A mini-project for you!
SIL’s house has an interesting issue. I added on several years ago, and the center of the one story addition has a small atrium in the ceiling over the bookcase hall. This is open to the finished loft above. Addition is well insulated, on a slab. New furnace is in the attic part; most registers in ceiling. Cools great.
But . . . She leaves the heat low during the day while at work; turns it on when she gets home. Though there is a return in the loft area, it’s always a good 10º warmer up there, even if she leaves the HVAC fan “On”. Slab keeps her feet cold; plus she’s short.
So – something I saw years ago in North Dakota at an architectural office with a big loft area – the Heat Sock! Basically, a fabric tube suspended from just under the ceiling to just above the floor. A fan is inside the top of the tube; sucks air off the ceiling and blows it all the way down to the floor. If someone bumps it, so what – it’s just a fabric tube. Always wanted to make one.
Here’s my attempt; all from bits lying around. It’s a take-out gable fan, cleaned up; hung from chains from an outdoor ceiling box cover; it will attach to a fan-rated ceiling box with nylock nuts.
Notice I put (8) snaps around the tube at 6″ intervals? DW is sewing the tube now – it’s made from a Home Depot 10×10′ canvas tarp, split and sewn into a tube ~14″ diameter by 15’10” long. On, it will cover the fan tube. Unsnap it, and she can throw it in the wash. Gonna control it with a three-speed ceiling fan wall switch. I’ll get this installed in Arlington next week and post results – her chair is within a few feet of where it will come down.
Forrest – inventabilizing
Edited 12/11/2007 10:03 pm by McDesign
Replies
Now thats cool.
Add some multi colored xmas lights on a random flashing sequence on the inside and sew in some lead weights at the bottom and sell it as a functional modern art sculpture.
Always amazed at your ingenuity!
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
<Add some multi colored xmas lights>
You know, I think I'm going to do that and surprise her!
Forrest
Quite ingenious!
But how would this be different that running a ceiling fan backwards to pull the hot air off the ceiling?
And I take it that your SIL has roped you into some holiday renovations? Let me know when you'll be in town.
Steve -- pretty sure that running things backwards reveals the secrets of the universe, like whether Paul was the walrus or not.
The loft has a 6'1" ceiling, plus the ship's ladder stair comes up right under the fan location - the atrium is only 3-1/2' x 7', as is the hall below A 52" Hunter Original (the only one that really moves air) would have chopped your head as you came up, plus I don't think it would have gotten the warm air all the way down to the floor in this tall narrow space.
Pix will help - I think we'll be up there 20th-2nd.
Forrest - I am the eggman
If you used blue fabric with some red, orange and yellow tips, it would be a cool looking flame!
Oddly enough, this idea would be handy on my project house. Without drywall or insulation, all the heat from the wood stove tends to migrate into the attic, where the new ridge/eave vents combine to make it disappear. I've thought about suspending a box fan or two up there to blow the warm air back down. With a sock, I could draw the heat back down on the cool side of the house.
Your idea is kind of a reverse of the cellphone guy... One of the cellphone places near where I work has a fan with a 20' tubular figure attached. They turn the fan on and it inflates the tube figure and it looks like its dancing. But in this case the tube goes up instead of down. As far as I can tell, the top of the figure is open, so the air moves straight through.
And I think the lights are a neat idea. Don't know if I'd go with an Xmas light, or just use ropelight. you could even put them on a switch.
[edit to add]
SIL's house has an interesting issue. I added on several years ago, and the center of the one story addition has a small atrium in the ceiling over the bookcase hall. This is open to the finished loft above.
Alternative fix: If the opening wasn't too large, I wonder if you couldn't find a piece of plexi or glass to cover the opening? It would still share the light between the two spaces, but might slow the heat from rising.
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
Edited 12/12/2007 11:05 am by JohnT8
Edited 12/12/2007 11:23 am by JohnT8
I'll see if I can get a thermometer and actually test how it works. Here are some pix of the tiny atrium during construction. Yes, it's a blatent copy of her folks'. I copied this railing from the Robin Williams movie Jumanji.
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Ships ladder in space of one bookcase -
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I'll stencil this long Gingko Arts & Crafts pattern all the way down one side.
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Forrest
Edited 12/12/2007 11:20 am by McDesign
I'm NOT helping you carry the 7' sofa up those stairs!
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
LOL! That's why there's a futon and beanbag chairs up there for the nieces and nephews!
Forrest
I've got an uncle who likes to put 'kid' touches in his house. Like the secret reading nook under a staircase, or the hidden doorway behind a bookcase, etc. Their grandkids just love it.
Do you have a finished pic of the reading loft?
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
I've got an uncle who likes to put 'kid' touches in his house.
Had to read THAT twice.
J. D. ReynoldsHome Improvements
We ain't talking about Micheal Jackson here ;)
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
About once a month I'll wander onto eBay and check out the other-other on the ebay motors section. Some really odd stuff out there. Like a 1913 Baldwin steam locomotive (some assembly required) or Budd rail cars.
