Go down to the basement and open the windows and doors. On the way back upstairs, leave the doors to the basement and stairwell open. Next, go up to the uppermost floor of your house and open all of the doors and windows on that floor. Now turn the ceiling fans on medium with the blades running in reverse, (the leading edge cutting down into the air instead of up). Sit back and relax in the free, passive ac.
How does this work?
As the hot(ter) air on the upper floors goes out the windows, the air pressure throughout the upper floors begins to fall. Since fluids and air masses tend to flow from high pressure to low pressure, the cooler air in the basement will flow up the stairwell and as it heats, toward the upper windows. Some times, you dont even need to use the fans. This natural form of passive air circulation could help save some serious cash compared to forcing hot air to be cold using ac units.
As the hot(ter) air on the upper floors goes out the windows, the air pressure throughout the upper floors begins to fall. Since fluids and air masses tend to flow from high pressure to low pressure, the cooler air in the basement will flow up the stairwell and as it heats, toward the upper windows. Some times, you dont even need to use the fans. This natural form of passive air circulation could help save some serious cash compared to forcing hot air to be cold using ac units.
Try it. It might help.
Whoops! Forgot to mention that most ceiling fans have a little switch on the fan itself. Flip this switch to change the spin direction.
ReplyDeleteWe have this really silly thing called an air exchange and its like a really lame ac unit but like this on steroids. I think we would still be better off with celling fans...
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