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Making the better buy.
Ceiling fans cool you in the summer and warm you in the winter, all for just pennies a day. They are extremely efficient: even at high speeds they use less energy than a 75-watt light bulb. Actually, fans save energy, with cooling costs alone lowered as much as 40 percent, according to a study by Florida Power and Light. In the summer, fans create a wind chill effect that makes a temperature of 78°-80°F feel like 72°F. So by using them you can set your thermostat higher. On most fans, the summer setting is a counter-clockwise rotation, viewed from below. In the winter, fans run in reverse (clockwise), reclaiming lost heat from the ceiling. They provide an even, comfortable temperature by moving hot air back down to the living areas below. Even though ceiling fans have been around for more than a century, they are more popular today than ever. If you are planning a purchase, use these helpful tips to make a better buy.
What to look for in a ceiling fan.
When shopping for a ceiling fan, you may find it difficult
to determine why one costs $50 and another $500. At first glance there may appear
to be no difference. Only when you begin to examine them closely, armed with
the information that follows, will you be able to recognize the qualities that
will assure years and years of beauty and comfort. Inexpensive ceiling fans may
look good when new, and they may even run well at first. After continued use,
however, they will become noisy; or they will warp, wobble or quickly wear out.
Selecting a proper ceiling fan should be done as carefully as picking a piece of
fine furniture. Look for a brand name, such as Craftmade, that carries with it
an established reputation for quality.
Quality made fans will not wobble.
The reason poorly made fans wobble is
because of cheap blade materials, rotors and/or improper sealing processes.
Blade brackets should have exact degrees of pitch or angles, where blades should
be matched in carefully weighed and balanced sets.
Quality made fans will not wear out early.
Those that do wear out have
undergone poor manufacturing techniques or inadequate testing and inspection.
Other problems that promote wear and tear are incorrectly matched motor size and
blade pitch. Defective motor windings can cause electrical shorts. And poorly
installed on/off pull chains can be pulled out of housing.
Quality made fans are not noisy.
Noisy ceiling fans generally are poorly
engineered and manufactured by using "short cuts." Inexpensive bearings reduce
costs, but also shorten the fan's life and contribute to the "hum and clicking"
sounds. Noisy fans also lack proper noise reducing components such as gaskets
and rubber cushions between the metal parts. Look for powerful, high-quality
motors with heavy-duty motor windings and sealed bearings that are permanently
lubricated.
Quality made fans will move more air.
The greater the blade pitch (the
angle the blade is set relative to the fan), the greater the air movement. Good
quality fans will be set at a 12° to 16° angle. Lesser quality models will
feature angles of 10° or under. With a blade angle of 12° to 16°, and a
correctly sized motor, the fan will efficiently move more air (CFM's) with less
effort (fewer RPM's). A 14° pitch will move about 40% more air than a 10°
pitch.
Ceiling Fan Guide Part II - Selecting a Ceiling Fan Model
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