Kitchen Exhaust Fans

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Benefits of a Kitchen Exhaust Fan by: David Urmann

The kitchen is one of the most common places of get together in many homes. It is a place to loosen up and bond with family and friends. Therefore, the kitchen should be cozy and convenient. But from all the warm images that the kitchen may present, there is something hidden that lingers, its pollution!

Kitchen can be the main source of pollutants in a home. Think all the grease, smoke, unwanted odors and moisture produced during cooking. Pollutants that stick to the walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture, and upholstery may require frequent cleaning and all the effort and expense it entails. But having an exhaust fan system will get rid all of these problems.

A good, reliable kitchen exhaust fan system is what you need especially if you are fond of cooking frying and broiling foods. Cooking methods often produce evident particles as well as an unseen mist of greases that can cover the surfaces of your kitchen if they are not vacuumed and exhausted to the exterior of your home. And, without an effective kitchen exhaust fan, air inside will be packed with dangerous contaminants and disease-causing agents released into indoor air.

Cooking releases excess moisture in the air and make indoor air very humid. If not ventilated properly and adequately, it can decrease the quality of indoor air and may lead to a number of problems like asthma, allergies, skin rashes, headaches and nausea and other breathing disorders.

It can possibly cause formation of fungus, mold spores, and mildew that may cause severe health problems. Home furniture may be warped due to excess humidity. Wall paints may crack and peel.

There are wide selections of products in the market that will keep your kitchen well ventilated. It may cover a choice of kitchen range hoods, kitchen exhausters and kitchen fans. All these products are well designed to keep the air inside your home fresh and the atmosphere comfortable.

Kitchen range hoods can furnish an attractive look and be functional additions in your kitchen. It can drive out heat, smoke, moisture and odors fast and directly. These kitchen range hoods are available in different designs and colors. This type can also provide cook top lighting and some models even offer a selection of light levels like a subtle nightlight.

Kitchen range hood are installed directly over the range to trap the heated air, smoke, moisture and gas fumes while a fan exhaust it through duct work to the exterior of the house. It has a filter that traps grease that can be easily removed and cleaned. This type of kitchen ventilator must be with the same width as the cooking surface. It serves and sets up directly over it at a height of at least 18 to 30 inches from your burners.

You can have it installed. Most of it comes with free service installation when bought. Otherwise, you can do it yourself by following the instructions in the manual.

Whatever type of exhaust fan you decide to install in your kitchen, it will definitely improve the air inside, as well as the overall environment inside your house.

Whole House Fans

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Whole House Fan and How to Benefit From It by: Dariusz Rudnicki

Many of my clients ask me about the big square box in the center section of the house’s upper floor ceiling behind a set of self-closing louvers. It’s a whole house fan and it can either benefit home owners or make living conditions worse.

Where and when it makes sense to use the whole house fan

* Preferably mild climates with cooler and less humid nights
* Use it only if the temperature and humidity outside is more favorable than the conditions indoors. If your air conditioning system has been operating during the day, and the temperature outside drops lower (but the humidity is still high), don’t turn the whole house fan on. The vent will suck all the humid air into your air conditioned house
* The best time periods to use it would be, of course, early morning and evening

Who shouldn’t use the whole house fan?

If you suffer from allergies, it might not be a good idea to bring all the pollution into the house. The window screens will stop some of it, but whole house fans are very powerful and will make you sneeze more than ever.

Physics of the whole house fan operation!

1. Before you turn the fan on, open as many windows and doors as possible, close fireplace damper and / or glass door, and shut the furnace / water heater room doors (if they are louver type, it won’t matter). The suction of the whole house fan (at least at the highest speed) is so great, that without open windows / doors, it will draw air from the outside through any possible openings like, for example, from the chimney. If it is a fireplace chimney and you don’t remove the ashes… well, it’s going to be a mess. If it is a water heater / furnace chimney, it might blow off the pilots.

2. When everything is ready, you can turn on the whole house fan and usually within the next few seconds you should feel plenty of exterior air flowing around the house. Unless…

3. This part is equally important as opening the doors and windows - both have to be balanced to function properly in order to really benefit from the whole house fan operation. The air drawn by the whole house fan has to be discharged through the attic vents to the exterior. Otherwise, pressure created in the attic area will cause the air that was just pulled out of your house to return with dust and insulation particles through any possible gaps in the attic floor and the whole house fan itself.

Regular attic ventilation might not be enough to support the whole house fan operation; you might need much more to carry all that extra volume of air to the exterior. And the formula to calculate the square footage of the attic vents required to discharge that air is very simple. All you need is the dimensions of all your rooms:

Example: your ceilings are 8′ high and you have four 10′ x 14′ rooms, one 15′ x 17′ room, and a 10′ x 3′ hallway (this is just a sample, calculate all the rooms in your house you think should be covered)

10′x14′x8′ = 1120×4 = 4480

15′x17′x8′ = 2040

10′x3′ = 30

Total - 6550 cubic feet

Now you have to divide 6550 by 750, which equals 8.73 sq feet - this is the area of the required attic vents (all of them combined - soffit, ridge, gable, etc.)

