Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 8442586)

I'll take that as a yes, then:lol:

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 8439952)

Yep the shutters (every window and all but one door has them) are on the inside. Were like that when we bought the house. Not sure how we could retrofit anything outside, it's an old property all bar the extension bit at the rear & even that has been done *relatively* in keeping.
I've tried to describe the heating problems of our house, which are manifold, before. Essentially there are steps & stairs all over the place, making it multi-level which means description is even harder.... 'downstairs' there are 7 rooms, only three of which have doors which will isolate them from anywhere else. One is the kitchen, which has double doors to the dining room & an open stairwell to one 'upstairs, which in turn has three rooms only two of which can be closed off (and one's a bathroom!). The other 'upstairs' is two rooms, both with doors.
However the principal issue is the living room(s).... it's about 7m x 4m, plus a ceiling height ranging from about 3m to 4.4m (ish). The fire is in one corner. There are * the main entrance double doors *the archway to the dining room *the archway to the other living room *a small internal open window gap to the other living room.....
getting the picture? ie there's nothing bar curtains to stop the warm air from getting out to other rooms & a huge ceiling well to stop the warm air from being down where we are.
And no, of course we can't or won't change it very much; beams. Light fittings. blah blah.
Still it'll be summer soon. I keep telling myself. Didn't light the fire tonight, btw!!!!

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 8440674)

We've heard that idea; does it really work?

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 8442625)

No.

Originally Posted by bil (Post 8442627)

Well, first off a pergola outside planted with grapes to shade windows has a number of functions. t's cooler underneath that in the full sun than if it were a solid roof, the leaves are late, so that in winter and spring the light shines thru, and it then stops the summer sun. Finally, of course you get free grapes!

Secondly, if that it too much trouble, then fit a crude roller blind on the outside, or a more formal shutter against the sun.

To close off doorways against heat, use a heavy curtain. We isolate the living room from the other rooms with a heavy material curtain, and that makes one hell of a difference.

Originally Posted by Tele Addict (Post 8442753)

I've got the same, and yes it does work. I put fans up in every room 3 years ago and haven't used the air-con once since then. When I'm running the woodstove the living room fan is set to pump air upwards (aiding natural convection). As soon as it is turned on temperature goes up 4 or 5 degrees. Fans need to be big enough though. 150 cm minimum. A 90cm fan would be a complete waste of time. I've got a 90cm one in my box room and it's barely enough even in there. Big fans move lots of air, but they do it slowly and quietly.

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 8443803)

Sure you got that right tele addict?
House full of fans of 150cm minimum,.....so whats the max?

Originally Posted by Tele Addict (Post 8443878)

All I am saying is don't get fans smaller than 150cm.

Originally Posted by raddickle (Post 8444062)

All my bedrooms have sloping ceilings. Would I be able to safely fit ceiling fans?

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 8443683)

Ok here's the space x for a scratching head smiley... you mean you've got them & don't agree?

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 8443803)

Sure you got that right tele addict?
House full of fans of 150cm minimum,.....so whats the max?
Are you trying to achieve lift off into the great blue yonder, as a means of cooling your house?
Last sighted at 20,000ft heading towards Mallorca...:eek:

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 8445252)

in the winter I would say you need the fan to move the warm air downwards from the ceiling height to where you are sitting. ;);)

Originally Posted by raddickle (Post 8444062)

All my bedrooms have sloping ceilings. Would I be able to safely fit ceiling fans?

Originally Posted by Tele Addict (Post 8446323)

Work with natural convection rather than fight it. In summer pump air downwards; in winter pump it upwards.