CEILING FANS: How do you select the right one?

How do you choose the best ceiling fan, and save on energy?  Read more from a guest writer, and Monte Carlo Fan Co. here on GetWithGreen.com… 

CEILING FAN CAN LOWER BILLS
By Mary Beth Breckenridge  

Ceiling fans help you lower both your cooling and heating bills.   Here are some tips from Monte Carlo Fan Co. for choosing and using a fan:

For best results, mount the ceiling fan in the middle of the room, at least 7 feet above the floor and 18 inches from the walls. If you have a tall-enough ceiling, installing the fan 8 to 9 feet above the floor will produce optimal air flow.

Select the right-size fan for the room. A good retailer should be able to help you choose the correct size. A 10-by-10-foot room, for example, should have a 38- to 48-inch fan; a 15-by-15-foot room needs one that’s 52 to 56 inches across.

Look for the Energy Star label, which indicates the fan moves air more efficiently than conventional fans.

For humid areas such as bathrooms, buy a unit that has a ”damp” rating from Underwriters Laboratories. A fan that may come into direct contact with water, such as one on an exposed patio or porch, should have UL’s ”wet” rating. These fans have features such as sealed or moisture-resistant motors, rust-resistant housings, stainless steel hardware and all-weather blades.

In winter, reverse the blades so they rotate clockwise. This produces an updraft, which forces warmer air near the ceiling to circulate downward.

Turn the fan off when you’re not in the room. A ceiling fan doesn’t lower or raise the temperature; it just makes people feel cooler or warmer by circulating the air. 
 

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