4. If the house you’re moving into has the whole house fan already installed, lets hope that it was properly sized up for its purpose (there might be a tag on the unit itself), which is to replace your house air within just a few minutes.

5. If you’re the one installing the whole house fan, consider 3 or 4 minutes as an optimal time for the house air exchange. To achieve that, you’d need to divide your house total air volume (6550 cubic feet from our sample) by 3 or 4 minutes. That will give us 1810 CFM / 1357.5 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute).

6. One more important thing: louvers of the typical whole house fan are not air tight and have no insulation applied on their surface; they leak air between the house and attic. I would highly recommend installing a whole house fan cover in attic area to prevent air drafts during the cold season - don’t forget to remove it before you decide to use the fan again.

Whole house fans are noisy and many people never use them, but they might benefit your wallet if you apply all of the above. There are currently other types of house ventilation systems available: they are more expensive (2 - 3 times) but very quiet, more efficient, and provide air circulation for extended periods of time.

Have a cool summer next summer.

About the Author

Dariusz is a licensed Illinois home inspector who has been in this business for over ten years, crawling through the areas you’d newer expect that even exist in your house … just to let you now that everything is working properly… or not. If you need a home maintenance advice, you can always ask him for help.

Ventilation Fans

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Improved Home Ventilation with Ceiling Fans by: D Marx

We all love a good ‘two for price of one’ bargain. Imagine then, that have a simple way to improve ventilation without increasing your energy costs - and increasing your homes appeal, all in one go.

Benefits of a ceiling fan

Reduction in monthly energy bills - A ceiling fan consumes far less energy than an air conditioning unit. In climates where high temperatures are somewhat uncommon, a ceiling fan is all that is necessary to maintain a comfortable climate in summer months.

Saving space - Unlike ugly window-unit air conditioners, or box fans, a ceiling fan occupies only the unused space above every ones head. Most ceiling fans are equipped with light bulb sockets as well, so unless structural reinforcement is required, any overhead light can be replaced with a ceiling fan.

Practical and attractive - Usefulness aside, ceiling fans can add aesthetic appeal to any room. There are enough designs to fit any taste or decor theme. Maintaining a comfortable climate and room decor is a simple matter of finding one that fits your room decor..

But what are the best brands of ceiling fans?

Hunter ceiling fans - The Hunter ceiling fan company has been in business longer than the rest. Over 100 years worth of design, and manufacturing experience go into each product. Definitely a preferred brand for ceiling fans.

With a huge array of styles to choose from, Hunter has a fan to match the characteristics of any room decor. They are affordable, and use only top notch quality materials in the manufacturing process.

Classical appeal of Casablanca Ceiling Fans - Casablanca blends modern technology with classic styles. Classic styles without the inadequacies compared to todays materials and manufacturing processes. Designed to accommodate, a Casablanca fan is available to meet your budget, your style, and your functional needs.

Ceiling fans are a terrific way to add comfort to the home for only pennies a day in energy costs.

About the Author

Dave Marx writes about kitchen remodeling using ceiling fans for kitchen remodeling using ceiling fans- a free resource of home and kitchen remodeling tips and experience.

Industrial Fans

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A History of Fans With Ideas For Today by: Audrey Peterson

Fans actually have a long history that many probably are unaware of. Fans have been used as status symbols, decorative pieces, and cooling devices. In the past fans were made from palm leaves and feathers, with bases of wood, paper, and even chicken skin! Handheld fans were used as communicating tools; certain waves of a fan indicated specific emotions or messages in social circles. As status symbols, fans displayed costly materials and precious materials, displaying an individual’s wealth. Gold, mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, and ivory were used in some fan designs, creating pieces of art in the process. Museums around the world today are dedicated to displaying some of these historic fans and this unique form of art, and handheld fans are still popular in the contemporary world of fashion.

With the discovery of electricity the fan became an automatic motor-powered cooling device, without the tiring of human arms. Large spaces can now be cooled in a very short amount of time. Industrial fans can cool at an extraordinary rate, bringing much needed relief without draining your energy bills.

The first electric fan was invented in the late 1800’s by Philip Diehl, who used a sewing machine’s motor for an electric ceiling fan. It was known as the Diehl Electric Fan. He added his own light kit later on and continued to work on advancements.

From the Great Depression to the sixties, electric fans became less and less popular and less available in America, but by the seventies they were back with a bang for a while.
However, with more cooling advancements, air conditioners reduced fan popularity once again, and with the reduction in popularity came a reduction in research and features. The standard of high class fan motors, blades, and housing were somewhat lost from the nineties through recent years with mass production and the flourishment of modern chainstores.

