Let's Talk About That Other Way Of Keeping Cool - Fans!

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I think that many people who buy a home here in the desert area never think about how the house is situated on the lot. They find out too late that living room windows and sliders or large glass areas are on the west side of the house. I never gave it a second thought when I bought my home but I "lucked out". I have a north/south facing house. It gets so hot on the west side that during summer you could roast a turkey out there. The only windows are in the master bath and guest bath/bedroom. All the windows are double-pane and have double pleated shades which help to insulate from heat. Aluminum foil on windows is forbidden by the HOA as well as temporary coverings like sheets, although what they can't see from the street slips under their radar. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I've always been a big fan of fans. Like most houses here, there are ceiling fans in every room. They're great provided you're in their air path. But in rooms that are not occupied I think they cause the air conditioning to run more often by blowing warm air down from the ceiling. Granted you get a more even room temperature but at a cost. This is just one of my warped theories which has being cheap written all over it. Ceiling height has a lot to do with it. This house has modest 9 foot ceilings. I have friends with 15 foot high ceilings and even higher. But I do like my ceiling fans. There are so many cool and interesting designs. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">African mask fan in great/living room & Cheetah fan in office (I have 2 more of  these stored in garage w/light fixtures). These were all discontinued years ago. The mask fan reminds me of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland.</span>

[this post was last edited: 6/12/2020-17:04]

 

[circlew]

Joe, those are interesting fans.

I've never had a ceiling fan, but may install one or two in the future. Several years ago Hunter had a streamline moderne version of their "Original", and it came in several colors. I almost bought one, but put it off, and then that style was discontinued.

 

[sudsmaster]

High humidity is not an issue in most of California in the summer.

My windows are single pane, but they still work to keep out hot air. I did have to put new felts in the aluminum frame sliding windows, though. They don't rattle in a storm any more, LOL.

The roof here (single story) has about a 2 foot overhang all round, so that helps keep the sun off the windows during the day. White backed window shades do the rest.

Also insulated the attic floor (single story) about 20 years ago, and that did wonders to lower the heating bill in winter. But an unexpected bonus was how it helped to keep the house cooler during hot summer days. Also added soffit venting to help exhaust hot attic air (there are multiple vents high up on the hip roofing).

As far as fan quality goes, one might do well to go seek out industrial quality shop fans. You know, the big ones that are all metal, many on tall stands. They can be noisy but they also can move far more air than residential quality fans.

 

[tolivac]

I use a 20" "industrial"fan in my bedroom-not noisey at all-at least industrial according to Lowes.Floor fan.Drowns out noises from outside and nice cooling breeze-like it COLD while sleeping-and my AC set to 72.I also have blackout white back roll shades-FAR BETTER than blinds-ripped out the blinds-replaced with the shades-from Penneys.

 

[philcobendixduo]

Here's the Patton Whole House Exhaust Fan....

......under the Sears name. Looks the same except for the motor cover and logos. Looks to be in good shape, too and with the original box.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[rp2813]

Oscillation Question

I think we can all agree that the oscillation mechanism on fans that have it is the weak link.  Brand new plastic junk or vintage all metal heavy duty, these components tend to develop knocks and/or rattles, or just fail completely (particularly on modern tower type fans).

 

Once again, my otherwise nearly silent little '30s Graybar Electric has begun to rattle at each end of its oscillation sweep.  It seems to be the flat arm that connects from the oscillator worm gear to the top of the stand.  Right now the only quick solution to eliminate the rattle without disassembly is to tilt the fan more upward instead of aiming straight forward. 

 

I've had this fan apart a few times and have managed to quiet it down by making minor tweaks, but eventually the rattling returns.  The blades are fairly well balanced.  Would thicker grease in the worm gear box help?  Maybe fiber washers instead of metal where the arm connects to the gear box? 

 

This is a great little fan than can move serious air for its size, and I'd like to continue using it, but the rattle is driving me nuts.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I'd look where the arm connects to the gearbox and anywhere else you have metal sliding along/on/past metal.

