How to choose the right ceiling fans for your home.

 A ceiling fan adds to the comfort in your home at any time of year. In the warmer months, the ceiling fan creates a welcome breeze. When it’s cold outside, your fan pushes the warm air (that naturally rises upward) back down where it’s needed. For your ceiling fan to produce the desired effect, you need to correctly select the fixture that will fit the room. Here are some tips for how to choose the right ceiling fans for your home.

1. Identify the ceiling fan’s placement.

   Where do you need the air to circulate? In many rooms, that’s directly in the center. If you have a large area, you might need two fans to handle the job.

2. Calculate the appropriate fan blade size.

   Ceiling fans come in a wide range of sizes, with blades that can be as small as just 29” long to as much as six feet! To calculate the right size, multiply the length of the fan blade by two (for the full diameter) and then multiply that figure by the width of the blade. For example, a ceiling fan with 48-inch blades that are two inches wide would cover 192 square feet (48” X 2 X 2”). If you have a bedroom that is 10’ X 12’ (120 square feet), a 30-inch ceiling fan is a good size (30” X 2 X 2”).

3. Determine the height.

   The ceiling fan should be placed a safe distance above the people in the room, preferably with the fan blades approximately 8 to 9 feet from the floor. If you’re installing a ceiling fan in a room with an 8-foot ceiling height, choose a flush-mount design. With ceiling heights of 9 feet or greater, you’ll need an extended down rod to lower the fan to a distance where it provides effective air circulation. If you have a slanted ceiling, purchase a slope ceiling mount or slope adapter. To calculate the correct size of the down rod, add 6 inches for every foot over an 8-foot ceiling height. For example, a 10-foot ceiling would require a 12-inch down rod.

4. Plan for the electrical wiring.

   Are you replacing an existing overhead light fixture with a ceiling fan? Will your new fixture include both the fan and lighting? Make sure your circuit can handle the ceiling fan’s load. If your ceiling isn’t already wired for an overhead fixture, hire an electrician to safely install the ceiling fan.

5. Avoid the wobble.

   Some fans will wobble at medium to high speeds. This could be the result of an inferior quality fan or improper installation. A good fan prevents against wobbling by incorporating a strong motor that has the power to handle the blade pitch (angle) and air resistance. If the motor isn’t strong enough, it will burn out too soon. Invest in a good ceiling fan from the outset to avoid this hassle.

Take the time to determine the factors and you’ll spend less time browsing and choosing the right ceiling fan for your home. If you’re planning to build a new home, talk to your home builder about wiring and installing the ceiling fans during construction. In the Oklahoma City metro region, talk to us at Ideal Homes about the many ways we incorporate comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency into the new homes and communities we build.