Fans are a Breeze

One of the best ways to optimize our cooling and heating dollars is to keep the air moving.  Ceiling Fans neither cool nor heat the air, but they do average the temperature.  The original fan, designed back in the 1800s, was large, bulky, and ran on Alternating current, and was consequently noisy.

Modern technology has given us the induction motor, which runs on Direct Current, has no internal brushes, and is virtually silent.  What a vast improvement over the original design.  Now modern ceiling fans use approximately 70% less energy to do the same amount of work!

How many blades?

Physics tells us that the ideal slope angle for the blades is just between 12 and 14°, and the ideal number of fan blades is three.  Aesthetics tells us that we need four or five blades to “look nice”.  Ultimately it doesn’t change the efficiency too much, so get something that looks nice to you and fits well with your décor.

How big?

Generally speaking, a 29 inch fan or less is adequate for a room which is less than 75 square feet.  Above that up to 144 square feet can manage with a 30 to 42” fan.  A 44 to 48” fan can handle up to 225 square feet, and beyond that, up to 400 square feet, you should be looking at 50 to 54” in total blade width.

While a fan in the 50”+ range could handle a room measuring 20 × 20 feet with relative ease, an elongated room that was 10 × 40 feet might be better served by twin fans.  In that instance, two fans in the 44” range should be adequate.

Which direction should it turn?

There is something called a wind-chill factor, where moving air allows our own bodies cooling system to dispose of waste heat more efficiently.  In summer the air should blow downwards to maximize this effect.  In the wintertime heat tends to collect near the ceiling, so by drawing air upwards from beneath the fan warmth is pushed to the walls where it descends without a cooling breeze. Thus, generally they should turn clockwise in winter and counterclockwise in summer.

Other Types of Fans

• Often fans are integrated with lighting systems. Kitchen ceiling lights are frequently equipped with fans to make it more comfortable in the kitchen while cooking.  Sometimes a wall fan, mounted in just the right spot, can provide much needed relief in a particularly warm area.
• There are also exhaust fans, designed to get rid of something in the air that you don’t want, such as cooking odors, with an exhaust hood over your range.
• For the protection of your home it’s a very good idea to have an exhaust fan in your bathroom or laundry room. Bathroom fans get rid of excessive moisture from showers, baths and so on, so that mold doesn’t have the chance to grow.
• Quite often people install fans outdoors on open or enclosed porches. This allows them to enjoy a little fresh air and still be relatively cool without the use of air-conditioning.  It is important to select a fan rated for water-resistance or damp-resistance when used outdoors, otherwise you’ll quickly find the fan blades drooping like the petals of dying flowers.  Take note you folks in Austin, New Orleans, and Orlando!

Ultimately, fans are a terrific investment.  They average out our heating and cooling so that it’s not necessary to run the furnace or air-conditioning as long or as often.  The styles and designs available nowadays are extremely attractive.  Quiet, economical, and reliable, they can keep you and your family comfortable, while decreasing your carbon footprint and making our planet a better place to live.

To view all GoingLighting fans visit our website and check out our huge selection of ceiling, bathroom, and outdoor fans.