There are many kinds of ceiling fans but here we are talking about the standard electrical ceiling fan. There are two main types of electric fans; one is for use indoor only (a regular ceiling fan) and another is for both indoor and outdoor (wall or window fans). This article deals with electric fan specially made to use indoor only.
Every fan has three main components, namely blades, motor and base. For an electric ceiling fan you need 110 volts AC to operate it. You may use 12 or 24 volt DC power supply to operate other kinds of fans but not an electric ceiling fan. It only works on the standard household electrical current – 110 V AC, 50/60 Hz. There are three speed settings for an electric ceiling fan, namely high, medium and low.
When the blades of a ceiling fan rotate over our head they create air flow or wind to make us feel cool or comfortable in summer time especially if you are sitting under its breeze. But how fast the fan should turn? Is it better to have the blades turning fast or slower? What should be the blade angle, size and pitch? How many blades with what length? What distance between the ceiling fan’s bases to the table/floor/ceiling? All these questions are answered in this article.
Electricity:
The first, and most important point to consider is the power of a ceiling fan. A fan with a powerful motor can be on at low speed and still blow more air than a cheaper one running high speed. This happens because the stronger motors create higher torque. It is the torque that spins the blades, which in turn creates wind.
The power of a fan can be expressed in either watts or horsepower (HP). One horsepower is equal to 746 watts, so when you see a ceiling fan advertised as having an HP motor, it means it has at least 750 watts. If you are looking for normal cooling effect in a room up to 400 sq ft, you need a fan that has at least 10,000 rpm. If the room is bigger than that or you want stronger airflow then go for one with 12,000 rpm motor.
Ceiling fan size:
When considering buying new ceiling fans you need to firstly decide on the size of fan that you need. The most common sizes are 52-inch, 42-inch and 36-inch. If you are before deciding which size to buy, measure the length and width of your room. If you have a small square/rectangular room, then go for 36-inch or 42-inch. If it’s a square/rectangular room with minimal furniture, choose 52-inch fan.
If your room is really huge say 50*50 feet area, then go for a 60-inch or 70-inch fan.
Number of blades:
Most modern fans now come with five, six and eight blades. More number of blades means more air movement and less noise as the blades create less disturbance in air flow created by the motor. So if you want to buy a ceiling fan keep in mind that more number of blades mean better efficiency.
Pitch (angle of the blades):
The pitch is the angle between the ceiling fan’s blades and its base. These angles are usually 30 degrees, 31 degrees and 52-53 degrees. If a room has a high ceiling i.e., above 9ft, you need a high pitch.
Ceiling fan blade size:
Blade length measures from tip to tip, between the two blades. Most fan companies have standard sizes for their fans made for easy replacement of a blade in case it is broken or damaged accidentally. If you break a blade, be sure to take it with you when buying new ones. In case a blade is damaged badly then you need to replace the whole fan as those companies don’t sell just blades separately.
Ceiling fan motor:
The power of the motor decides the number of watts it consumes. The power should be adequate to create enough airflow in summer time, but not too much as it will cause noise and air circulation can be felt in a circular motion.
Ceiling fan direction:
A normal ceiling fan can be turned towards four different directions i.e., clockwise, anti-clockwise, up and down. If you are using the fan in winter time then go for downward movement of air to feel more comfortable as heat from our body rises upwards. In summer it works best when set in clockwise direction as it creates a barrier and stops the hot air from hitting you head on.
Screw-ability:
This is the most important factor that a customer considers while buying a ceiling fan. All fans need to attach firmly on the ceiling but not all fans have similar mechanisms to do so. So, it is possible to buy a specific type of screw for your brand’s fan. Ask the seller if he is providing you with the accessories like screws, or else buy those separately as it is available at cheaper rates.
Ceiling fan installers:
There is a huge market for ceiling fans and most companies would do anything to make money by starting hire-purchase schemes and installment plans for their customers. You can avail such offers, but it is better if you buy a ceiling fan at the right price. Also, the brand and quality of the ceiling fan matters as we often see that after two years their parts start getting loose and screws break off making them useless. So, spend money on high-quality ceiling fans only and replace those with hire purchase schemes.
Ceiling fan types:
The designs of ceiling fans are very different from each other like best low profile ceiling fan with light, some are modern while others are antique. You can buy either of them as they all serve the purpose of cooling your room temperature. So if you like to maintain a particular theme in your house then it will be better if you just go with any type of ceiling fan that matches that theme.
Blade span:
Most fans have a blade length of about 40 inches to 48 inches. But sometimes it may be as short as 30 inches or as long as 60 inches depending on your needs and requirements.
