Best fan placement to move air through the house

Summary

This experiment explores how fan placement affects airflow in a house. Using an anemometer, the tester discovers that blowing air out of the window yields better airflow than sucking air in, especially when the fan is moved about 2 feet away from the window. While a box fan may seem more powerful, a smaller desk fan placed 3 feet from the window can move as much air, provided it’s positioned correctly. Wind conditions also influence readings, making calm weather ideal for accurate measurements. The key takeaway: optimal fan placement improves air circulation, and smaller fans can outperform larger ones if placed properly.

Takeaways

• 😀 The best airflow readings are achieved when the fan is placed about 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the window.
• 😀 Blowing air out of the window with the fan provides more consistent airflow than trying to pull air in.
• 😀 The anemometer used in the test was initially inadequate for measuring very low wind speeds, so a Raspberry Pi setup was used to get better readings.
• 😀 Wind outside can cause fluctuations in measurements, and averaging over time helps to get more reliable data.
• 😀 Moving the fan further away from the window can increase the airflow, but beyond a certain distance (about 2 feet), the speed plateaus.
• 😀 When testing with a box fan, the wind speed was lower when the fan was directly against the window compared to when it was slightly away from the window.
• 😀 Oscillating fans are particularly ineffective for pulling air through a window, as they tend to pull air from all sides rather than focusing airflow through the window.
• 😀 Optimal placement of the fan is usually about 2 feet from the window, providing the best airflow without further diminishing returns.
• 😀 Even a desk fan placed a few feet from the window can outperform a larger box fan if the box fan is directly pressed against the window.
• 😀 The presence of a light breeze outside can render the fan's efforts insignificant, and in such cases, simply opening all the windows may be more effective.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the experiment described in the transcript?

The main goal of the experiment is to determine the best fan placement for optimizing airflow through a house, using an anemometer to measure wind speed and airflow in different scenarios.

What role does the anemometer play in the experiment?

The anemometer is used to measure wind speed and airflow during the experiment. It provides precise, real-time data to assess the effectiveness of different fan placements and directions.

Why was the fan moved in various positions during the experiment?

The fan was moved to different positions to test how the distance from the window and direction of airflow (blowing air in or out) affected the wind speed and overall airflow through the house.

What did the experiment reveal about the effectiveness of blowing air into the house versus blowing it out?

The experiment found that blowing air out of the window was more effective than trying to pull air in. An oscillating fan placed right against the window, for example, was ineffective at pulling air through because it pulls air from all directions.

What was the optimal distance for placing the fan for the best airflow?

The optimal distance for fan placement was found to be around 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the window. At this distance, the airflow was consistent and higher compared to when the fan was placed closer or further away.

What surprising result did the experiment show regarding fan size and airflow?

The experiment revealed that a smaller desk fan, placed a few feet away from the window, could move as much air as a much larger box fan placed directly against the window, contradicting common expectations about fan size and effectiveness.

How did external wind conditions affect the results of the experiment?

External wind conditions, even a light breeze, caused fluctuations in the anemometer readings, making it difficult to obtain consistent data. This highlighted the importance of conducting the experiment in calm weather for more accurate results.

Why was the oscillating fan ineffective at pulling air through the window?

The oscillating fan was ineffective at pulling air through the window because it draws air in from all directions, including from behind it. When placed right against the window, the fan struggles to pull air from the outside effectively.

What conclusion did the experiment reach about the relationship between fan distance and airflow?

The experiment concluded that moving the fan further away from the window, up to a certain point (about 1.5 meters), improved airflow. However, placing the fan too far (over 2 meters) did not lead to significant gains, suggesting that there is an optimal range for fan placement.

What is the takeaway regarding the use of fans for improving indoor airflow?

The takeaway is that blowing air out of the window with a fan placed a few feet away is generally more effective than trying to suck air in. Additionally, a smaller fan placed correctly can be as effective as a larger fan, especially when external factors like wind are considered.