Ceiling fans have evolved over the past 10 years from being a household appliance to becoming the center piece of a room. Manufacturers such as Kichler Lighting have designed their ceiling fans to match their lighting collections giving a cohesive, polished look to any room. Other lines, like Monte Carlo Fans offer a wide range of fans to match your existing lighting. Fan styles range from the sleek and modern to the classic and traditional. We offer mini fans perfect for closets and bathrooms to fans with 60”+ blade spans for great rooms and larger living areas.
Picking the right fan:
It’s important to find the right fan for your space. Picking something too small or too large can create the opposite effect of what you're trying to achieve. Here are some general guideline when selecting a fan.
- A fan needs to fit the room it will be used in. Here are some general measurements to go by:
Less than 50 square feet - 29" fan
75 square feet - 36" fan
100 square feet - 42" fan
225 square feet - 52" fan
400 square feet - 56" fan
Larger than 400 square feet - 60" fan or consider using two 56" fans or two 52" fans
- For optimal air movement, it is recommended that fans be 7-9 feet above the floor. Do you need a downrod? Downrods are available in various lengths from 12" up to 72".
- Do you have lower ceilings? Consider a flush mount/hugger fan that does not require a downrod. Many fans are also compatible with flush mount kits to help accommodate lower ceilings.
- Do you need a remote or wall switch for your fan?
- Is your fan going in a location that may encounter water or moisture in the air? Make sure you select a damp or wet rated fan.
Cool off in the summer and heat up in the winter
Unlike air conditioners, fans only move air -- they do not directly change its temperature. In summer, the fan's direction of rotation should be set so that air is blown downward. The breeze created by a ceiling fan speeds the evaporation of perspiration on human skin, which makes the body's natural cooling mechanism much more efficient. Since the fan works directly on the body, rather than by changing the temperature of the air, during the summer it is more energy efficient to only use the fan when you’re in the room. Turn it off when you leave. .
In winter, ceiling fans should be set to turn the opposite direction and used on a low speed. Air naturally stratifies — that is, warmer air rises to the ceiling while cooler air sinks. A ceiling fan, with its direction of rotation set so that air is drawn upward, pulls up the colder air below, forcing the warmer air nearer the ceiling to move down to take its place, without blowing a stream of air directly at the occupants of the room. This action works to even out the temperature in the room, making it cooler nearer the ceiling, but warmer nearer the floor. Thus the thermostat in the area can be set a few degrees lower to save energy, while maintaining the same level of comfort. It is important to run the fan at a low speed to minimize the wind chill effect described above.
For additional guidelines, tips and information about ceiling fans, please Click Here to view our Fan Tips page.