, however, a different calibre is required. That or simply several fans. In this case Tower fans offer. In contrast to pedestal fans, they save a little space and generally look more attractive.

Several rotor blades are an indication of a stronger airflow. However, this is only true to a limited extent, as too many blades have a negative effect on the airflow.

Range of functions

Although it only When it comes to the movement of air, some models can boast plenty of technical features. The usual functions that most appliances should have are as follows:

• Adjustable intensity
• Automatically swivels back and forth
• Timer for switching on and off

In addition to these simple setting options, models are also available that can be controlled via an app. This may not seem very useful at first glance, but as with heating, careful or Automatic timing be quite practical. In these respects, I would do without specimens that have their Own app have. It is better to use devices that can be integrated into existing and widespread SmartHome systems (e.g. Google Home, Alexa or HomeKit).

This means you are not tied to an app and can use the fan in conjunction with other SmartHome devices. It's also a hassle to take out your smartphone every time you want to operate the fan. The virtual assistants, which are commanded by voice, are better suited to this.

Power consumption

For appliances that run continuously or at least often and for long periods, it is worth keeping an eye on consumption. This also applies to fans, especially if they are models that heat or cool the air.

An important indicator for energy consumption labelling. Appliances are labelled with one of A+++ until D graded, whereby A+++ is the best possible grading. The order of efficient to less efficient is as follows:

1. A+++
2. A++
3. A+
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. D

The rating does not directly indicate consumption, but rather the efficiency of the appliance. After all, an oven consumes more than a light bulb. Nevertheless, both can be rated using this system. The appliances are divided into classes according to their size and graded depending on their size class ^[ 1 ] . In short: with a glance at this clever scale you can recognise whether it is an efficient one or not.

Calculate consumption

If appliances are constantly running, it is often worth calculating the exact consumption. To do this, search for the energy consumption in watts in the product description.

Let's assume you have a fan in front of you that consumes 10 watts. And let's also assume that it is in an office and therefore runs for eight hours a day. You get the watt hours by multiplying 10 watts by 8 hours and then by 365 days. The result is 29,200 watt hours (29.2 KW/h).

At 30 cents per kilowatt hour, operating the fan therefore costs €8.76 per year.

The electricity cost calculator will tell you exactly what the energy costs will be for your individual use:

Volume

Appliances in the home and indoors in general should As quiet as possible be. Loud noise sources are a distraction when working, relaxing or sleeping.

When looking for quiet fans, pay attention to the size of the appliance. Small models with rather short rotor diameters are usually louder. Table and ceiling fans are a good example of this:

A relatively small table fan turns quickly and the rotor blades whizzing through the air make a rushing noise. In contrast, a large ceiling fan rotates slowly and leisurely. It does not necessarily move less air; its larger rotor blades scoop up more air with each rotation.

Sources

[1] ↑ https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/klima-energie/energiesparen/energieverbrauchskennzeichnung

Further contributions