A ceiling fan is a great way to cool one area of the home without having to turn on the air conditioner. A ceiling fan can also help add a nice touch to the interior design of your home. If you’re thinking about buying a ceiling fan, here are five things to consider.
Location
Ceiling fans can be installed indoors or outdoors. If you’re thinking of installing a fan outdoors, make sure it meets UL’s wet/damp rating. A UL rating simply means that a ceiling fan is built to withstand rain, snow and excessive moisture. Outdoor ceiling fans may have stainless steel hardware, rust-resistant housing and all-weather blades.
If you have a sloped ceiling, keep in mind that you’ll likely need to buy an extra downrod or a separate sloped-ceiling mounting kit.
Ceiling fan size
There’s a reason why ceiling fans come in many different sizes. Large rooms need larger-sized fans in order to effectively cool the room. Typically, any room larger than 300 square feet will need a 52-inch or larger fan.
Here are a few guidelines for choosing the right ceiling fan size:
– 36” or less if the length of the longest wall is less than 12 feet
– 40” to 48” if the length of the longest wall is 12 to 15 feet
– 52” or more if the length of the longest wall is more than 15 feet
Mounting type
There are two types of ceiling fan mounting: flush mount and downrod mount. A flush mount is mounted to the ceiling and is the ideal option for rooms with low ceilings. A downrod mount is typically necessary for ceiling fans installed in living rooms or rooms with a ceiling height greater than eight feet.
Style
Ideally, a ceiling fan should match the style of your home. If your cabinet knobs are oil-rubbed bronze, then choose a fan with a complementary finish. Try to match the color of the fan to the colors in the room, whether black, brown, white or silver. A few common ceiling fan styles include coastal, modern, cottage, classic, and rustic.
Air flow and efficiency
A ceiling fan can be built with a DC motor or an AC motor. DC motors typically generate less heat and consume less energy than heavier AC motors. Ceiling fans with an ENERGY STAR rating offer the highest level of efficiency and can help reduce cooling costs.
If you have any questions about how to choose or install a ceiling fan, don’t hesitate to reach out to Blue Apple Electric!