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HVLS Fans “Spring” into Action.

The sun is beginning to shine more often and the trees are regaining their leaves: spring is upon us. For facility managers and others responsible for maintaining a comfortable temperature in their space, springtime temperature fluctuations can be quite challenging.

In some areas of the country, temperatures can change 50 degrees or more between day and night. For example, the National Weather Service reports that in some areas of Texas, temperatures can go from 60-70 degrees during the day down to 10-20 degrees at night. HVLS fans are an excellent solution for keeping a facility comfortable by maintaining a more even temperature throughout the building.

Challenges of Climate Control in Spring

Most of the climate control problems in springtime stem from the massive temperature fluctuations that occur in many parts of the country. Just a few of these challenges include:

• Needing to change an HVAC system back and forth between heating to cooling several times a week, sometimes in the same day,
• Processes that give off heat making certain areas of the facility much warmer than others, and
• Sweating Slab Syndrome, a phenomenon that causes moisture deposits on facility surfaces that come in contact with warm air during the day after these surfaces have cooled overnight.

No matter which of these problems you are having in your facility, an HVLS fan can help solve them.

Using HVLS Fans in Spring

HVLS Fans are valuable for facilities because of their ability to generate massive airflow. Warm air rises up to the ceiling and cold air sinks to the floor, and since temperatures shift dramatically during the spring, different pockets of air are often at different temperatures – even in one room. This is an issue known as thermal stratification, and it can be solved by creating airflow with HVLS fans to create a more even blend of air temperature.

The thermal equilibrium created by HVLS fans is also valuable for eliminating Sweating Slab Syndrome because it prevents warm air from lingering on top of cold concrete and metal surfaces and depositing moisture on them. A more equalized temperature throughout the space means less moisture on surfaces.

Tips for Running an HVLS Fan in Spring

No matter what kind of climate your facility is in, there are a few ways to maximize the effectiveness of your HVLS fan:

• Consider fan placement – you want your fan to be located in an area where it has the best chance of circulating the most air possible. Make sure nothing is blocking the path of air around your fan.
• Closely monitor fan speed – with the drastic temperature fluctuations in spring, you’ll want to have a system in place that gives you a high degree of control over the speed of your fans. A daisy-chained network enables you to quickly modify the speed and direction of all your fans. HVLS fans can also be integrated with building management systems for an automated response to temperature fluctuation.
• Use windows, doors and bays wisely – most facilities have a number of openings to the outside that allow air in and out. Although this can be a problem in the winter and summer when temperatures are extreme, you can actually use open windows to your advantage on spring days when the temperature is mild: just make sure you aren’t wasting energy by running your HVAC systems at a high level when doors and windows are open.

With a bit of planning, the right HVLS fans, and some adjustments to your facility operating procedure, you can spring towards a more comfortable working environment and lower utility costs.