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All About Ceiling Fans

© Wendy Waid

It is almost the end of summer and most stores are reducing the prices of their ceilings fans. So if you haven't bought a fan yet, now is the time! And here are some tips on selecting your new ceiling fan and installing it.

How to Select a Fan: There are really only three major things to look for when purchasing a ceiling fan -- the motor, the blades, and the style. Don't just look at price because you truly get what you pay for with these.

The motor needs to be durable and long-lasting. Avoid really cheap ceiling fans unless they are clearance or sale items. That $30 fan might last the rest of this year but don't count on it lasting through next year's heat wave. A cheap motor will burn out. Also, cheap fans may shake and be noisy.

When looking at ceiling fans, try to get one with a blade pitch of 14 degrees. The blade pitch is the angle the blades are set and this needs to be 14 to get the maximum wind benefit. A lesser angle will not push the air enough. And a degree greater than 14 may burn out the motor.

The selection of blade materials can be important too. Real wood blades may eventually warp if you live in a very humid climate. Of course, you may want to match your fans to your decor.

You also need to choose the size of the fan carefully. A smaller room, around 8ft x 8ft, should have a span of 32 inches. A room around 12ft x 12ft should use a 42 inch fan. A bigger room, 15 ft x 15 ft, should use a 44 inch fan. And anything larger should use a 52 inch fan. Of course, that's not to say you can't use a bigger fan in a smaller room. These are just the ideal sizes.

Also measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling. This distance should be about 9 feet in order to avoid hitting the ceiling fan. If the distance is anything less than this, you should consider a flat-style fan (or "flush" style) without lights.

The next thing you need to determine is the style. Do you want four blades or six? Do you want a flat-style ("flush"-style) or regular fan? Do you need lights?

If you need lights on your fan, I recommend you buy one that allows you to remove the bulbs easily. It's difficult to remove a globe from a ceiling fan then have to change the bulb and replace the globe. If you like dust in your eyes, buy one of these globe lighted fans. Otherwise, stick with the open bulb styles.