Ceiling fan pushing air up instead of down regardless of rotational direction

[CptCool]

I just replaced an older fan that was bent out of shape and wobbly with this new 30" fan: https://www.menards.com/main/lighting-ceiling-fans/ceiling-fans/shop-all-ceiling-fans/turn-of-the-century-reg-hebe-30-white-transitional-1-light-ceiling-fan/p-1444438412258-c-7488.htm

However, I can't feel any airflow from the fan, even standing directly below it! I tried switching to clockwise, but still couldn't feel anything underneath the fan. Both counter-clockwise and clockwise seem to be pushing the air up above the fan.

Is it possible that this is just a terrible fan, or did I somehow get a lemon? There are six fan blades on the fan and appear to be tilted at an appropriate angle that would push air downwards when rotating counter-clockwise, so I'm stumped. The previous 30" fan worked fine and looked as though it was simply an older model of this same fan, so I don't think the fan size is the issue. Any ideas?

[CmFtns]

was your old fan blades farther away from the ceiling?

The fan you linked is a ceiling hugger fan which has blades that are 6 or 7 inches from the ceiling and moves much less air than a hanging fan where the blades are 12+ inches away from the ceiling. These fans are meant to be used for rooms with ceilings less than 8ft in height. On top of that the fan is only a 30 inch fan which is fairly small.

If the fan blades are spinning and the blades are angled then one of the directions will push air down but it might not push very much because of the distance from the ceiling.

When I bought my house the bedroom have 10ft ceiling and they had installed 52" ceiling hugger fans for some reason which barely moved air 5 or 6 feet down where people would be. I installed new fans of the same size on a 1ft hanger so now the blades of my new fans are 1.5 feet from ceiling and it moves much more air on medium than the old fans would even move on high

[CptCool]

was your old fan blades farther away from the ceiling?

The fan you linked is a ceiling hugger fan which has blades that are 6 or 7 inches from the ceiling and moves much less air than a hanging fan where the blades are 12+ inches away from the ceiling. These fans are meant to be used for rooms with ceilings less than 8ft in height. On top of that the fan is only a 30 inch fan which is fairly small.

If the fan blades are spinning and the blades are angled then one of the directions will push air down but it might not push very much because of the distance from the ceiling.

When I bought my house the bedroom have 10ft ceiling and they had installed 52" ceiling hugger fans for some reason which barely moved air 5 or 6 feet down where people would be. I installed new fans of the same size on a 1ft hanger so now the blades of my new fans are 1.5 feet from ceiling and it moves much more air on medium than the old fans would even move on high

The old fan was a similar type and also a ceiling hugger (no downrod). You're probably right though that I likely won't get any or much air movement with it. Unfortunately it's in a converted attic room and mounted next to where the ceiling starts to slope, so it can't be larger than 30in without moving the location. It is also less than 8ft ceilings, but maybe I could try getting a shorter downrod to move it down a couple more inches - is it possible to buy a downrod and add it on if the fan doesn't originally come with one?

[lthenderson]

Probably your best bet since it is a cheap ceiling hugger fan is to add blocking under the mount to move it away from the ceiling.

[Fishindude]

I think what you are suggesting is impossible?   If the blades are pitched it will push air downward when running one direction, and upward when running the other direction.

[lthenderson]

Just saw this a few minutes ago and it reminded me of this post. (I'm not insinuating this is how the OP installed their ceiling fan!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZl44TBIXOc

[CmFtns]

you can buy very short down-rods but you would need a fan made to attach to one... if the ceilings are less than 8ft you probably need a ceiling hugger fan anyway so no one accidentally gets hit by the fan. Honestly i'm stumped as to why your older fan moved so much more air if it was the exact same size and type of fan.

[BlueHouse]

Just saw this a few minutes ago and it reminded me of this post. (I'm not insinuating this is how the OP installed their ceiling fan!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZl44TBIXOc

That's one of the best fails ever!  Not even sure how that is possible.

[AlanStache]

Yes the fan being to close to the ceiling will reduce airflow but also if the old fan had fewer blades than the new ones 6 that could also be contributing.  If the blades are to close to each other they are effectively drafting off each other and new fresh air cant get in-especially with the ceiling close.  You could try taking off every other blade (make sure it stays balanced!) to see if that improves things, but yeah lowering it will also really help. 

If the fan looks stupid with 3 blades removed then duck tape over the mounts to hide them. /sarcasm

[lthenderson]

Just saw this a few minutes ago and it reminded me of this post. (I'm not insinuating this is how the OP installed their ceiling fan!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZl44TBIXOc

That's one of the best fails ever!  Not even sure how that is possible.

It isn't possible. It's a made for the internet thing but I found it appropriate for this thread since it doesn't move air in any direction either.

[CptCool]

I think what you are suggesting is impossible?   If the blades are pitched it will push air downward when running one direction, and upward when running the other direction.

That's what I thought too. The very unscientific testing method I used was to stand or put my hands directly under the fan, then put my hand above the fan. I did this for both rotational directions. Both ways I could feel the air being pushed above the fan but not below

Yes the fan being to close to the ceiling will reduce airflow but also if the old fan had fewer blades than the new ones 6 that could also be contributing.  If the blades are to close to each other they are effectively drafting off each other and new fresh air cant get in-especially with the ceiling close.  You could try taking off every other blade (make sure it stays balanced!) to see if that improves things, but yeah lowering it will also really help. 

If the fan looks stupid with 3 blades removed then duck tape over the mounts to hide them. /sarcasm

This is a good idea - I'll try removing blades to see if that helps. I wasn't sure if the # of blades affected it at all, but suspected it might be part of the issue since it seemed like such a large number for such a tiny fan. I think the old one had 5 blades, but can't remember for sure and I already threw it away (oops!). I also don't really care much about the look as it's in a guest bedroom that isn't used a ton

[Gibbelstein]

Hi Capt.
FWIW, I worked at Menards for years and sold that fan and nobody was ever really happy with it.  I always suspected the "drafting" explanation mentioned by Alan above, combined with the tiny blades.  It seems like an OK option when you don't have any other options because at least it moves *a little* air.

As for the changing direction, is it possible that what you are feeling is the air rushing to the top to replace the little bit that is blowing out the bottom?  Because it is moving so little air, it can be hard to tell the direction.  Also, maybe you could try feeling slightly farther out than you think you should.  Obviously, there will be no movement in the center of the fan (no blades), but sometimes the air movement is farther out than you would think it is.  Unfortunately, this might also make it harder to tell the difference between the "blowing" air and the "replacing" air.

[lthenderson]

I would suggest getting a cheap kid's helium balloon. My kids are forever "testing" the direction of our ceiling fans with those. Be sure to remove the plastic string that comes with them or you will be unwinding them from the fan.

[Sydneystache]

Is there a switch on the side of the motor? My fans have this function - push air up during winter, push air down during summer.

[Le Poisson]

I would suggest getting a cheap kid's helium balloon. My kids are forever "testing" the direction of our ceiling fans with those. Be sure to remove the plastic string that comes with them or you will be unwinding them from the fan.

Similar to this... tape 1 square of toilet paper to the ceiling about 2' out from the fan and watch it for movement. If it is sacked towards the fan, you have downdraft.