What is the best way to circulate air from a window air conditioner to multiple rooms in the house?

Question

I have a window air conditioner (8000btu) which does a great job of cooling my living room, unfortunately, the cooler air stays in just the living room, so the bedroom is still hot. I have 2 fans to help move the air. I also have a ceiling fan in the bedroom, but, it seems the bedroom is always FAR warmer than the living room. I'm wondering the best way to position the fans to get maximum cooling effect in the bedroom.

The living room is essentially a square -- on one side of the square - in the middle - is the window with the AC.. oppisite the AC is the hallway which leads to the bedroom.

Would I be better off putting a fan at the entrance to the hallway blowing the air out of the living room, and down the hallway? or put it in the center of the living room, and blow the air towards the hallway? Or should I blow the hot air out of the bedroom, to the livingroom? Should I put the fans up high? or close to the ground? Should I turn off the ceiling fan in the bedroom?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, cold air falls and heat rises, so definately keep the fans on the floor. Place one fairly close to the air cond. on a chair and position toward the hall. Then put another one from the end of the hall pointed into your room. And I would put yet another in the doorway of your room pointed to the bed. Nix the fan in the bedroom window, it's too hot and it will only let out the cool air from your a/c. :)

Answer 2

Try one fan on the floor blowing cold air into the hallway but also try putting a fan in a bedroom window blowing air out of the room.

Some answers to your other questions: The ceiling fan in the bedroom is not very useful for your purpose. Don't blow hot air from the bedroom into the living room, that won't work. Cold air falls so having fans on the floor is better.

Answer 3

I've been there. It can be completely maddening trying to figure out the best positioning of the fans, just to find that you still can't get cool enough. Personally, I would prioritize cooler air in the bedroom for sleeping (i.e. move the ac to the bedroom). Really though, I think you would find out that your mental anguish can be quelled by buying another window unit. They aren't terribly expensive and I think that energy costs would somewhat be compensated by the fact that the two together won't work as hard as the single one trying to cool the entire house.
Simply put: A hundred bucks and you won't have to worry about fan position.

Answer 4

Hi how about just experimenting with fans in different positions.

Answer 5

using the fans is a great way to help it...but also if you go to the furthest room out and just crack the window open just a tid bit it will help flow the draft/.