Today's attractive ceiling fans can not only help give you a break from high heating and cooling bills, they can complement your decor and increase your comfort.
Here are hints on how to find the fan for you:
• Choose the largest fan your room will allow. A larger fan moves more air at lower speeds, which reduces noise and increases the fan's life span, as it doesn't have to work as hard.
• Install your fan at least seven feet from the floor and make sure there's ample room for the blades to spin unencumbered, at least 24 inches from the closest wall.
• Purchase a fan with a light kit to increase its versatility. Some fans that don't come with a light are adaptable in case you ever want to add one.
• The right type of mounting maximizes the cooling effect. If you have low ceilings, choose a ceiling-hugging flush mount; for higher ceilings, use longer downrods to bring the circulating action down into the room. Sloped ceilings require an angled mount.
• If you're going to use your fan outside, the motor should be designed to withstand moisture and temperature changes, and the blades should be constructed from a man-made material that won't warp with humidity.
• It's not the number of blades but the blade pitch (from 8 degrees to 15 degrees) that affects air circulation. The higher the pitch, the more air the fan circulates at slow speeds.
• Fans labeled with an energy rating use less energy, so you save money on utility bills while protecting the environment.
• Consider a remote control. Some remotes even have special sensors to turn the fan on and off automatically or adjust fan speed based on room temperature.
• A cast-iron motor absorbs and removes heat better than steel motors, is rustproof and is extremely stable, making the fan virtually wobble-free.
• Look for a fan that's easy to install. For example, Hampton Bay has a line of ceiling fans with the Quick-Connect system so they install in a matter of minutes. The motor housing comes preassembled and the blades slide and lock in easily.
What's more, Hampton Bay's newly patented, high-performance AeroBreeze blade system moves up to 25 percent more air than standard fans for increased comfort and energy savings. The superior, engineered, aerodynamic blade technology saves energy by operating on lower levels, while still providing the desired degree of comfort.
By: Stacey Moore