Today
ceiling fans are an important part of creating the perfect
home decor. In the last 10 years ceiling fans have become
more technologically advanced, providing cooling in the
summer months and warming in the winter months to save
you on your energy bill drastically.
Fans
can reduce prices on your energy bill up to 40% in the
summer and 10% in the winter, using only as much as 
energy
as a 100 watt light bulb. During the summer fans create
a "cooling effect" lowering temperatures as
much as 7 degrees and recirculating the heat in the winter
to the living area. Fans are being used now not only in
the main rooms in your home but also in patios, verandas,
kitchens and bathrooms where dampness may be an issue.
Ceiling fans may differ in prices, consumers should study
the differences before making a purchase. Inexpensive
fans will look good when they are new, in time they will
start to warp, become off-balance, and wear out quickly.
Pay attention to the details to pick a good high quality
fan for your home. Ceiling fans can provide years of comfort
and beauty if you pay attention to the quality, motor,
durability, performance, design and warranty.
Find
a fan to coordinate your individual home style by choosing
the color, finish, blade design, size, accessories, lighting
and style. There are many styles to choose from, some
of these include: polished brass, antique brass, iron,
copper, nickel, pewter, chrome, black, vibrant colors,
oak, rosewood and other real wood veneers.
Consider
these details before selecting a new fan for your home:
-
Fan
Size:
For maximum efficiency choose a fan to fit your room
size. In a room up to 75 square feet like a bathroom
choose a 29"- 36" fan. Medium sized rooms
up to 144 square feet can fit ceiling fans from 36"-
42". The larger bedrooms and family rooms around
225 square feet work most efficient with fans that are
50"- 54".
-
Height
from the ceiling:
Place the fan higher than 7 feet above the floor in
the middle of the room for maximum comfort, circulation,
safety and aesthetics. Optimal placement would be either
8 or 9 feet from the floor.
-
Blades:
Fan blades determine the amount of air being circulated
throughout the room. The fan blade brackets should be
positioned to hold the blade at a 12-15 degree angle
for optimal circulation and be weighed and matched as
a balanced set to avoid having your fan wobble. A fan
with less than a 12 degree angle will not circulate
air as well and be less efficient. The greater the angle
of the blade the more air circulation you will have
in your room. Blades should be made with wood or acrylic
and be sealed and treated to resist humidity. Ask your
ALA showroom representative for any additional questions
on fan blades or angles.
-
Motor:
The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. The motor
is responsible for producing quiet operation while driving
the blades for air movement. Look for high-quality motors
with heavy-duty windings and sealed bearings that are
permanently lubricated. Smaller, less powerful motors
found on lower quality fans may produce higher operating
temperatures, lower air circulation and noisier operation.
Motors are designed to work flawlessly for long periods
of time and should have a long lasting life.
-
Lights:
To add the finishing touches, choose from classic to
contemporary lights to complement the look of your fan.
Opal, marble, crystal, glass and hand blown glass can
also be added to a fitter or fixture shade to enhance
the design. Light kits can also be added or custom designed
to match your home d cor. For a more relaxed environment
uplighting is available, the light bounces off the ceiling
to create more of a mood effect than the traditional
downlighting.
-
Finish:
Finish makes the fan blades more durable. A high quality
finish will resist against blistering, tarnishing, fading
and corrosion. Less advanced finishes on the fan blades
can be very fragile and start to peel, bubble and corrode
quickly. Brass finishes are long lasting, scratch resistant
and never need polishing. Painted finishes are thick,
rich and durable as a result of the advanced painting
process.
-
Warranty:
When you choose to purchase look for a good warranty
for the life of your fan. Some fan manufacturers offer
a lifetime warranty and in-home service.
-
Installation:
Installation can be so easy that with a few basic skills
one person can install the product themselves. With
step by step instructions your new fan can be up and
working efficiently. Some fans come with a support system
to assist you by freeing your hands to make wiring connections.
For extra help ask our showroom representative how to
get assistance with hanging your new fan in your home.
