When it's hot outside, it can get downright uncomfortable inside your home. While you can always turn on the air conditioner or swamp cooler, sometimes a simple breeze created by a ceiling fan is just the ticket to cool, natural comfort. Ceiling fans can be energy efficient alternatives to the high costs involved in operating your other cooling devices for hours on end. This ceiling fan buying guide will show you how to buy a ceiling fan that's just right for any room in your home.
When selecting a ceiling fan, some of the things to look at are style, type, size, efficiency, lights, blades, controls and ease of installation. All these factors play a role in how appropriate a ceiling fan will be for the application you're looking for.
The style of a ceiling fan can be one of the most important factors. If you don't get "the look" right, you won't be happy with your fan, no matter how well the other factors meet your needs. Lighting and ceiling fans come in much the same styles as other furniture in your home. Choosing the right style is a matter of personal taste, so make sure you know what your options are and how the fan will fit into the room and home decor where you are planning to install it. Some of the more popular styles include traditional, contemporary, Victorian and fans designed for children's rooms.
Indoor ceiling fans
Most fans are indoor ceiling fans. Things to consider when selecting a fan for an indoor location include the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. If the fan is to go into a tight space, such as a bath or kitchen, you'll want to make sure the blade span isn't too large. Normal ceiling fan size can range from 18 inches in circumference to a 52-inch circumference, and larger and smaller custom fans can also be found. If you have a low ceiling, you might want to consider a ceiling-hugger fan. As the name implies, ceiling-hugger fans don't hang down as far as other fans, making them ideal for lower ceilings.
Outdoor ceiling fans
If you plan on putting a ceiling fan outdoors, for example on a covered patio or deck, you'll need a special outdoor ceiling fan. These may look no different from indoor fans, but internally they are much different. Fans designed for outdoor use 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. Because of this, outdoor ceiling fans are often more expensive.
Energy-efficient ceiling fans continue to increase in popularity as energy costs continue to rise. In hot climates, the efficiency of a ceiling fan can have a large impact on how much your monthly electric bill is. A ceiling fan that is more efficient can save a lot of money and even pay for itself over time. Because of this, ceiling fan manufacturers usually charge 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 U.S. government to electronics that meet certain energy efficiency criteria. If you plan on using your ceiling fans a lot as energy saving tools, going with an energy efficient ceiling fan is a smart choice.
Blades
The blades on a ceiling fan are an important style consideration, but they are noteworthy for other reasons as well. What they are made out of will be a big part of the durability and longevity of your ceiling fan. Blades vary greatly and can range from low-quality plastic to expensive treated wood. While ceiling fans with plastic blades will be less expensive, those with high-quality wood blades will hold up better over years of use and will also maintain their pleasing appearance longer than plastic blades will.
Lights
Ceiling fans may or may not come with a light kit. If the ceiling fan you purchase doesn't have one, you may be able to buy one separately and attach it to the base of your fan. In most cases, it makes sense to have lighting with your fan, since the wiring is already there, and the ceiling fan can add ambient lighting.
There are many different kinds of ceiling fan light kits available with lamps that match almost any decor. When selecting a ceiling fan light kit, keep the height of your ceiling in mind.
Controls
Most ceiling fans are located where a ceiling light used to be, and, typically, the light switch is replaced with a control that allows various fan speeds. If the fan includes a light kit, that will also be included in the controls. It's important that the control have a capacitor design and is made by the same manufacturer as the fan to eliminate buzz and hum.
Some fans come with remote controls, making it possible to adjust the fan speed and light levels from anywhere in the room.
All ceiling fans should come with ceiling mounting kits. Though techniques vary by manufacturer, the job of hanging a fan is similar to mounting a light fixture. Most fans require some assembly and all demand support that will be strong enough to hold the weight of the fan plus the light kit. The junction box must be labeled "suitable for fan support," or else you'll need to retrofit a new box onto the ceiling. If all of this seems more than you want to tackle, hiring a professional electrician to install your ceiling fan is always a good option.
What are the advantages of installing ceiling fans in my home?
Despite all the modern advances in energy-saving devices, the ceiling fan -- a product of the Industrial Revolution -- is one of the most sensible solutions to keeping your home cool while keeping your energy costs down. During the summer, using a ceiling fan in conjunction with an air conditioner will allow you to set the thermostat higher without a noticeable difference in comfort. In the winter, a fan can re-circulate warm air that naturally rises in a room and is trapped at the ceiling. By bringing warm air down into the living space, your heater can be set lower, again reducing your energy costs.
Why are cheap ceiling fans so noisy?
Cheap ceiling fans usually lack proper noise-reduction components, such as isolation rings and rubber cushions between metal parts. These silencers help stop the transference of noise through the fan to the ceiling where it is magnified. Cheap ceiling fans don't have these features because they add to the cost of manufacturing. If noise is a factor for you, look for a quality fan with noise reduction features.
How do I clean my ceiling fans?
Start by turning off the fan and getting a ladder. Use an all-purpose cleaner, and spray a bit onto a cloth or paper towel -- not directly on the blades. If you don't have a ladder, you could also use tie your dust cloth onto a mop head, but watch for dust bunnies that may fall into your eyes. Wipe each blade until your fan is clean. If your fan blades are made of wood, an occasional application of furniture polish is also a good idea. Try to avoid using a water-soaked cloth to clean the fan blades, as this can cause blade warping as well as the possibility of electric shock.
Showcase your new ceiling fan with decorative accessories
Overstock.com has a huge selection of home decor, including many decorative accessories that will brighten up your room and showcase your new discount ceiling fan. We also carry many styles of lighting and window treatments that can accentuate your ceiling fan.
A ceiling fan for every room
Every ceiling fan you install will save you energy costs, so why not put one in every room? You can find kids' ceiling fans, modern ceiling fans and many other styles of unique ceiling fans from Overstock.com. With such a wide variety, you can have a ceiling fan in every room that will give your home a fresh look for less.
Furnish your "cool" room
Since your room will be cooler now, you'll probably be spending more time in it. Why not start a home improvement project and refurnish the room? Since you can choose everything you need while online shopping at Overstock.com, you'll never pay more than $2.95 for each order of furniture or other home improvement items you make -- saving you even more money.
