Ceiling Fan Facts

Prices

• Prices in ceiling fans can vary greatly for a number of reasons. Fan motors are built differently and come in various sizes, and there are a variety of exterior finishes that affect pricing. The price range in ceiling fans is similar to the price ranges you might see in other home appliances. Usually the price differences have to do with durability, performance, quality of the material, and the function of the fan. Ceiling fan blades are made from furniture grade wood or metal, they use high performance motors, and are designed for a variety of home and office decors. All of these add to the manufacturer's cost.

Energy Conservation

• Ceiling fans cool a room by creating a wind chill effect. Air moves across your skin, simulating a cool breeze on a hot day. The temperature of the room is not actually lowered, but using a ceiling fan reduces the need to run the air conditioner as often in the summer. In the winter, ceiling fans featuring a reverse direction may be used to push hot air down when it rises. This feature is especially appreciated by homeowners with high ceilings, in order to keep heating costs lower. Ceiling fans are to rotate counter-clockwise in summer and clockwise in winter.

Warranty Issues

• Many people wonder why an inexpensive ceiling fan comes with a lifetime warranty when other, more expensive items have a much shorter warranty. The opinion of some fan vendors is that the length of the warranty means nothing in the ceiling fan business. They have nothing to do with the quality of the product. A marketing ploy, most ceiling fans come with a lifetime warranty regardless of price point. All of the warranties are limited, covering only the motor bearings and windings of the fan. External features, such as the fan blades, finish, controls, and light fixtures, only have a one-year warranty. It is important to check with consumer guides before purchasing ceiling fans, because not all fans are created equal.

Problems With Ceiling Fans

• Many homeowners run into problems after installing ceiling fans in their homes. One common problem is hooking the ceiling fan up to a light dimmer switch. Using a dimmer will make the fan become noisy, and it is likely to damage the motor and inner components. Wobbly fans are usually caused by poor installation. The do-it-yourself installer can spend just a few minutes to tighten a wobbly fan at the ceiling, whether the fan is on a long pole or not. Noise is a common complaint. The main cause of a noisy fan is that it is cheap. High quality ceiling fans can be repaired, but cheap fans just have to be replaced.

More Facts

• According to Bob Vila, a 52-inch ceiling fan is perfect for a room that is 230 square feet or larger. For a room that is 155 to 229 square feet, a 48-inch fan is more appropriate. Ceiling fan blades should be set at a 14 degree angle in order for a fan to move the right amount of air. Blades set at 10 degrees simply "slice" the air. Blades set at 20 degrees meet so much resistance the motor burns out.