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Positioning of fans in run in

Around The Farm
#1

I’ve got a 30’x12’ run in shed that I’d like to install fans in. Probably two of the 18" sealed motor livestock fans.

Horses (four of them) tend to all hang out in one end for unknown to me reasons. Horses 🤷”â™€ï¸

How would you orient the fans? Talking about positioning within the shed and direction of blow. Mounting on the long side and blowing straight toward the front seems like it would limit the moving airflow.

Maybe one in the favorite back corner, blowing diagonally to the opposite front corner, and another in the middle of the back wall, also blowing diagonally in that same direction?

Or in the middle of the favorite short wall, blowing across the length toward the other short wall, with the second in the rafters in the middle, blowing the same direction?

I can’t figure out what would be best. What’s the best way to set this up?

#2

Do you know if they all like fans? Mine hates them, so I would leave at least one area relatively still.

1 Like
#3

@Gamma raises a good point:)

I have one that can’t get close enough to his 42” drum fan, while the other one enjoys the breeze from a slight distance.

The other one also prefers no fans when the temps start to go down but the first horse likes a fan on him almost until I bring out the heated tubs, lol

Kinda like DH & I. I’m in shorts and tank tops until we hit the low 40’s. DH is in sweats and a hoodie when the temps drop to the low 50’s, lollol

#4

I would buy the fans and then determine how far the air circulation extends, before deciding where to mount them. I am guessing that by the time you get 10 ft away, the impact of the fan will be negligible-- even less so if the two dominant horses park themselves in front of fans. For my 2 horses, I have two fans in a free-access shelter. It’s common to find them both standing about 6" in front of their respective fans, hogging all the airflow.

For a 30ft long structure, I’d probably go with 3 fans. Two at either end, angled from the front corner posts toward the center post on the back wall. And one at the center,on the back wall, mounted high up and pointed straight out. This would give horses multiple options to get in front of a fan, and promote good circulation of air within the shed, so the back of the shed isn’t filled with hot, stale air.

#5

What air velocity keeps flies away?

#6

Impossible to quantify, too many variables in terms of the size of the enclosure, how high it’s mounted, etc The velocity rating is whatever number equals “a good stiff breeze” LOL
A standard box fan on the stall grate keeps the flies off my horses when stalled. It would be pointless in a big space.

One thing you can consider is an “air curtain” approach. Instead of trying to move air all around the space, just have a concentrated downward burst of air at the openings of the shelter (like when you enter a grocery store-- they all have those above the doors). Keeps flies out but also keeps the cool air-conditioning air from flowing outside every time the doors open.

Something like this would not be not very practical if your “door” is 30ft wide, but maybe for a more narrow barn aislway?

1 Like
#7

I think you need to be prepared to move the fans around to where the horses want to be. My three all love the fans so I initially spread the three fans out. But the horses all jam into the same spot so I have moved all the fans into the one spot. They each stand in front of one. This also creates areas with no fans, in case a horse prefers that. I agree that that the benefit of the fans is negligible if you get more that a few feet away from them.

#8

Industrial, closed motor, ceiling fans ensure air flow Ӣ proved the best for my run-in sheds Ӣ put on timers make them even better Ӣ IMHO

2 Likes
#9

My run in is not nearly tall enough for me to be comfortable with ceiling fans.

@HungarianHippo that’s a really good point about air movement. I’ll take a look at the possibility of mounting to the front.

@Weezer mounting fans in the barn was…challenging, I have zeeeeeero desire to pull them down again once they’re up! 😂 Hence this thread, and really thinking about where the fans will go.

Interesting that some horses don’t like fans! Mine all do fine with the ones in the barn, so I think we’re okay.

Thanks for the discussion, it’s definitely brought up some things I had not considered!

#10

[QUOTE=Simkie;n10701340]

My run in is not nearly tall enough for me to be comfortable with ceiling fans.

[B]too bad … ceiling fans on timers work the BEST ”¢

  • electrician would only install if safe and within code [/B]
1 Like
#11

[quote="“Zu Zu,post:10,topic:470162”]

I can’t even imagine how tall your shed is. My barn aisle is extra height (12’?) and I would not even turn horses loose in something that height to dick around and rear in play with ceiling fans. I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a shed tall enough for ceiling fans :confused:

Unless you have wee little horses…?

#12

[quote="“Simkie,post:11,topic:470162”]

I have ceiling fans in the stall barn aisles.
I have ceiling fans in all run-in-sheds.
All professionally installed … according to safety standards and codes.

  • At both equine properties for all ages/levels of their equine jobs/needs.

I have ASB horses and Hackney ponies.

My shortest Hackney ponies are 50” at withers.
My tallest ASB measures 17 H.
Most somewhere in between ^

[B]CEILING FANS ARE GREAT !!!

