Ceiling fans are back in style, and today’s homeowners have a much wider range of stylish designs to choose from, as well as a truly modern array of high-tech features. Ceiling fans are also a simple technology that’s easy to incorporate into your energy-saving strategies at home. They let you rely less on your HVAC system and keep your thermostat at more conservative temperatures, meaning you use less energy and keep more money in your pocket.
But choosing the right ceiling fan for your home isn’t just a matter of considering what style of fan will best fit into your space. There’s a lot more that goes into it, as a matter of fact. You have to choose the right size fan, for a start, and if you’re hanging it outside, you need one built to stand up to the elements. You’ll also need to consider the profile of the fan, or how far down it hangs from the ceiling, and, of course, there are features and functionality to think about, too.
Get the Right Size Fan for Your Space
When you’re choosing a ceiling fan for your home, the first and foremost thing to consider is the size of the space in which you’ll be using it. A larger space requires a larger fan, and vice versa.
Ceiling fans are measured across the diameter of the fan, so from one blade tip across to the corresponding blade tip, for fans with an even number of blades. Fans with an odd number of blades are also measured across the diameter, but since there isn’t usually a corresponding blade tip, they’re measured by doubling the measurement from the tip of the fan blade to the center of the motor housing. You’ll want to size your ceiling fan accordingly:
- For rooms 75 square feet or smaller, you can choose a fan up to 36 inches in diameter.
- For rooms 76 to 144 square feet, choose a fan 36 to 42 inches in diameter.
- For rooms 145 to 225 square feet, choose a fan 50 to 54 inches in diameter.
- For rooms above 225 square feet, choose a fan diameter of 60 inches or more.
The smallest ceiling fans are usually 28 or 29 inches wide, but they go all the way up to 90 inches wide or more, to accommodate the largest spaces and the highest ceilings.
Consider Functionality and Sustainability
Even the most basic ceiling fans should have a reversible motor, which is necessary because it allows you to benefit from the fan all year long.
In the summer, you can run the fan normally, so that the blades push cool air down and lower the temperature of your room by up to four degrees. In the winter, you can reverse the direction of the blades, which forces warm air down from the ceiling and keeps you cozy while letting you manage heating costs.
Reversible blades can make your ceiling fan one of the most cost-effective, sustainable HVAC technologies in your home – it costs just fractions of a cent to run a ceiling fan for an hour, and you can significantly reduce your dependence on fossil fuels for heating and cooling. In many climates, you can use a ceiling fan instead of turning on your A/C in spring and early summer, and you can keep your thermostat turned down lower in the winter.
Of course, you can choose fans these days with all kinds of other features that can make them both easier to use and more sustainable. For instance, smart ceiling fans can allow you to slash your energy bills year-round. You can control them remotely from your smartphone or connect them to your thermostat so that they come on automatically when your interior reaches a certain temperature.
Even if you can’t afford the fanciest smart fan, there are plenty of affordable, energy star-rated ceiling fans that can reduce your home’s carbon footprint. When it comes down to it, any ceiling fan is going to make your home more sustainable by lessening the burden on your HVAC, so you can use less fossil fuels while still enjoying the same level of comfort.
Other Features to Consider
Of course, aside from a reversible motor and eco-friendly features, the most basic feature you might need on a new ceiling fan is a remote control or wall control functionality that lets you control the speed and direction of the fan without the need to get on a stepladder (possibly) and strain to reach the pull cord.
You’ll also want to consider the height of your ceiling and the profile of the fan. If you have low ceilings, you’ll want a ceiling fan that preserves head space in the room. If you have high ceilings, you can buy a longer downrod so that your fan is mounted at the right height to maximize air flow.
Match the Style of the Fan to Your Décor
In the old days, homeowners used to try to match ceiling fans to the ceiling, so that they could blend in and be less of an eyesore. But these days, you can choose from so many attractive and stylish designs that it’s better to match the fan to your décor or to the architectural style of your home.
Far from the dowdy-looking, wicker-and-wood fan that used to hang in your grandma’s kitchen, you can now choose from sleek, modern designs, industrial looks and more. Choose a smooth, sleek wooden fan that matches your hardwood floors and trim, an industrial design that coordinates with your metallic fixtures or a midcentury look that adds a pop of color to your space.
Choosing the right ceiling fan for your home is a matter of finding the features and functionality you need in an attractive fixture that will complement your décor—but picking the fan is the hard part. Once you have your new ceiling fan installed, you’ll wonder why you didn’t upgrade sooner.
Feature image: Alvin Matthews; Image 1: Bersam
