By choosing the “right” ceiling fan, you will find that hot summer days are easier to handle and cold winter nights can be more comfortable. The best aspect of having a ceiling fan is that you can lower your monthly energy bill by as much as 20%! It used to be that you had only a few choices when it came to choosing a ceiling fan. The designs were wood with elaborate glass shades.

Today, you can find every design of ceiling fan imaginable. If you want something simple with clean lines for a kitchen or contemporary home, you will find it. If you want something tropical with leaf blades and unique lighting fixtures, you will find it. Additionally, ceiling fans were once used only in the bedroom while today you can use a ceiling fan in any room. Whether choosing a simple fan for $89 or something out of this world for $1,000, the benefits are enormous.

The first thing to consider when buying a ceiling fan is the size for the room in which you plan to hang it. For instance, a room of 50-square feet should have a fan with a 30-inch span, a room from 51 to 100-square feet would need at 36-inch span, a room of 101 to 200-square feet, a 42-inch span, a room of 201 to 400-square feet, a 52-inch span, and a room greater than 400-square feet, a 54-inch span. Your needs may vary depending on many variables, (climate, blade material, room irregularities, blade span, etc.) contact your Fanimation dealer with any questions!

Once you have determined the right size fan, you will need to decide on having a light fixture, remote control, and style. A great choice to make is a reversible fan. This means that it can run clockwise in the wintertime to push the warm air by the ceiling down into the room. This means that in addition to lowering your summer utility bills, you can also enjoy savings during the winter months.

Wood blades are still a popular choice today so if you decide to go that route, just make sure they are properly sealed to avoid warping. This would be especially important if you plan to install the fan in a room such as a bathroom or kitchen, or outdoors. In addition to wood blades, you will find some that are a paddle design, tropical leaf design, white, just about every design you can think of.

The blade pitch is also important, as this along with the blade span is what determines the degree the fan will cool the room. The steeper the pitch, the more effective the fan will be in moving the air. Therefore, you should look for blade pitches that are between 11 and 16 degrees.

When it comes to the motor, you will find that they range from 1/60 and 1/3 horsepower. Motors that are higher powered will help produce more air. Additionally, the higher-powered motor will not overheat like fans that have lower powered motors. Look for a motor that has sealed bearings, which never need to be oiled. Another good option is a rubber flywheel, which helps keep torque under control. This helps to stabilize the fan while keeping the level of noise down, which is a problem seen in cheap fans.

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Ceiling Fan information 2

For the finish of the fan, the best option is one that is painted and electrostatically applied with powder coatings. Try to find fans that have multiple coats of lacquer or brass-plated. The mounting hardware that comes with most fans is a six-inch downrod. If you have real tall ceilings, you can purchase longer downrods if needed. (Contact your Fanimation dealer for exact length required)!

Additionally, you may need a hugger mount (at this time Fanimation does not manufacture hugger mounted fans), which helps minimize the distance between the fan and ceiling in situations where the ceiling has a low overhead. Your best choice is a fan that has a swiveling ball-and-socket hanging system that lets the fan be hung from a sloped or flat ceiling.

The warranty is also important since they will vary from one manufacturer to another. You should try to find a fan that offers a warranty on the entire fan and not just the motor. Additionally check for the length that the warranty is in effect. Some will cover just one year while others will stretch out over five years.

Other things to consider include the controls. Typically, a ceiling fan would have a pull chain that operates both the light and fan. Another choice is to purchase a remote control, which provides you with the convenience of being able to turn the fan on and off, up or down from any place in the room. You can choose from a wall-mounted unit or one that is handheld. Either way, you avoid the hassle of having to get up to operate the fan.

Safety is crucial when hanging a ceiling fan. For the ultimate in safety, you need to attach the hanging brackets directly to the ceiling joist, if possible. If you are not able to gain access to the attic, you can use a brace bar from below the attic. Just be sure it is a heavy duty, adjustable metal bridge that has spiked ends. To make this work, you would cut a hole in the ceiling (if one does not already exist), making it large enough to slip the bar through to the frame. Now you want to position the bar so the legs are completely flush to the bottom of the joists. Finally, rotate the outer shaft so the spikes are set firmly into the wood. This is what holds the fan safely into place. If you unsure or unable to do-it-yourself, contact a licensed contractor!

All information on this page subject to change, please contact Fanimation dealer for questions!