I need a fan for my 30x48ft shop in my barn. It gets hot and muggy down here in Georgia. I've been sweating like a woman of ill repute in the house of God. It's often hotter in my barn than it is outside.

I move around inside the barn, so workspace fans do not provide relief. I've been looking at the Maxxair 42" belt drive fans at Home Depot. The reviews say it pushes air in all directions instead of simply direct air flow. This could be good for me so it circulates the entire barn. On the other hand, I don't know if it will have enough direct air flow to cool me down.

What I don't want is to have to buy 3 or 4 fans that take up space. One large fan that blows throughout the barn would be ideal. What do you guys recommend?

Hi Dean -

I have no direct experience, but the first thing I thought of when I read your post is, what about a whole house roof fan or two?

It seems like those things would expel the hottest air in your barn (near the roof)while drawing cool are in all around you at floor level. Being mounted to the roof they wouldn't get in your way.

Just a thought...good luck!

quote:

Maxxair 42" belt drive fans

I've been considering the same series but smaller for my 30x20 garage. I was even considering picking one up today. I figure it would do better to push air out with one of these than a bunch of box fans all over the place. I do have 2 ceiling fans also.

costco sells a nice looking 42 inch fan
Shop VAC Shop-Air 42” Stainless Steel Drum Fan features non-skid front legs, metal handle for portability, large wheels for mobility and 4 non-corroding aluminum fans blades for longer life

Other features:

42 inches diameter
20 gauge stainless steel construction
¾ HP motor
Non-corroding aluminum blades
Dual speed fan: Low 14,500 CFM, High 16,500 max. CFM
Belt drive
10 ft. cord with on-board wraps

Costco Shop VAC Shop-Air 42” Stainless Steel Drum Fan Price: $289.99

http://www.cochaser.com/blog/w...s-Steel-Drum-Fan.jpg

I have this one for our dyno:

http://www.industrial-toolcrib...fsgdUCFdGCswodoQcO-g

and it keeps the air circulating in our 6k sq/ft shop pretty nicely paired with the two little guys. It runs 10 hours a day for the past few years and haven't had a single issue so far.

quote:

Originally posted by heavyd:
I need a fan for my 30x48ft shop in my barn. It gets hot and muggy down here in Georgia. I've been sweating like a woman of ill repute in the house of God. It's often hotter in my barn than it is outside.

I have the non-oscillating version of this product. Air King makes great fans in all sizes. Their motors are top notch. This 30" model does really move some air. I hardly ever have it on high. Get help to mount it
 
9375 - 30" 1/3 HP Oscillating Ceiling Mount Fan.
 

Big Ass Fans, real company
The residential line should be somewhat affordable, I've seen commercial models over 5k...ouch

https://www.haikuhome.com/bigg...ans-for-home/essence

Northern Tool sells jumbo size ceiling fans, too.

quote:

Originally posted by ElKabong:
Big Ass Fans, real company
The residential line should be somewhat affordable, I've seen commercial models over 5k...ouch

https://www.haikuhome.com/bigg...ans-for-home/essence

The local Big R has 2 massive ceiling fans (like 20' in diameter). The blades don't move very fast, but they sure do move the air!

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
costco sells a nice looking 42 inch fan
Shop VAC Shop-Air 42” Stainless Steel Drum Fan features non-skid front legs, metal handle for portability, large wheels for mobility and 4 non-corroding aluminum fans blades for longer life

Other features:

42 inches diameter
20 gauge stainless steel construction
¾ HP motor
Non-corroding aluminum blades
Dual speed fan: Low 14,500 CFM, High 16,500 max. CFM
Belt drive
10 ft. cord with on-board wraps

Costco Shop VAC Shop-Air 42” Stainless Steel Drum Fan Price: $289.99

http://www.cochaser.com/blog/w...s-Steel-Drum-Fan.jpg

I saw this at Costco last weekend...impressive.

We had a couple of the Big Ass fans in our warehouse and they made it tolerable for the folks on the loading docks. They move a lot of air but may be too expensive for home use. Good product though.

I have *one* 14'ø BigAss Essence fan in my 40x60 shop, and am delighted in the performance.

http://www.bigassfans.com/products/essence/

quote:

Originally posted by JRC:
Hi Dean -

I have no direct experience, but the first thing I thought of when I read your post is, what about a whole house roof fan or two?

It seems like those things would expel the hottest air in your barn (near the roof)while drawing cool are in all around you at floor level. Being mounted to the roof they wouldn't get in your way.

Just a thought...good luck!

Absolutely. I work in a 65,000 square foot fabrication shop. During the 1st/2nd shift overlap, with all equipment running, five overhead doors wide open and multiple floor fans running along with two ceiling exhaust fans, it seems like all that is done is circulating stuffy air.

After 1st shift leaves, I shut every door except the entry door next to our machines, and turn the floor fans on low. The air being pulled in/up and out the roof seems to cool the building noticeably over the course of the next several hours.

quote:

Originally posted by ElKabong:
Big Ass Fans, real company
The residential line should be somewhat affordable, I've seen commercial models over 5k...ouch

https://www.haikuhome.com/bigg...ans-for-home/essence

My gym uses one large one in the ceiling. Amazon uses it to move air in their warehouses. It is no joke a significant amount of air being moved.

We have a few of the Big Azz fans at work and they do move a significant amount of air.