Ceiling fan work by moving air through a room. Ceiling fans create wind-chill effect that allows a person to feel more cool in a room. The wind-chill effect results from the evaporation of moisture from skin, which lowers the perceived temperature of the room.
When choosing a ceiling fan, it is important to choose one that matches size and shape of the room in which it will be installed. If the ceiling fan is too small for the room, the airflow wont be able to reach the walls or circulate throughout the room. If the ceiling fan is too large for the room, the fan will create turbulence in the air, causing it to become very noisily.
How to choose the right ceiling fan
One of the main factor to consider when choosing a ceiling fan is the size of the room in which it will be installed. The size of the room will determine the blade span of the ceiling fan that is chosen. For small rooms under 100 square foot, such as a bathroom or closet, a compact ceiling fan can be used.
Compact ceiling fans are suitable for small rooms because they dont take up much of the volume of the small room. For medium-sized rooms, such as guest bedrooms or home offices, a person should purchase a ceiling fan with medium-sized blade. These ceiling fans will move enough air to circulate the air in medium-sized rooms.
For large rooms, such as family rooms or master suites, you should select a ceiling fan with a large blade span. These ceiling fans are large enough to move the air in the large areas of a house and reach the people who is located in these spaces. Another factor that affects the installation of a ceiling fan is the height of the ceiling in the room.
The height of the ceilings will determine the type of mounting hardware that is required for the ceiling fan. In rooms with eight-foot ceilings, which are standard in many homes, a downrod mount can be used. This mount will allow the blades of the fan to hang at least one foot from the ceiling, allowing the air current to reach at least seven feet from the floor.
This prevents the person from hitting the blades of the ceiling fan. In rooms with low ceilings, you can install a flush mount ceiling fan. These ceiling fans are mounted directly to the ceiling.
In rooms with vaulted or tall ceilings, a downrod mount with an extended downrod is required for the installation of the ceiling fan. If the blades of a ceiling fan are too high in a tall room, the air will become trapped near the ceiling. This air will not be able to cool the individual in the room.
The type of mounting for the ceiling fan and the motor for the fan will also affect the performance of the ceiling fan. If you have a sloped ceiling in your home, then you will need to purchase a special mounting kit for your ceiling fan to ensure that the blades of the fan are level with your ceiling. Ceiling fans can also be installed in outdoor area like porches.
For these cases, you will need to purchase a ceiling fan that is rated for damp areas since the fans are built to resist humidity within the air. Indoor ceiling fans are not built to handle the humidity in outdoor areas of the home. Additionally, ceiling fans that use AC motors are typically less expensive than ceiling fans that use DC motors.
The benefit of ceiling fans using DC motors is that they use less energy than ceiling fans with AC motors. Furthermore, ceiling fans with DC motors dont make as much noise as ceiling fans with AC motors. Another feature that you can consider when purchasing a ceiling fan is whether you would like a ceiling fan that reverses the direction of the blades.
Ceiling fans that feature a reversible blade will help distribute heat in the winter when the blades push warm air down toward the individuals in the room. Another feature to consider when purchasing a ceiling fan is the material that the blades are made of. Fans with blades made of wood will be quiet when operating.
Blades made of ABS or composite material are lightweight and easy to clean. Metal blades are another option but may make a buzzing noise when rotating. You must precisely balance metal blades when installing on a ceiling fan.
Blades can be controlled with pull chains, wall switches, remote controls, or mobile applications. Consider the CFM ratings for the ceiling fan that you are considering. The CFM rating will tell you how much air the fan can move.
However, if the room in which the ceiling fan will be installed is of the appropriate size for that ceiling fan, then the high CFM rating will help circulate the air effective. Finally, ensure that there is at least 18 inches of clearance from each blade to the walls of the room. This will help reduce the noise and drag that the blades will make.
Ensure the electrical box in the ceiling is a fan-rated electrical box. This type of electrical box is built to support the weight of the ceiling fan and the torque that is created by the fans blades. Lastly, if you install the ceiling fan into an appropriately sized room, the ceiling fan will reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer and lower the electricity bills for the room.
