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Today ceiling fans are an important part of creating the perfect home
decor. In the last 10 years ceiling fans have become more
technologically advanced, providing cooling in the summer months and
warming in the winter months to save you on your energy bill
drastically.
Fans
can reduce prices on your energy bill up to 40% in the summer and 10% in
the winter, using only as much as energy as a 100 watt light bulb.
During the summer fans create a "cooling effect" lowering temperatures
as much as 7 degrees and recirculating the heat in the winter to the
living area. Fans are being used now not only in the main rooms in your
home but also in patios, verandas, kitchens and bathrooms where dampness
may be an issue.
Ceiling fans may differ in prices, consumers should study the
differences before making a purchase. Inexpensive fans will look good
when they are new, in time they will start to warp, become off-balance,
and wear out quickly. Pay attention to the details to pick a good high
quality fan for your home. Ceiling fans can provide years of comfort and
beauty if you pay attention to the quality, motor, durability,
performance, design and warranty.
Find a fan to coordinate your individual home style by choosing the
color, finish, blade design, size, accessories, lighting and style.
There are many styles to choose from, some of these include: polished
brass, antique brass, iron, copper, nickel, pewter, chrome, black,
vibrant colors, oak, rosewood and other real wood veneers.
Consider these details before selecting a new fan for your home:
Fan Size:
For maximum efficiency choose a fan to fit your room size. In a room up
to 75 square feet like a bathroom choose a 29"- 36" fan. Medium sized
rooms up to 144 square feet can fit ceiling fans from 36"- 42". The
larger bedrooms and family rooms around 225 square feet work most
efficient with fans that are 50"- 54".
Height from the ceiling:
Place the fan higher than 7 feet above the floor in the middle of the
room for maximum comfort, circulation, safety and aesthetics. Optimal
placement would be either 8 or 9 feet from the floor.
Blades:
Fan blades determine the amount of air being circulated throughout the
room. The fan blade brackets should be positioned to hold the blade at a
12-15 degree angle for optimal circulation and be weighed and matched as
a balanced set to avoid having your fan wobble. A fan with less than a
12 degree angle will not circulate air as well and be less efficient.
The greater the angle of the blade the more air circulation you will
have in your room. Blades should be made with wood or acrylic and be
sealed and treated to resist humidity.
Motor:
The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. The motor is responsible
for producing quiet operation while driving the blades for air movement.
Look for high-quality motors with heavy-duty windings and sealed
bearings that are permanently lubricated. Smaller, less powerful motors
found on lower quality fans may produce higher operating temperatures,
lower air circulation and noisier operation. Motors are designed to work
flawlessly for long periods of time and should have a long lasting life.
Lights:
To add the finishing touches, choose from classic to contemporary lights
to complement the look of your fan. Opal, marble, crystal, glass and
hand blown glass can also be added to a fitter or fixture shade to
enhance the design. Light kits can also be added or custom designed to
match your home decor. For a more relaxed environment uplighting is
available, the light bounces off the ceiling to create more of a mood
effect than the traditional downlighting.
Finish:
Finish makes the fan blades more durable. A high quality finish will
resist against blistering, tarnishing, fading and corrosion. Less
advanced finishes on the fan blades can be very fragile and start to
peel, bubble and corrode quickly. Brass finishes are long lasting,
scratch resistant and never need polishing. Painted finishes are thick,
rich and durable as a result of the advanced painting process.
Warranty:
When you choose to purchase look for a good warranty for the life of
your fan. Some fan manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty and in-home
service.
Installation:
Installation can be so easy that with a few basic skills one person can
install the product themselves. With step by step instructions your new
fan can be up and working efficiently. Some fans come with a support
system to assist you by freeing your hands to make wiring connections. |