Not sure what this is, but thought of you:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SCAG-Zero-Turn-Steerable-Sulky-SPSCC-07-2732-J-679_W0QQitemZ350003992562QQihZ022QQcategoryZ6737QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Bid is up to $11.50.
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
hook it on to yur snowblower, two wheeled brush mower, rototiller, walk behind mower or most any larger walk behind self propelled what ever ya have and ride...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I've started seeing this type of thing more frequently around DC. In the temporary building for Eastern Market, all the ductwork is fabric tubing (if you've not had a chance to make it over to Eastern Market while visiting your SIL, I highly recommend the trip, plus it's on the Orange/Blue line, so no driving necessary! You won't find better pork chops or sausages anywhere in the area). I have friend who's store sell FabricAir venting. Cool stuff, and definitely something I'm considering for our next office...
Z
Told my SIL we've got to go to Eastern Market.
DW worked 'til nearly midnight here stenciling the heat sock - nice work!
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Forrest
Edited 12/14/2007 12:03 am by McDesign
Are you going to have to put wire hoops in it to make it retain a cylinder shape?
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Why? The fan will hold it open.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I don't think so and what about when your not running the fan.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
I think, when it's not being used, it will be pulled to the side to a nice drapery hook on the bookcase, kind of like a decorative drape. Have to see how she uses it. We'll stencil the other side tonight. Fan moves a lot of air - I believe it will keep it inflated - might hang it from a tree here and check it out first.
Forrest - wishing I had a double-height room
Yee-freakin-Haaa!
It fits and works! It will immediately kick temperature at knee-high up 2-3º. Need to get a thermometer and run some tests. She hasn't seen it yet. I barely flutters at all - only if you look closely can you see it moving. Nice and quiet, too - less than a box fan. It's on in these pix. Off it has a few more wrinkles, that's all. Clears the floor rug about 3/4"View Image
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Forrest
Edited 12/21/2007 4:27 pm by McDesign
Edited 12/21/2007 4:27 pm by McDesign
Edited 12/21/2007 4:29 pm by McDesign
I think Luka needs one for his RV.
I checked out the small ceiling fan today.Still too big.Looking like I need to order two of those fans you suggested.
A man, convinced against his will...
Is of his own opinion, still.
~Anne McCaffrey
You gona make a sock for yours?
By the way, I picked that fan up on impulse at the Kroger Grocery for around $10 on clearance. Totally amazing how nice it is considering the size and price.
I didn't come up with any really good deals on the Internet, saw a couple on Ebay used for almost new prices.
You can get good deals on fans at the thrift stores in the winter, selection is spotty and sometimes dubious however. Almost all need disassembled and cleaned and lubed. One more thing about oiling fans, there is oil usually called turbine oil, in a plastic zoom spout. Sometimes hardware stores have it, but all appliance parts stores have it. That is the only oil I use on small motors etc now. It will not gum up, or dry out. 3 in one is a NO NO. That stuff turns to glue eventually. BTDT
Edited 12/22/2007 7:14 am ET by MarkH
Neat-o!
Add some interior illumination!
3/4" gap at the bottom seems small. Is the fabric permeable?
Lights would be cool. Fabric's sorta permeable, I'd guess. Good amount of flow coming out - may try moving it up a bit to see what happens.Forrest
Verrrry Impressive!!
Awesome, actually.
I might steal that idear if you dont patent it!
Steal it! I've been up and down into the loft dozens of times today, installing some millwork, and can feel absolutely NO difference in temperature up there versus down here on the tile slab. Used to be as soon as you stuck your head up there, it felt really warm on your face.Forrest - proving the pudding
McDesign:
You are right. What you show has already been invented. Owning a storm window business years ago lead me down many paths to find products that either insulated, vented, or moved air from point A to point B. The product that I used to handle is probably still out there. It was much smaller than yours, was moulded plastic shaped like a mushroom, the tube was about 6" in diameter.
We had 30,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and had quite a few hanging from the ceiling. Seems like the name was, "Thermal..." something. Now I'll have to surf the web to satisfy my curosity. Tyr
Just to update, after living in a small house with the thing running continuously for ten days - works super; the whole downstairs is more even-termperatured, not just warmer. Noise is not intrusive at all, even at night.
Forrest - stealing what I don't invent
OK I went to the old warehouse and the product is officially known as a StratoJet. I'll see if I can attach a picture but if it doesn't work you could Google "StratoJet".
Here is the picture of the StratoJet if it comes through
Check out the little stratojet.
http://www.solar-components.com/strato.htm
You know, that could work !A little differently than a ceiling fan, but it could actually work here.That small one could probably be fitted to standardflex ducting like what an RV furnace uses.One wall in this trailer is pretty much the 'utility wall'.I could put the strato in the bedroom, at the top/front of the trailer. And using a combination of the flex duct, and some thinwall plastic pipe or standard dryer rigid vent pipe... duct it all the way back, along/inside that wall, to the bottom at the back of the trailer.That would give positive airflow, not just ceiling to floor, but all the way through the trailer, as well.
A man, convinced against his will... Is of his own opinion, still. ~Anne McCaffrey
I'm glad some of that "old" info I had could still be useful many years later. I sold my last one at a garage sale. Tyr