Ceiling fans are necessities for homes, especially during summer. In this period, energy consumption in the home is significantly raised, much of which goes towards cooling homes. Air conditioners consume a lot of energy, hence complementing it with ceiling fans can make a huge difference. In fact, a 4-degree rise in air conditioner temperature set off by the chilling effect of ceiling fans could save up to 10% of the usual total energy consumption in the summer.
When shopping for a ceiling fan, there are several factors to consider in order to ensure you get a proper fit one, but before we consider the factors, we will first take a look at how to buy the best ceiling fans.
How to pick the best fans?
There are many brands that market one ceiling fan or the other out there which makes picking the best for you quite difficult. To ensure you are picking the right fan for yourself, we encourage you to read product reviews online. If you are looking for the best quiet ceiling fans, you can just Google the phrase “best quiet ceiling fan” and read a couple of articles. For instance, reading the article on this URL gives you an idea of what to look for, the prices to expect and the likes. You can read as many reviews as possible to help you make the right purchase decision.
Other things to consider when deciding on which fan to buy
Room size
One of the very first things to consider when shopping for a ceiling fan is the size of the room you want to install it in. This is imperative in getting maximum performance from a ceiling fan.
A number of room and fan best fits are as follows:
- 54” fans are the best fits for rooms above 400 square feet
- 50” or 52” fans are the best fits for family rooms and standard bedrooms whose sizes are up to 400 square feet.
- 36” to 42” fans are best fits for rooms up to 100 square feet
- 36” fans are best fits for 75 square feet rooms
- 29” fans are best fits for 50 square feet rooms
For rooms larger than the above specifications, you should consider getting two or more fans for optimum performance.
Fan peculiarities
When shopping for fans, check the following specifications:
Fan blade pitch and size
The amount of air a fan circulates in a room is determined by the fan blades. For optimal air circulation, the pitch of the fan blades is often between 12 and 15 degrees angle. The higher the pitch or greater the blades angle, the more air you have circulated in your room. Also, the weight of the blades must be balanced otherwise the fan will wobble.
The motor
The motor is responsible for driving the fan blades quietly. When shopping for a ceiling fan, high-quality motors whose windings are heavy duty with permanently lubricated sealed bearings must be your preference. Otherwise, you may have heat, noise and lower air circulation to contend with.
Energy-saving
One of the main reasons we install fans in our homes or offices is to help us cut down on energy expenses. If you purchase a high energy-consuming fan, the cost or energy-saving purpose is defeated. I remember the fan I bought before the one I use now; it consumed so much energy that I had to change it. Fans are generally low energy consumers yet they vary in the amount of energy they require to cool your home. The fan I use now saves up to a quarter of the energy consumed by the previous one. I discovered that producers keep working on these products to reach even higher energy efficiency.
Hence, when shopping for a fan, look out for the latest products and go for brands that don’t just work well but also consume lesser energy. Fans with the Energy Star seal, often save up to 20% energy in comparison to other fans. The average energy to run a ceiling fan is 70 watts, hence anything below this mark is more efficient.
Note: ceiling fan models with light are about 60% more efficient.
CFM
All ceiling fans have their CFM clearly stated on them. CFM refers to the cubic feet of airflow per minute. It is the wind chill capability of a ceiling fan. When shopping for a ceiling fan, look out for fans with the highest CFM as you get to save more energy. Usually, higher CFM means bigger motors and higher energy requirements. Therefore, finding a good balance between the energy-saving function and the CFM is important. Experts recommend at least 6,000 to 7,000 CFM.
Warranty
Another important thing to consider when shopping for a ceiling fan is a good warranty. Irrespective of the quality you are getting, technical issues are normal for machines. Manufacturers who offer better warranty are preferential. Some manufacturers even offer in-home services.
Shopping for a ceiling is worth all the attention you are willing to give; you can save up to 40% annual energy consumption if you get it right. Do not forget a bigger motor, higher CFM, and energy consumption below 70 watts is the deal. A bit of trade-off might be necessary in cases bigger motors come with slightly higher energy consumption.