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Buyer's Guide to Ceiling Fans |
Introduction
Ceiling fans can be an extremely rewarding purchase for a homeowner. Not only
do ceiling fans save a homeowner money in terms of reduction in heating and air
consitioning bills, but ceiling fans can be an essential part of a decorating
motiff. This guide is intended to be a resource for buyers that provides
prospective buyers with elements that can be used to determine costs when
looking for this furniture item. This article will look at ceiling fans
Efficiency
Efficiency is a highly sought after quality for ceiling fans. In hot climates,
the efficiency of a ceiling fan can have a large impact on the level of an
electric bill over time. A ceiling fan that is a lot more efficient will save
more money. Consequently, ceiling fan manufacturers usually charge a little
bit more for an "energy efficient" label. Ceiling fans are considered energy
efficient if they are able to earn the coveted "Energy Star" sticker. This
sticker is given by the government to fans that meet certain energy efficency
criteria. Generally, if you are looking at purchasing an energy efficient
ceiling fan, you can probably count on paying at least $20 to $30 more than
you might pay for a comparable ceiling fan that is not energy efficient.
Style
The style of a ceiling fan is also a key determinant of price. Many styles
feature ornate designs and have special add ons like high quality wood,
interesting colors, or unique shapes for the fan. Generally a style will cost
more if it is complex, hard to make, or requires some special process to create.
Simple, bare minimum white industrial fans, will often be the cheapest fans
available since the style is easy to mass produce in a cost effective manner.
Manufacturers often charge more for fans that are in popular demand - this is
generally the law of suplpy and demand. The popularity of a particular unit
can greatly influence the price of the ceiling fan.
Blades
Another determinant of cost for ceiling fans is the type of blades that the
prospective buyer elects to put on the ceiling fan. Ceiling fan blades vary
greatly. They can range anywhere from low quality plastic to expensive treated
wood. Lower quality plastic blades are easy to make and are thus do not cost as
much. However, deep woods often need careful cutting and treatment to ensure
that they balance and maintain their appearance over the years. Moreover, the
legnth of the fan blades can have a significant impact on cost. If the fan
blades are longer, they require more materials and consequently would cost more;
particularly if the blades made out of a more expensive material.
Lights
A key add for ceiling fans are the ceiling fan lights. It makes sense for
people to add lights to the bottom of ceiling fans since ceiling fans need to be
attached to the ceiling and also require wiring in order to operate effectively.
Lights can also effectively light up the area under the ceiling fan. There are
many different kinds of lights that can usually be targeted for a specific area
of the room. However, lights often add additional cost to the ceiling fan.
Typically each light on the bottom can add $10 to $30 to the cost of the ceiling
fan itself. You may be able to get lights in a package with the ceiling fan.
Moreover the cost of the lights varies, depending on the design, complexity, and
materials that the lights are made out of.
Water Rating
Another element that can add costs onto a ceiling fan is the water rating.
Ceiling fans that have a high water rating are designed to perform well in
dampness or even in places that get rain. These types of ceiling cans are often
used on patios or porches and are often installed in areas that are humid or
tropical. Although many of these ceiling fans look simple, they often have parts
that are sealed to prevent moisture from getting in. In addition, many of these
fans are treated on the outside with water resistant or waterproof solutions.
These are generally simple fans with some special water features.
Controls
The final feature that can influence the price of a ceiling fan is the type of
control that the ceiling fan has. Controls used to jack the price up for a
ceiling fan several years ago in the days when remote control ceiling fans were
a new thing. However, today, many people have ceiling fans with remote controls
and buyers have come to expect them more as a must have rather than a nicefeature
that they would pay more for. There are still advanced features that remote
controls can have that can add some cost. Examples include variable speed
adjustment or light controls.
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