For warehouses and industrial facilities throughout the Chicagoland area, HVLS fans can have a significant impact on both utility costs and employee comfort, especially given the region's temperature extremes.

What Is An HVLS Fan?

An HVLS fan, short for "High Volume, Low Speed" fan, is a very large diameter ceiling fan that spins at low speeds and circulates climate-controlled air throughout a space. These industrial fans are commonly installed in areas with elevated ceilings, such as factories, distribution centers, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities.

During warm months, HVLS fans help remove excess humidity from the air by circulating hot, moist air with drier air. In the colder Illinois winter months, they help manage indoor ambient temperature by fully circulating heated air through a space, preventing stratification.

HVLS Fan Size and Configuration

HVLS fans are not less than 7 feet in diameter. Some varieties can be as large as 24 feet wide, although for most commercial configurations multiple smaller fans are employed. Fan output varies, but most are between five-eighths and one horsepower.

While most HVLS fans are ceiling mounted, some can be designed for installation on floor-mounted posts for facilities with structural limitations.

How Do HVLS Fans Work?

HVLS fans are effective because of their low speed and enormous scale. Unlike standard ceiling fans that generate rapidly moving, modest air flows, HVLS fans create huge columns of air that travel at low speed. Turbulent, high-speed air currents from average fans produce friction against static air and lose speed rapidly.

With oversized fans, the larger air columns travel slowly and move much further because there is significantly less air friction. As a result, it requires less electricity to force larger volumes of air slowly than it takes to move lesser amounts of air at higher speeds.

The disparity in energy usage is remarkable. Boosting air movement from 2 miles per hour to 6 miles per hour requires nearly 27 times more energy. The bottom line: you're better off running larger fans at very low speeds versus smaller fans at high speeds.

Warehouse HVLS Fan Benefits for Chicago Facilities

Reduce Winter Heating Costs

Throughout the harsh Midwest winter, a single HVLS fan can help you save substantially on energy bills.

Air naturally stratifies in large buildings, particularly those with high ceilings. Hot air rises to the ceiling while cold air remains close to the ground. HVAC systems must work overtime to warm the area near the floor, which costs money, while the majority of that warm air floats up toward the ceiling, away from employees.

Using an HVLS fan pulls a large volume of warm air away from the ceiling, assisting in recirculation throughout the space, thereby stabilizing the temperature and relieving the HVAC system of its burden. In a region where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, this efficiency gain becomes especially valuable.

Reduce Summer Cooling Costs

While HVLS fans are ideal for maintaining heat in a building, the reverse is also achievable. They can assist with cooling during humid Chicago summers when temperatures and heat indexes soar.

HVLS fans keep air flowing throughout sizable facilities, and this movement creates an evaporative cooling response. While the fan does not physically alter the temperature of the circulating air, it reduces moisture in the air through evaporation, producing a more comfortable environment for workers.

Reduce Environmental Impact

Although reducing energy costs is a fantastic motivation, there is the added benefit that reducing energy usage also reduces a business's carbon footprint. Over time, HVLS fans can provide significant reductions in energy use, particularly for operations with multiple Illinois locations or facilities across the region.

Improve Employee Morale and Productivity

Happy workers are generally more effective, so keeping your facilities at optimal temperatures is beneficial. Numerous studies have identified a relationship between uncomfortable temperatures and decreases in workplace effectiveness. In an industrial market as competitive as the Chicagoland area, maintaining employee comfort and productivity provides a real competitive advantage.

HVLS Fans for Your Illinois Facility

If you're interested in learning more about the advantages of HVLS fans for your warehouse or industrial operation in Chicago and the surrounding areas, talk to a material handling expert at Associated today.

The Associated Chicago service area includes Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Springfield, Elgin, Peoria, Champaign, Waukegan, Cicero, Bloomington, Schaumburg, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Decatur, Skokie, Palatine, Des Plaines, Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Berwyn, Mount Prospect, Tinley Park, Wheaton, Normal, Oak Park, Hoffman Estates, Downers Grove, Glenview, Plainfield, Elmhurst, Lombard and all surrounding areas.

Associated | Chicago Material Handling Equipment Supplier

4101 Winfield Road, Suite 300
Warrenville, IL 60555
(630) 588-8800