Especially on timers !!! IMHO

** btw I never ever “dick around” with the safety of my horses or ponies or cats or dogs or people !!![/B]

Enough said …

2 Likes
#13

Yeah, still have no idea how tall your sheds are :confused:

That’s cool your horses don’t dick around and play. Mine do. They rear when they do that. Which is why I’d not be comfortable installing ceiling fans inside a shed. Basket fans have guards around the blades.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹

#14

Yeah, still have no idea how tall your sheds are 🤷”â™€ï¸ :confused:

That’s cool your horses don’t dick around and play when turned out. Mine do. They rear when they do that. Which is why I’d not be comfortable installing ceiling fans inside a shed. Basket fans have guards around the blades.

#15

If you can afford to have holes cut at the top walls of both ends of the barn, consider installing exhaust vent/fans.

Or buy big direct drive drum fans. I have two 42” & one 36” drum fans in my 24 X 40 X 13’ H barn. The hay is in there, with the horses - has been for the 17 years we’ve lived here. Not ideal but that’s how it had to be:).

My fans are Strongway from Northern tool and have been running on heavy duty outdoor timers, seasonally, for several years.

#16

That’s an interesting idea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen discussion of exhaust fans for horses in run in sheds? We usually talk about fans blowing inward to create airflow. What would be the benefit of exhaust fans, especially in such a small, open sided building?

Definitely can’t use a drum fan 🤣 The horses will destroy it! Also just not nearly enough room in a 12’ x 30’ shed with four horses. Have considered for the aisle for farrier time, though! Good have a brand recommendation, thank you!

#17

I’m probably stating the obvious here, but if you’re sucking air through a fan, there’s exactly the same volume of air moving either side of that fan. The only difference is how pressurized that flow is. It feels more noticeable on the exhaust side of a fan because the air is pressurized by the blades forcing air through the fan’s cage. On the “inrush” side of the fan, the same amount of is moving, but it’s low pressure so you don’t feel it as much.

So I don’t think exhaust fans serve your needs-- the forceful airflow would be high on the outside wall, nowhere near the horses. On a still day, those fans would certainly make sure that fresh air comes into the shed, and excess heat up near the rafters would be expelled. But would do nothing for flies.

Ultimately, you really need to decide on a primary goal: targeted airflow with sufficient force to knock down flies? or general air circulation which will improve air quality and promote evaporative cooling?

One thing to consider: the “knock-flies-on-their-ass” approach to using fans will be significantly more expensive in terms of energy needs. If you are in a high cost energy area, a fly misting system could be more cost effective than running fans all summer. Those 18" barn fans are 2amps, 115V which means they’re consuming 230 watts when running. There are 730 hours on average per month, and average electricity cost is about 10 cents/kwh (check your bill). If you’ll be running them 24/7, that’s about 170 kwh of electricity, so $17/month per fan. If you’re running 3 fans from May through October, that’s ~$1000 a year in added electricity cost. And this ignores the cost of demand charges-- adding 6 amps to your household usage can do a real number on your demand charges. So a one-time investment in a $1200 fly misting system maybe something to consider.

#18

Yeah, all very good points, @HungarianHippo, thank you. Goal #1 is air movement (it’s been especially hot and sticky this summer, horses are coming in sweaty, I think a breeze will help a lot) and #2 keeping flies at bay. Flies are not terrible, but it only takes a few buzzing around to have horses bothered.

I can see how exhaust fans are useful in closed spaces–like, say, they barn loft, adding exhaust fans there would really vent out all that hot air–but just don’t see much use in an open shed. Was wondering what I was missing?

By fly misting system, are you talking about an auto fly spray system? That’s out for me. I use predators, and while there’s no bedding in the shed, the poop does go in the manure pile. I do my best to keep fly spray out of the pile entirely to protect the fly predators.

Fans won’t be on anything close to 24/7. Horses are out during the day, and this area is used for overly hot weather, or rainy weather, or when then larger field needs a rest. Fans in the shed will be on timers to run only when horses are in that field, and only in the afternoon. Yep, power is $$$ here 😦 (These timers are awesome for anyone looking!)

#19

My shed is 24x12, and the front opening is 20’ long and centered on that face, so each side has a 2’ portion at the end that is enclosed. On the opposite long side, each 12x12 portion has a dutch door centered in the middle. In the summer, the dutch doors stay open 24/7 with a stall screen. I have a fan in each of the corners that is protected by that 2’ portion, blowing toward the dutch door for that side. I have had multiple people marvel at the lack of flies in the barn, even though I have dairies on both sides.

I like that the horses can get out of the way of the fan, like if they’ve been out in a rainstorm and come in once they got wet. I have a big, heavy WB who luxuriates in front of his fan, and a light-boned TB who will shuffle over to the side if the breeze is a little too much. Horses are always happier if they can select their own conditions, I find. 😊

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