Most people considering a ceiling fan have many questions to ensure they
purchase the type and style of fan that will work best. When it comes to
cooling a room, fans create an effect that feels like a chilly wind,
although the temperature of the room does not change. This effect helps
you to feel comfortable and cool by helping the body's perspiration
evaporate quicker. Think of going to the beach or swimming in a pool and
then walking back into an air-conditioned room. The ceiling fan has much
the same effect. When ceiling fans are used together with air conditioning,
your cost of energy will decrease since you will be able to push the
thermostat to a higher temperature.
In contrast, ceiling fans can also help to heat a room and in some cases,
energy consumption can be lowered by as much as 10%. As a room is heated,
the heat floats in layers. Up by the ceiling, the air is at its warmest
since heat rises. When you have a ceiling fan, the rotation of the fan is
reversed, pushing that warm air down, which breaks up the layers of air.
As the air is circulated, the room becomes warm and toasty. Best of all,
your furnace does not have to work as hard, which in turn lowers your
heating bill. Remember, during the summer months, the blades should rotate
counter clockwise and in the winter, clockwise.
Many older homes have foundations that have started to slope, thus causing
the ceiling to slope. In this case, you can still install a ceiling fan by
first installing a sloped ceiling adapter. This adapter corrects the problem
and allows you to install your fan up to 48 degrees. You should also know
that ceiling fans can be installed outside on a porch, covered deck, gazebo,
and any other sheltered area. Ceiling fans are rated for various scenarios.
For outdoors, you need a fan that is rated for "damp" or "wet" locations.
The damp rated fan will work in most outdoor situations while the wet rated
fan is perfect for climates more intense such as heavy rain or snow.
To determine the appropriate size fan for your room, you can perform some
simple calculations. The purpose of a ceiling fan is to create added
comfort and save on energy used. If the fan is too small or too large for
the room where it will be installed, you will have a room that appears off
balanced. In addition, the small fan will not be powerful enough to move
the air appropriate while the large fan can overpower a room. To make
precise decisions, follow these guidelines:
- Large-sized Rooms - Rooms that 225 square feet or larger, use a fan with
blade lengths of 50, 52, 54, or 56 inches.
- Medium-sized Rooms - Rooms up to 144 square feet, the fan's blades should
be 42 or 44 inches.
- Small Rooms - For rooms up to 64 square feet, a fan with a 32-inch blade
is ideal.
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