HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT CEILING FAN?
Choosing the right ceiling fan is more than just picking the right
style and color. There are some key points that you want to keep in
mind so that you make sure you get the right fan- so you not only
cool your room correctly and efficiently, but you get years of use
and enjoyment from your fan.
STEP 1
Where should I put my fan?
Most fans work best in the center of a room allowing air to flow
smoothly and evenly through your space. Larger rooms you may want to
use 2 fans so that the room is cooled properly and you don’t over
tax a single fan. For safety reasons remember to never mount a
ceiling fan over a bed.
STEP 2
Do I have enough electricity?
Some fans may need the same amount of power as most ceiling
fixtures. Make sure not to overload your electrical circuits. If
your fan comes with a light kit, make sure that the circuit is able
to handle both the light and the fan. If you circuit can not
hold the combined capacity then you must run a new line from the
home’s main panel to your fan. If there is not already a
preexisting fixture, you will need to create a place to hang your
fan. If your home is not wired properly, some fans do have swag
wiring that can be plugged into a wall outlet, but ceiling
installation is preferred. It is much easier when building your home
to install central bracing and electrical wiring even if you will be
installing a fan at a later date. Consulting with a licensed
electrician is always your best option.
STEP 3
Will this fan fit my room and my needs?
When installing a fan you need to check the height from the floor to
the blades. Make sure you consider the distance that the fan hangs
down from the ceiling. For safety a height of 7”-9” is recommended.
If you fan does not meet the 7” recommendation you should look into
a low ceiling mount. For some areas there could be building codes
that require this.
Recommended Blade Size by Room Size
30” ceiling fans are for rooms up to 8’ x 10” (small bedrooms,
laundry rooms,smaller kitchens)
42” ceiling for rooms up to 12’ x 12’(medium bedrooms, kitchens and
small rec. rooms)
52” ceiling fans for rooms up to 18’ x 20’ (large bedrooms, family
rooms, dining rooms)
Recommended Mounting by Ceiling Height
Low Ceiling Heights: Use a hugger mount or mount without your down
rod.
Standard 8’ Ceilings: Use a traditional mount with down rod.
9’ or Higher Ceilings: Use an extended down rod
Sloped Ceiling: Use the appropriate slope ceiling adapter and
extended down rod.
STEP 4
Choose a quality fan.
A cheap fan is going to be more trouble than it is worth. Not only
do inexpensive fans wobble, but a poor quality fan will not
circulate as much air at a given RPM. While speed helps
control how much air is being moved, it is blade pitch (angle
between the blade and a horizontal line) and design that play a key
role. A good quality fan will have a motor that allows a fan
to have a greater blade pitch. Cheap fans have motors that are not
strong enough to handle the air resistance associated with a greater
blade pitch, so those fans will have to lower the pitch to avoid the
motor from burning out. Also cheap fans produce a humming nose. A
good quality fan does not always mean it will be priced unreasonably
high.
Compare your CFM’s, motor size, and blade pitch and find a fan that
has the best of all three factors and you will find yourself a
winner.
How much air should my ceiling fan move?
CFM is the measurement of air circulated by a ceiling fan measured
in the amount of air moved in cubic feet per minute.
What kind of ceiling fan motor should I be looking for?
Typical ceiling fan motors range in power between 1/60 and 1/3 hp
(horsepower). Motors that are more powerful are often found in
ceiling fans with wider blade spans and greater blade pitch. These
larger motors also reduce the instance of overheating.
Always look for ceiling fan motors with sealed bearings. This
eliminates the need to oil the bearings and perform additional motor
maintenance. Another thing to be aware of is a rubber flywheel. The
rubber flywheel controls torque and stabilizes the ceiling fan. It
also makes for quieter fan operation. Some inexpensive ceiling fans
do not have these key components.