My grandparents had a fan like that with a rattle I couldn't pinpoint by ear. I slid the corner of a piece of paper into joint I could. I located the one(s) rattling. Silly, but it worked for me because pretty much all the mechanism was exposed. It was an elbow-like joint that was the culprit. I looked for an image on but of course all the pics are of the fronts because those are so much more interesting.

This was like 40 years ago so my memory's a bit vague. I think I sprayed WD-40 into it, let it drip clean, then added successively heavier oils until I found one that worked. Only a drop or two of each oil, let it run so the oil is well-distributed though the joint, no good? Try one a touch heavier.

Over the years I've used graphite powder successfully in all sorts of situations that you're "not supposed to".
The only problem with it is that cleaning it up spillage is like cleaning up glitter....

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Jim.

 

I put the fan on a bench and checked out the oscillator arm and it's definitely the source of the problem.  The trouble is that there's no way to remove it from where it's fastened to the neck of the pedestal, and it's fairly loose there. 

 

If I hold my finger on the arm where it connects to the gear box, the rattle goes away.  I think a thicker washer will help, and that end has a reverse threaded screw that can be removed so at least I can pursue corrective action there.  One of the washers back there is thinner than the other, and has definite signs of wear.  I'll replace that one and see how it goes.

 

[circlew]

Graybar

Ralph, that's a nice Graybar fan you have. As you probably know, those fans were originally sold under the Western Electric name.

My mom was familiar with Graybar, and thought I might like working there. She tried to get me to apply to work in the Cincinnati location, but I never followed through. She mentioned she had dealt with them when she worked for Western Electric in the early 50's. Evidently Bell System purchased electrical supplies for their facilities from Graybar.

I didn't know until I read it somewhat later that the companies had been one in earlier years. For those not familiar, the company was founded as Gray and Barton in 1869. In 1872, Western Union Telegraph Co. purchased an interest in the company, and it was renamed Western Electric Manufacturing Co. Soon after, they began making telephone equipment for Bell Telephone Co. Over the next several years many items were added to their product line, including washing machines, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, fans, and other appliances. They also started distributing other manufacturer's products, such as Westinghouse, Bryant, and many others. In 1925 the company split, with Western Electric making telephone equipment, vacuum tubes, and soon, motion picture sound equipment. The part manufacturing and distributing other electrical products was named Graybar after the founders of the company. They also distributed Western Electric telephone equipment to some independent telephone companies. Today they are a major wholesale distributor of electrical items, with locations in most major cities.

 

[mattl]

One of the best ways to keep cool - plant trees.  My house is surrounded by trees, planted by my folks 50+ years ago and they are well over the roof and shade the house nicely.  I have AC but rarely use it.  Keep the windows closed during the day and it's pretty comfortable.  At 90 degrees outside it may get to 80 in the house, too warm for some but fine by me.  I have a whole house fan if needed and a ceiling fan or two.  Picked up a hassock fan a few years ago that works quite well too.

 

[thomasortega]

I'm desperate to have one of those Vornado fans that look like vintage (but modern)

However, what would work much better in my house is two of those huge round honeywell hepa filters as the A/C runs almost 24/7.

 

[rp2813]

Tom, yes, I knew there was a connection between Western and GraybaR Electric but didn't realize they were one and the same at first.  Thanks for the history lesson. 

 

I remember a long time ago I worked with a girl who had some sort of connection to The Phone Company and she gave me copies of pages from a GraybaR publication on telephone set wiring that was really helpful with my old phone collection.  It might still be buried in a box somewhere.

 

I'm not 100% sure if it's still there, but GraybaR had a brick and mortar operation in one of the older industrial parts of town here for decades.  I think I even bought some parts there many years ago.

 

[passatdoc]

one ceiling fan in the breakfast area off the kitchen

three full size Vornado fans. Two from 1989, one from 2015. "The ceiling fan on the floor"s