Are you thinking of buying a ceiling fan? They’re certainly pretty useful! In practically every home, ceiling fans are the simplest and most basic electric appliances. Also, if you’re replacing an old ceiling fan and are aware of how much of a difference a fan can make to your comfort on a hot day (or a cold one, for that matter), look at this.
Choosing the best new ceiling fan for your home isn’t always easy. You need to think about the size of the room in which you want to hang your fan, what features you need from a new ceiling fan, and whether the area where you’ll hang your fan has a lot of humidity and moisture. Of course, when you start shopping for ceiling fans, you’ll also be presented with an array of fan styles and designs. Choosing the best one for your home’s needs and decor can feel overwhelming.
A few useful tips are provided below.
01. Measure Your Room Size and Ceiling Height
The important factors to consider when choosing a new ceiling fan are the size of the room where the fan will be installed and the height of the ceiling in that room. The size of the room will determine what size fan you need. Fan sizes range from as small as 29 inches (737mm) to as large as 60 inches (1524mm) or wider. They’re measured across the diameter of the circle created by the blades; this is known as the fan’s “sweep”.
Determine your room size by measuring the length and width of the room with a tape measure, and then multiply those two numbers together to arrive at the total square footage of your room. If the room is smaller than 75 square feet, buy a small ceiling fan no wider than 36 inches (915mm). If the room is 76 to 144 square feet, buy a fan that is 36 to 42 inches (915 to 1067mm) wide. If the room is 145 to 224 square feet, buy a fan that is 44 to 50 inches (1118 to 1270mm) wide. If the room is 225 to 400 square feet, buy a large ceiling fan that is 50 to 54 inches (1270 to 1372mm) wide. For larger rooms, larger ceiling fans are available, or you can hang two or more fans to help circulate the air in the room effectively.
The height of the ceiling in the room where you’ll install the fan also matters a lot. No matter how high your ceiling is, your ceiling fan should hang about seven or eight feet from the floor—low enough that you can feel the breeze but high enough that no one will hit their head on the fan blades or motor. Most ceiling fans come with a downrod that can lower the fan about twelve inches from the ceiling. If your ceiling is higher than nine feet, you may need to buy an extended downrod kit that can lower your fan even further. However, if your ceiling is lower than nine feet, you’ll want to buy a flush-mount ceiling fan that hugs the ceiling without a down rod.
02. Think about What Features You Need
More features are available in fans today than in the traditional ceiling fan. Maybe you’re installing your fan in a low-ceilinged room and don’t need any special features, just a ceiling fan with a light fixture and a pull chain. Or maybe you’d prefer to control your ceiling fan with a remote control, a wireless wall control, or even from your smartphone. All of these features are available on new ceiling fan models. Additionally, there are small ceiling fans with better air circulation.
03. Choose a Fan Design That Speaks to You
The classic advice to get a white fan that blends with the ceiling is so outdated. These days, designers are building fans to be centerpieces of home décor and multifunctional, like a ceiling fan with lights or a black ceiling fan. You can complement your contemporary aesthetic with a sleek, black ceiling fan with curving, minimalist lines. You can choose a vertical fan to fit into the narrow space of a vaulted ceiling or a large windmill black ceiling fan with eight or nine blades. Everything depends on what you find appealing and what blends in with your design style.
04. Choose a Wet-Rated Fan for Moist Areas
There are three types of ceiling fans: indoor, indoor/outdoor, and outdoor. If you’re hanging your fan in a dry room, like a living room or bedroom, you can get an indoor or dry-rated fan. If you’re hanging it in a damp room like the kitchen or bathroom, where the fan will encounter moisture and humidity, you should buy an indoor/outdoor or damp-rated small ceiling fan. You need an outdoor or wet-rated large ceiling fan if you’re hanging it outside on a covered porch or patio because indoor and indoor/outdoor fans won’t be water-resistant enough to withstand the elements they’ll encounter outdoors. If you live near the seaside, you may even want to consider a marine-rated fan that is built to resist the corrosive effects of salt air.
Choosing the best ceiling fan for your home doesn’t need to be difficult. Consider what you need out of a fan and invest in a fixture that will serve you well for years to come.
Check out the article below for instructions on how to install a ceiling fan.
How To Install A Ceiling Fan – A Brief Installation Guide
