Ceiling Fans

To choose the perfectceiling 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.

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