Armed with a good ceiling fan, you can save up to 40% on your air conditioning costs in the summer! And by reversing the direction in the winter, you can expect a 10-15% savings on your heating bill! But don’t make your purchase uninformed! To choose the perfect ceiling fan, consider these tips:
Rotation
Ceiling fans should rotate counter clockwise in the summer (to generate a breeze downward to cool you off) and clockwise 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.
Price
Don't buy the cheapest one! Ceiling fans ranging from $30 to $400 may look similar at first glance. However, lower end fans are noisy and often have inefficient motors and inadequate blades that will not last. You’ll want a fan that will last a few years, especially if you are paying someone to install it.
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. Certain manufacturers also make a 30” and a 36” fan for smaller rooms.
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.
Capacitors
Unless you don't mind buzzing and humming sounds, don't buy a multi-speed fan with only one capacitor inside its motor. A quality fan that is able to handle three speeds should have at least three capacitors.
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. The greater the angle of the blade or "blade pitch" the greater the air movement.
Downrods
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. The table below is a general guideline for choosing a downrod length. The 3" inch downrod is standard on most fans (except for huggers) based on the most efficient height of between 9 and 11 feet. But also take into consideration the scale of the room for aesthetic purposes.
Note: “Hugger” fans (which fit snug with the ceiling and do not use a downrod) are not always the best choice since they prevent the fan from circulating air properly.
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 since fan rotation can work metal screws loose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a four and five blade ceiling fan?
The main difference between a 4-blade and 5-blade fan is aesthetics, with some additional wind noise associated with 5-blade fans. For a given motor, a 4-blade fan will move more air than a 5-blade fan. The 5th blade puts additional drag on the motor, slowing down the RPM of the blades, which decreases the CFM. All Hunter fans, whether 4 or 5 blades, are designed for optimal air delivery.
How do fans cool the room - do they actually lower the temperature?
A ceiling fan cools by creating a "wind chill effect"; it does not lower the room temperature. "Wind chill effect" makes you feel cooler by accelerating the evaporation of perspiration on your skin. It is the feeling you get when you open the window in a moving car. If you have a ceiling fan in a room whose temperature is 80 degrees, running the fan can create a "wind chill effect" that makes you feel as if the temperature is 72 degrees. When used in conjunction with an air conditioner, a ceiling fan can lower energy costs, because you can set the thermostat of your air conditioner at a higher temperature.
Can the fan be used in the winter for any beneficial purpose?
A ceiling fan can help lower energy consumption in the winter by up to 10%. The temperature of the air in a heated room varies in layers; the air near the ceiling is warmer than the air near the floor, because warm air rises. A ceiling fan can help push the warmer air that is trapped near the ceiling back down into the room, thus "de-stratifying" the layers of warm air. As a result, the warm air is circulated where it is needed, and the heating system does not overwork to warm the room. To properly "de-stratify" a warmed room, the ceiling fan should be run in a clockwise direction. This pushes the air up against the ceilings and down the walls, to gently re-circulate the warm air without creating a cooling "wind chill effect."
How much electricity will a fan draw?
On average, a ceiling fan run on high speed will consume less power than a 100-watt light bulb.
How much can I expect to save in heating/cooling costs?
A ceiling fan can save up to 40% on summer cooling costs, and up to 10% on winter heating costs. Savings will vary depending on local climate conditions and energy rates
Can ceiling fans be mounted on angled or vaulted ceilings?
Yes, ceiling fans can be installed on angled or vaulted ceilings by using a fan canopy (the "cap" visible closest to the ceiling which covers the electrical box) which has been designed to accommodate sloped ceilings.
What length downrod should I use with my fan? Will the fan be more prone to wobble if I use a downrod?
A general formula for calculating downrod length is: ceiling height in feet minus 9' = downrod length. This formula is based on the fan-to-floor distance of 8 feet plus 1 foot for the dimension of the fan. So if your ceiling height is 12 feet, you need a 3 foot downrod in order to properly position the fan 8 feet from the floor. Using long-length downrods for fan installations actually help stabilize fans and reduce the potential for wobble. Think of a grandfather clock pendulum and its slow, heavy swing versus a smaller clock pendulum with a fast, unsteady swing. Weight and length combine to create stability, reducing wobble, whether it is in a ceiling fan or a clock pendulum.
What is the difference in having a ceiling fan installed close to the ceiling versus on a downrod - I have seen it both ways.
For maximum performance and greatest energy savings, ceiling fans should be installed approximately 8 to 9 feet above the floor. Extension downrods are used to properly position fans from ceiling heights greater than 8 feet. For example, a 12 foot ceiling would need a 3 foot downrod to position the fan at 8 feet (one foot must be allowed for the distance from the top of the fan motor to the switch housing bottom).
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