More and more, ceiling fans are becoming an integral part of the look and feel of home interiors. There are more styles, finishes, and designs available than ever, making it much easier to match a fan to a rooms decor, or even to plan the room itself around a unique ceiling fan. No longer are fans merely functional. Often, the are more of an artistic focal point in a room.
It is well known that ceiling fan usage can reduce electricity costs by as much as 40 percent during the summer months. By recirculating warm air in the winter after the reversing the fan’s direction, you can conserve up to 10 percent of your normal energy usage. Ceiling fans typically use about the same amount of electricity as a 100 watt light bulb.
There is a great variety of ceiling fans available today, but not all are of the same quality. Inexpensive fans may seem to look and run well when first installed, but these tend to break down quickly. Finishes may tarnish, blades usually warp, and they easily become unbalanced. Do yourself a favor and invest in a higher quality fan, that will run for years without any problems. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s warranty, and the fan’s output rating.
Some of the aesthetic variables to consider when searching for the perfect fan are: style, size, motor finish, blade finish and material, and lighting. Some common fan colors and finishes available are oil-rubbed bronze, polished nickel, satin nickel, polished and antique brass, chrome, copper, pewter, white, and black.
You will also need to determine the square footage of the room in which you plan to hang your new fan. Doing so will help you to maximize the airflow for the area, without overpowering it. For instance, in a small room such as a bathroom or a kitchen nook, you will need a fan with a blade span of around 30″ – 36″. Larger rooms up to about 10′ x 10′ or 12′ x 12′ can use a 42″ – 48″ fan. 50″ – 54″ fans are considered standard size, and work perfectly in rooms 12′ x 12′ and over. This is the typical size fan you will see most often in homes and businesses. And for very large rooms, you will need a fan with an even larger blade span if you wish it to look right aesthetically in the space. Most manufactures offer models with 60″ or 72″ blade sweeps. Or instead, you may wish to install two or more medium sized fans in the room rather than one oversized one. This would most likely make for better airflow through the room.
Choosing the perfect, high quality fan with the right look and style for your space is not difficult, but you should be aware of the different brands and their advantages before purchasing.