Yet, today companies such as Electric Fan, have worked hard to make fans a guaranteed, high-tech appliance where quality comes above quantity. While an air conditioner is an excellent cooling tool, electric fans are the only apliances that peform cooling duties with the by using a considerable low amount of energy and work to actually move and circulate the air while in operation. Our fans come with all of the latest technology, placing high CFM and RPM, long fan life, and low noise level at the top of our list of products. With the Underwriter’s Laboratory and Energy Star ratings available today, we can guarantee your fan in the categories of energy savings and effective output, so you don’t have to just take our word for it.

From beautiful handheld objects to highly rated electric fans that can cover as much as 1500 square feet the fan has come a long way and is preferred in most homes and buildings as not only a desirable apparatus, but as a necessity!

About the Author

Audrey Peterson is a Product Specialist with knowledge in the design and applications of a variety of electric fans http://www.electric-fan.com/ She has analyzed several fans including ceiling http://www.electric-fan.com/category/ceiling.aspx and industrial http://www.electric-fan.com/category/industrial.aspx

Bathroom Exhaust Fans

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Why Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan Is Important by: Adam Peters

Bathroom exhaust fan fixtures are just as important as many other features in that bathroom. For example, a bathroom would not work well if it did not feature a toilet. The same is true for the exhaust fan. It is, by all regards, one of the most important elements, because it keeps the air in this small space moving. It also removes any type of odor from the room that you do not want there. With these important features, it is a must to have a working and usable exhaust fan in your home.

Consider The Public Bathroom

Many bathroom’s found in a public area will not have any type of exhaust fan. Perhaps this is one reason to keep one in your home. Some of them have six to ten stalls in them, making for a pretty messy situation. Some now do have a product that detects odors and sprays a product to help neutralize it automatically. Yet, even these larger and more frequently used bathrooms still should have some type of exhaust fan in them if they are to be clean and fresh smelling. Some smaller public units may have them.

Couple Bathroom Examples

Perhaps you share your bathroom with your spouse or other people. Although it is becoming very common to find bathrooms that are specific to just one person, it is still the norm for people to share them within a household. With that thought in mind, consider the need for exhaust fans. Often, the smell of doing your business is much too strong and can overpower the person that follows you into the bathroom. The stronger the exhaust fans here, the better they will help to dispense of these smells. In some cases, having separate bathrooms can help to minimize the smells and often helps to keep a marriage on the road to success rather than divorce!

Your exhaust fans are an important part of your bathroom for many reasons. Not only do they keep a marriage successful, but they also help to keep the air in the bathroom fresh and clean, giving off the pleasant smell that allows you to enjoy your experience rather than to dread it. If your bathroom does not have a bathroom exhaust fan in it, perhaps adding one would be a good way to keep smells and air fresh for everyone in the home.

About the Author

Adam Peters is the editor of different articles with reference to decorating for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on bathroom decorations and home interiors

Exhaust Fans

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Installing Exhaust Fans by: David Urmann

An exhaust fan is one of the most useful home appliances that let you save both in energy and money. It not only offers ventilation, but can significantly prevent excess moisture buildup and amassing of indoor airborne pollutants, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. There are basically three types of exhaust fans: attic, bathroom, and window exhaust fans.

A bathroom exhaust fan is very important for home ventilation systems. It does not only lessen offensive odors, but also conveys large amount of humid air to the exterior of our home. A bathroom exhaust fan has more featured accessories than the other two types of exhaust fans. Accessories include fans, lights, timers, nightlights, and heaters.

Shop for an exhaust fan that is suited to your home. Invest on a unit that is powerful enough for the room where you will set it up. You can ask the salesperson to determine the size of the fan you will need relative to the size of the room.

An exhaust fan needs to be properly installed for it to function well and efficiently. Installing bathroom fans, for instance, usually only take a few hours to complete. In performing the installation process, you should unplug the power from the circuit prior to starting your work. Lock the circuit so no one can accidentally turn it on while installing. Take away any insulation on the ceiling where you intend to set up the unit. And if you want to change a light fixture with a fan unit, detach the original fixture and cut off all the electrical connections.

It is much better to position the ventilation housing in the spot that will let you secure it straight to the ceiling beam. But if the original light fixture arrangement makes this impossible, you can put wooden braces between beams or joists to enable firm connection for the housing. Hold the housing firmly and mark around the perimeter to define your cut. Make punctures in the corners. Cut along the lines and fix firmly the fan housing in place.

Extend a cable from the existing light knob all the way to the unit. You can utilize a cable of three wires if you would like to split the switch of your light and your exhaust fan. Strictly follow the wiring diagram in the manual, lest you create power shortage in your house.

Connect the ground wire to the clip integrated on the housing. Press on the wires inside the wiring box portion then put the cover. From the fan housing, attach the duct. After that, put in the cover of the unit inside the bathroom. And, from the existing electrical circuit at the wall switch, wire the cable.

Exhaust fans are easy to install. Most units come with manuals anyway when purchased. But safety is always priority. For any doubts, it is best to call a technician to help you.

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