Consumer Guide: Ceiling Fan

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.

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.