Everything You Need to Know to Choose the Best Ceiling Fan

The classic operation of the ceiling fan has been around for over a century, and every new generation has new features designed to improve your experience. How do you know what fan will work best in your home? We’ve got a few tips to help you find the perfect match.

Ceiling Fan Terminology

There are a few words and phrases you’ll see repeatedly while searching for a new ceiling fan. Let’s start off by breaking them down for you.

Amperage: The electricity needed to run the fan is measured in AMPs. The fan installs directly into a remodeling bracket or a new ceiling box, and wires into the power going to or from a wall switch.

Blades: The blades are what circulate the air to create a cooling breeze. Always check that the blades are included with your fan purchase. Some fans have many blade options to help customize the look of your space.

Blade Pitch: The angle of a single blade, which helps determine how effective the fan is at moving air. Blade pitch is measured in degrees.

Cubic Feet Per Minute: The total volume of airflow the fan produces at top speed is measured in CFM. 

ENERGY STAR: Fans with the ENERGY STAR stamp are rated as being 40% more energy efficient than other fan and light models. An Energy Star logo can save you as much as $180 in operation costs over the lifetime of the fan.

Motor Size: Measured in MMs. The higher the number, the more powerful the fan. 

Revolutions Per Minute: The total number of rotations in one particular minute, or the fan’s speed. Measured in RPMs, most fans have at least three speed settings. 

Vaulted Ceiling: Higher ceilings, usually angled more than a standard ceiling, can make fan selection slightly more complicated. If you have a vaulted ceiling, make sure the ceiling fan you want has a sloped ceiling adapter available.

Where Can You Install a Ceiling Fan?

The ceiling fan is a simple design intended to move air around, creating a light breeze without altering the room temperature. Fans are most effective when placed over an occupied area, such as a living room sitting area, or an office lobby.  A fan spinning in an empty room is really just wasting energy, so they should only be turned on when there are people in the room to enjoy the breeze.

Most modern fans include two settings to accommodate year round use of the ceiling fan:

• In the summer, the ceiling fan pulls the cooler air up by sweeping the blades counterclockwise. 
• In the winter, a clockwise spin forces the hot air down to circulate and mix. 

This makes ceiling fans a versatile solution for any room of the house. However, it’s important to pay attention to the UL rating of the fan when making a purchase, because fans are constructed for different environments, from dry to damp to wet.

UL Rated for Dry Environments

Indoor ceiling fans rated for dry areas are limited to use only in dry environments, such as living rooms, dens, hallways, or offices. Exposure to environmental elements such as high humidity, moisture, extreme temperatures, or UV light can cause wear and tear to even high quality indoor fan models.

UL Rated for Damp Environments

Ceiling fans approved for damp areas would tolerate the more humid air of a kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, screened porch, or a garage. These fans are capable of tolerating moisture and temperature variation, but they should not be exposed directly to water, such as rain.

UL Rated for Wet Environments

Ceiling fans approved for wet environments are built with more durable motor casings, steel parts and casings, and high grade finishes. ABS plastic fan blade materials are less subject to warping with exposure to sun, and the wiring is better shielded against water. Wet environment rated fans can be used in bathrooms and laundry rooms, as well as outside locations like a patio,greenhouse, open-air pergola, or even a spa or pool enclosure. 

Ceiling Fan Types

With ceiling fans, it’s all about creating airflow, and that means proper positioning to get the best impact from the recirculated air. Many fan mounting brackets can accommodate up to a 30-degree slope to the ceiling, but for more drastic angles or taller ceilings, a downrod or droprod can be installed to be sure the fan hangs at the appropriate height. Whether a low ceiling room or a vaulted hall, there is a ceiling fan to fit the space.

Standard Ceiling Fans

The fans in most homes are considered the standard fan, with 4 or 5 blades, and an assortment of extra, energy saving features. The common features will be a fan motor, fan blades, a control switch, and an installation type, but the details of the designs of all of these features will be up to you when you find just the right fan for your space.

