Surprising Facts about Ceiling Fans and Why They Work So Well

Ceiling fans are such commonplace household items that it is easy to take them for granted. However, there are a number of interesting facts about these home appliances that not everyone is aware of.

The following are some of the aspects of ceiling fans that you possibly have never seen before. By learning about cheap fans and spares, you will get a better appreciation of what works and why it works.

Ceiling fans the Ideas is from Ancient India

While electric ceiling fans are a relatively recent invention from the 1880s, the idea can be traced back to India in 500BC or so. Punkahs were hand-operated fans that were controlled by a rope that usually ran outside of the house.

In colonial times, it was seen as a luxury to have a system like this at home, although the sweltering Indian weather made them invaluable. The person who controlled the fan was known as a punkah wallah and deaf men were often chosen for this task, to avoid the risk of private conversations being overheard.

It took a long time for this type of cooling device to reach the West, although ceiling fans are now firmly established as vital parts of many homes. They take the ancient principles behind punkahs and make them far more convenient to use.

They Cool People Not Rooms

A common misconception is that these fans are used to lower the temperature in a room. This isn’t the case, though.

Instead, they work to cool down the people in the room by producing a breeze. This is why there is no benefit to be gained from leaving a fan running in an empty room.

If you are in the room when the fan is working then it can help you to feel several degrees cooler. They work by helping perspiration evaporate more quickly from your body, which takes heat away from you.

They Can Be Used with Air Conditioning

If you are carrying out some changes to a home you might think that it comes down to a straight choice between an air conditioning unit and a ceiling fan. However, these appliances can be used together, if needed.

While many air conditioning units incorporate a fan, this isn’t generally as effective at moving air around as a ceiling fan. Therefore, a more efficient approach can be to put the air conditioning on a low setting and use the fan to move air around.

By experimenting with these two household devices you can find the perfect settings for staying cool while using less energy and spending less.

You Can Combine with a Portable Fan Too

Another interesting use of a ceiling fan is to combine it with a portable fan. This might not sound as though it makes sense but it does work in certain situations.

For example, if it is now cooler outside but the air inside your home remains hot and still then you can use a portable fan to push some of the hot air outside. After doing this, you then switch on the ceiling fan to get the air inside moving around and cool you down.

All of this adds up to mean that ceiling fans offer a versatile and effective way of getting a fresher and cooler way of living, no matter how to choose to use them.