by Duane Craig

Created on: May 07, 2010

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ceiling fans are the most effective type of air circulation fan, beating out table fans, floor fans and pole fans. You can raise your thermostat by 4 degrees without sacrificing comfort when you use ceiling fans to help with cooling. Use ceiling fans to avoid running your air conditioner if you live where summer temperatures and humidity are not extreme. Consider a fan's look, its quality of construction, price and seven other things when deciding whether to buy.

Location

You may decide to use more than one ceiling fan in large spaces. Look closely at each place where you will install a fan to determine if you need to vary the size to fit the location. For example, areas with lower ceilings inside a large room might call for short bladed fans, while the fans under the larger, high ceiling will no doubt have long blades.

Fit

You can install ceiling fans that hug the ceiling, or ones that drop down from the ceiling. In rooms with very tall ceilings it is common for the fans to be dropped by hanging them on drop rods. Install the fan as a hugger, or flush mount, if it is going in a room with a standard ceiling height. This is especially important when installing a fan in a bedroom over a bed. Use an angle installation base where ceilings are sloped. You may also have to use a drop rod for these installations so the fan blades will clear the ceiling.

Energy

Save on your energy bills by buying a fan that has an Energy Star label. That means they will move air 20 percent more efficiently than other models.

Noise

As fans increase in price they become quieter. Check the noise rating for the model you are considering. If possible listen to it when running to see if the noise is acceptable.

Uses

Consider the uses of the fan. You can get fans with light kits so you can add aesthetic or functional lighting at the same time you add air movement. Consider a fan with automatic temperature adjustment if you will use it primarily to increase the efficiency of heating and cooling a space.

Controls

You can turn a fan on and off, select its speeds and turn its lights on or off with pull chains, wall switches or remote controls. You might have to add chain to the pull chains if you have a very tall ceiling. You may have to cut holes in your walls and add electrical boxes and wires if you decide to control the fan from a wall switch.

Size

Choose a ceiling fan that fits your space. Small rooms use fans with short blades while large rooms require long blades to move the higher volume of air. Use fans that have short blades in narrow spaces with steeply vaulted ceilings so the blades clear the ceiling's surface.

Learn more about this author, Duane Craig.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.