Standard Fan Features to Look For

There are many features to customize a standard ceiling fan to your home’s style.

Low Profile Fans

Also called flushmount or hugger fans, low-profile fans have smaller blades, a smaller motor casing, and can be installed close to the ceiling. These are useful for narrow spaces or rooms with low ceilings. They stay close to the ceiling, taking up about 6” depth when mounted flush against the ceiling; for hugger fans with lights, you can expect the lights to hang up to an additional 12” below the motor casing.

Fans with Light Kit Included

For rooms like living rooms or bedrooms, it can be useful to have the fan pull double duty as both the air circulator and as a light source. Fans with a light kit have a drop-down base with some form of lamp securely mounted under the fan blades. They can provide up-light for ambiance, or downlighting for a wide splash of light to help with tasks, from putting dinner on the table to filling out paperwork. It depends on the look you want for your space, and on the ways you intend to use the space under the fan to determine what type of lamp would work best in the light kit.

Downrod Included

For most fan installations, it’s ideal to have the fan at around 8’ or 9’ above the ground for effective airflow. When outfitting a fan in a room with high ceilings, the height of the fan can be lowered using a narrow section of pole called the downrod. Downrods usually come in sections as short as 6” long and they secure to the fan casing on one end and the ceiling bracket on the other. They are strong enough to support the weight of the fan against the force of the fan’s motor and the blade’s circular momentum.

Specialty Fan Types

In addition to the unique decor shapes available in the thousands of ceiling fan models that fall in the three main installation types, there are a few specific categories of fans for less common areas. 

Dual-motor ceiling fans

Mostly decorative in function, dual-motor ceiling fans allow customized air flow by positioning fans to angle in more than one direction. These fans have a central installation point, like a standard fan would, but the circuit powers two fan motors, on either side of the casing. The two fan motors each power their own short blades and are pointed out in opposite directions.

Each fan can be set at a different speed, and together they can cover a wider area. They are usually found commercially, such as at cafes or restaurants, because the individual airflow can be adjusted, offering two fans with just a single installation.

Commercial Fans

Found in open building floorplans, such as warehouses and lofts, commercial fans are usually slightly larger in size, with more emphasis on functionality than style. They are designed to be installed from ceilings between 10’ to 25’ high, utilizing downrods and covering a large area in a variety of environmental conditions.

Industrial Fans

With an emphasis on power and effectiveness, industrial fans are intended to be installed on high ceilings to cover large areas. They maximize airflow by utilizing straight blades and often look something like a plane propeller. They move a lot of air very quickly, which makes more noise than the average ceiling fan. 

Agricultural Fans

Designed for use in large greenhouses, barns, and warehouses, agricultural fans are usually installed on high ceilings. The fan motor casings and blades are sealed against moisture and dirt, and are waterproof to stand up against the weather.  

Find The Right Fan Size For Any Room

There are a few important placement tips when planning where to install a ceiling fan. 

• For safety, a ceiling fan should never be installed lower than 7’ above the ground.  
• To achieve the best airflow, install a fan centered in a room or hallway, with the tip of the fan blades no closer than 20” to the nearest wall. 

To find the size that will best fit, you’ll need to know the square footage of the room. All you need to determine the square footage is some basic measurements and a simple formula.  

According to the guidelines set out by Energy Star, you can then pick a fan size based on the blade span that is the best match for the room’s expected airflow capacity. The blade span is measured from blade tip to blade tip, across the center of the fan.

The Right Blades for Your Fan

A ceiling fan can have up to 9 blades per motor, but it’s important to note that a fan with more blades does not necessarily result in better airflow.  The amount of air moved - the volume of air - is determined by the speed and effectiveness of the fan motor, as well as the number of blades and their pitch. 

There are many factors to consider when judging how many blades will work best in your space. For instance, two or three blades at a flat angle to each other can move a lot of air, but they are also very noisy.