Most ceiling fans feature a reverse motor and airflow switch,
letting you operate the fan year round. The control is usually on
the fan’s housing. Refer to your owner’s manual to locate yur
switch. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your ceiling
fan to help save you energy and money. In the summer, the
blades rotate in a counter clockwise direction. This direction
creates a downdraft making you feel cooler.
In the winter the blades should rotate in a clockwise direction.
This direction creates an updraft that forces the warm air near the
ceiling down into the room. The air at the ceiling is 15 degrees
warmer than that near the floor. Getting this warmer aid down to the
floor creates comfort at a lower thermostat setting. Avoid a wind
chill with the winter warming and use the fan on low speed.
ceilingfans
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 Ceiling
Fan Buying Guide
To choose the
perfect ceiling
fan, please consider these tips:
1. Rotation
Ceiling fans should rotate counter clock-
wise in the summer (to generate
a breeze downward to cool you off) and clock-wise in
the winter (to cycle
the warm air that rises to your ceiling.) Do not be
afraid to run your
ceiling fan in the winter. You can expect a 10-15%
savings on your heating
bill. You can save up to 40% off your cooling bill in
the summer.
2. Price
Ceiling fans ranging from $30 to $400 may
look similar at first glance.
Lower end fans are noisy and often have inefficient
motors and inadequate
blades. You don't want to replace the fan in 2 years
and you want to enjoy
it for many years.
3. Room Size
Before you buy a fan, consider the size of
the room you want to cool.
A 52-inch fan is appropriate for a room that's 230
square feet or larger,
while a 42-inch fan is appropriate for rooms ranging
in size from 150
to 229 square feet.
4. The Motor
The most important part of a ceiling fan
is its motor. High-end brands
usually have the most energy-efficient, well-designed
motors, with die
cast motor housings.
5. The Buzz
Don't buy a multi-speed fan with only one
capacitor inside its motor.
A quality fan able to handle three speeds should have
at least three capacitors.
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6.
Blade Pitch
For a ceiling fan to move the right amount
of air, its blades should be
set at a 14 degree angle. Blades set at a 10 degree
angle will simply
slice the air, while blades at a 20-degree angle will
meet so much resistance
that the motor may burn out.
7.
Avoid "Huggers"
Don't fit the ceiling fan too snugly to
the ceiling; doing so will prevent
it from circulating air properly.
8.
Keep a Safe Distance
Set fan clearance at 9 feet above the
floor if possible (if this is not
possible, maintain a minimum clearance of 7 feet. This
will help you and
your family avoid injuries.
9.
Proper Installation
Because it's much more complicated to
install a ceiling fan than a ceiling
light fixture, you might want to consider having your
ceiling fan put
in by a licensed electrician. Ceiling fans need
additional support from
above and need to be anchored solidly to a stud. (fan
rotation can work
metal screws loose.)
10.
Lower your utility bill
Armed with a good ceiling fan, you can
raise your thermostat setting and
save substantially on air-conditioning costs. By
reversing the direction
the ceiling fan blows the air you will save in the
winter also. You can
expect a 10-15% savings on your heating bill. You can
save up to 40% off
your cooling bill in the summer.
Ceiling
Fans
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Ceiling Fan Blade Cleaning Tip from the PROS!
Ceiling fans are a great way to stay cool in the summer and re-circulate hot air in the winter. But those fan blades can sure collect dust over time! Cleaning them can be a pain.
Here are two clever tricks to help you keep your ceiling fan blades clean and running great
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It’s In The Bag! Take an old pillow case and get it a little bit damp. Put the case over each blade one at a time (like a pillow). Then gently pull it off and you pull the dust and dirt off without having it go everywhere and it all stays in the pillowcase.
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Socks Work Great! For the really dirty fans that need some extra attention take an old pair of cotton socks and dip them in some soapy water made with dish detergent. Ring them out so they are just damp. (remember we are working with an electrical fixture) Put them over your hands and then run your hands over the top and bottom of each blade. The dust will stick to the wet socks and it takes just minutes.
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