A ceiling fan is an affordable home upgrade that can make a huge difference to your energy costs while, at the same time, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter (if you reverse the direction of the blades). But choosing a new ceiling fan isn’t as simple as just walking into the hardware store and grabbing whichever new fan strikes your fancy.
For one thing, you need to make sure the new fan you buy is sized appropriately for the space it will be in. Your new fan will need specific features and functionality to meet your needs. And, of course, you’ll have to choose from the many attractive design options available. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into choosing a ceiling fan for your home.
Consider Room Size, Fan Size, and Ceiling Height
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when you’re in the market for a new ceiling fan is size — the size of the fan itself and the size of the room or other space where it’ll be installed. Small ceiling fans are best for small spaces, while large ceiling fans should be installed in more spacious rooms. If your room is 75 square feet or smaller, you should choose one of the smallest ceiling fan sizes — 29 to 36 inches in diameter (measured across the width of the fan blades from blade tip to blade tip). For a room 76 to 144 square feet, you can move up to fans in the next size category, 36 to 42 inches. For rooms sized 145 to 225 square feet, you’ll need a 42- to 54-inch fan. For the largest rooms, look at the largest fans — for example, a room between 225 to 400 square feet will need a 50- to 54-inch fan. Larger rooms require even larger fans. You can get fans of 80, 90, or 100 inches in diameter to move air in the largest spaces.
Ceiling fans are generally hung about eight or nine feet above the floor, and need at least 18 inches of clearance from walls or sloping, vaulted ceilings. In most homes, a short downrod can be used to suspend the fan so that it hangs at the optimum height above the floor. If your ceilings are lower than eight feet, though, you should choose a low-profile, flush-mount ceiling fan that still preserves the required seven feet of space between the fan and the floor. Conversely, if your home has very high ceilings or vaulted ceilings, you can use a longer downrod to lower the height of the fan.
Get the Features and Functions You Need
At a bare minimum, you need a fan with a reversible motor so you can reverse the direction of the fan blades in the winter — this pushes that warm air that has risen up to your ceiling back down into the room, where you can feel it. If you have high ceilings, you may want to choose a fan with a remote control, wall control, or smart connectivity features, so you can more easily turn the fan on and off without dragging out the step ladder to climb up there and fumble with the pull cord. You may even want to forgo pull-cord fans in favor of the sleek, uncluttered modern look of contemporary fans that rely on smart controls or remote controls to function.
Of course, you’ll also want some assurance that the fan you buy will be able to move enough air to make a difference to your climate control. Ceiling fan airflow is rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM), and any decent fan should be capable of moving 4,000 to 5,000 CFM when set at high speed. The most powerful fans will move 6,000 CFM or more.
Buy Something that Looks Nice
These days, you have so many design options when it comes to ceiling fans. You can choose a wooden fan that matches your home’s hardwood trim, or a modern, industrial style that complements the decor of your loft apartment. Remember, you’re not limited to the few fans they have on display at your local big box hardware store. Shop around to find a fan that will make your decor pop.
If you want to make staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter more affordable and sustainable, a ceiling fan is the way forward. With so many new styles and designs to choose from, you can choose the right ceiling fan for any home, no matter what your decorating or architectural sensibilities might be. And with a new ceiling fan whirring away overhead, you’ll be surprised at comfortable your home can be, even as the temperature climbs.