Most residential fans will have 4 or 5 blades per motor, to help balance out power and wind resistance. Adding more blades, with a raised pitch to help cut through the air, will quiet the air movement, but it will circulate less air. Too many fan blades can create drag on the motor, which can slow down the fan and, again, soften the airflow.

Longer blades will create a softer airflow, while shorter blades can move more directed air in a smaller space. The optimal blade pitch is no more than 15 degrees to create a comfortable breeze.

It’s best to go with a quality blade material and finish to ensure you enjoy a long-lived fan. Wood or bamboo blades can come in custom shapes with artistic flare, while ABS plastic blades can be easier to clean. Many blades are reversible, so the finish can be two different colors depending on which side is installed facing down.

Fan blades can be found in any color, from stained wood grain to painted white, red, black, or other custom colors. Look for hardware finish colors and metal accents that complement the existing finishes in the room, from traditional antique bronze, to newer trends like matte black and gold.

What Size Ceiling Fan Do I Need Outside?

With a fan rated for wet, outdoor environments, the comfort of an indoor breeze can be brought to an outside patio or seating area. They face a few different challenges, however, such as different temperatures and likely a cross-draft on a windy day.

Because of this, outdoor ceiling fans should typically be at least 52” in diameter. Anything smaller than that may not have the capacity to move enough air around. Outdoor fans up to 70” in diameter are available for larger areas.

Outdoor ceiling fans should also be at least 7’ from the floor and a safe distance from interference of walls or other structures.

Fan Features

Most modern fans will have variable speed controls, offering at least a gentle, medium, or high speed setting. The difference is in how you control them.

Pull chains

The classic pull-chain control system allows anyone tall enough to reach the chain attached to the motor casing the ability to change the fan speed. There are often pull chains attached to fans with or without light kits, even when the fans can be controlled by other means.

Wall switches

Particularly common with lighted fans, wall switches can allow for simple on/off operation, with the speed set by the pull chain off the motor, or some can include the speed settings on a slider switch. Wall switches also allow the ability to integrate with smart home systems or to be powered by sensor plates that detect movement in the room.

Remote Controls

Newer ceiling fans can now be found with an optional remote control. The fan remotes offer push-button controls for the different speed settings, as well as the light settings. This is particularly useful with dimmer lights. The remote controls often include a mounting frame to store the remote on the wall where there would otherwise be a traditional light switch, so the remote can be held in hand and used throughout the room, or it can be left on the wall and easy to find.

Smart Home Compatibility

Many new fans can be controlled using apps on cell phones or tablets via smart home hubs. This smart home compatibility allows enhanced customization of light settings and fan speeds. They can also be configured to turn the fans on automatically based on room occupancy or time of day.

Ceiling Fan Power Use

Ceiling fans cool a room’s occupants by creating a breeze, which requires constant motion in order to be effective. They require energy and can cause a spike in the electric readings. Energy Star certified fans are independently verified to use 40% less energy than other models, with optimized motor and blade designs to ensure the most up to date, efficient technology.

Another common power choice is between an AC or DC powered fan motor. Both connect to the ceiling junction boxes in the same way, but they offer different advantages and price points. When it comes to determining which is better for your money, the choice is mostly a matter of aesthetic preference and budget flexibility. 

AC Fans

Utilizing Alternating Current, AC electrical motors are a common standard in ceiling fans. They are available in a wide variety of designs from a large selection of brands. AC fans are very energy efficient and use less than 100watts of energy at high speed. The initial cost of an AC fan can be cheaper up front, though they will use more energy than a DC fan over the lifetime of the fan.

DC Fans

A Direct Current electrical motor will feed the power from the AC ceiling connection into a built-in transformer to convert it to DC power. The slim-design DC fan then uses a system of magnets to create the force behind the fan’s smooth rotation. This allows the fan to use up to 70% less energy than a standard AC motor. DC motors are generally quieter than AC, and offer more responsive speed settings. DC ceiling fans rely on a newer technology, and most require the purchase and upkeep of remote controls to offer the full range of speed and lighting options.