Benefits of ceiling fans
Very few people will buy the ceiling fan solely for its decorative attributes. There are a few other benefits that most people are looking for, which include a cooler room. The device blows away the hot air around you, and all you can feel as a result is a cool breeze.
Of course, the effect of a cooler room can also be achieved using a conventional HVAC system. However, the difference is that a HVAC system will consume much more energy from your home. Therefore, by using a ceiling fan instead, you get to cut down on some of your utility bills and can save more money as a result.
Remember that some offer reverse fan motion as well. This makes them usable in the winter as well. They will work to distribute the heat in the room more evenly without needing the HVAC.
Buyers of ceiling fans will love how the devices don’t require maintenance. Cleaning them is easy. Also, you may need to change bulbs as well as check the integrity of the fastening screws once in a while.
Another thing you would note with these tools is they are simply designed and thus easy to install.
Features to consider when choosing a ceiling fan with remote
It is no secret that some of you look at a list of ceiling fan features and get even more confused. How, would you know what a downrod is and how it affects your installation? The truth is you may not know about the mentioned features, and that may present a problem in your purchase process.
However, eliminating this problem is easy. You just read the section below. When you finish, you will know all about ceiling fan jargon. Also, you will know what benefits come by as a result of the inclusion of certain features.
Style
Admittedly there is only one style of ceiling fan with remote shown above, and that is the hanging propeller option. Often when such a fan is installed, it is put there to serve the needs of the whole room. The name suggests a similar design to that of a plane propeller.
Nevertheless, the propeller hangs from the ceiling of your house. Another style is the directional ceiling fan. Directional ceiling fans can be controlled as to the specific spots in the room where they need to focus blowing air hence the name. You may even have directional devices that incorporate more than one fan in the machine.
In some cases, you can use a remote to alter the direction of airflow, while in others, you will need manual input. Lastly, there are rotational style fans whose blades are capable of spinning independently. Multiple sets of blades are another characteristic that they may possess.
Mounting type
Paying attention to the mounting type is something smart fan shoppers do. The common ones are hugger ceiling fans, close-to-ceiling/low profile ceiling fans, ceiling fans with downrods and ceiling fans on sloped ceilings.
A hugger ceiling fan is a popular pick for people with low ceilings. The flush mounting means zero clearance to the ceiling. They are also known as flush-mount ceiling fans. You can look at the image of the GE 20314 l Indoor LED Ceiling Fan for an example of the same.
Ceiling fans with downrods allow for the accessory to have certain levels of clearance from the ceiling. The downrod is a pipe that connects the mounting hardware attached to the ceiling to the central part of the fan, which includes the fan blades and the motor.
A downrod can be quite long, depending on your needs. This is apparent in the case of the Minka-Aire F843-DK Ceiling Fan, which has an optional downrod with a reach of 60”. Close-to-ceiling fans may also have shorter downrods.
If you were to pick the 3.5” downrod for the Minka-Aire F843-DK Ceiling Fan, it would be a low profile ceiling as well. Lastly, you have ceiling fans that work for sloped ceilings. As you would expect, they have to cater to the slope by incorporating more clearance. This prevents the ceiling from coming into contact with the fan blades.
Damp vs. dry vs. wet-rated fans
Whether you want to install the ceiling fan with remote inside or outside alongside where you live will also heavily influence the fan you pick. The dry fans work where there is zero contact with moisture. Moreover, heat can sometimes be detrimental to them, as well.
Manufacturers advise that you only use these models indoors and in areas of the house where humidity is low. The Hunter 59211Sentinel Ceiling Fan is a prime example of dry-rated fans.
Damp fans can handle the occasional encounter with moisture. Thus, being in a bathroom shouldn’t be a problem. Humidity won’t be detrimental to them either. If, however, you expose them to rain or snow, you may have a problem.
Wet-rated fans are the best suited for outdoor areas. Rain or snow and high humidity levels will not affect the lifespan of the fan.
Size
Remember that size of the fan blades is going to affect the airflow. As such, accounting for the size of the fan alongside the size of your room is essential. The 42” Westinghouse Lighting 7876400 LED Ceiling Fan may, for instance, be good enough for small rooms. Nonetheless, it won’t be able to service the needs of larger rooms. You need a larger option, such as the 52” Minka-Aire F843-DK Ceiling Fan for that.
Airflow
CFM ratings are as well displayed for almost all fans you come across. You can tell the volume of air the fan can move by looking at the CFM rating. Additionally, there are ideal CFM ratings for different room sizes. This necessitates that you check both your room size and correlate that to the cubic feet per minute rating of a prospective fan purchase. With this, you are sure you get adequate ventilation from the fan.
Blades
If you want more air circulation from fans of the same size, you are better off choosing options with fewer blades. There isn’t as much drag when the blades are minimal; hence the fan can rotate faster, leading to more airflow. Adding more blades, of course, has the opposite effect.
Remote control
Handheld remotes are popular since you can use them from anywhere. However, they also get misplaced a lot, and that can leave you in a bind. With wall control, you don’t need to worry about losing remotes since the controls remain in the same position.
Even better is a handheld remote and wall control combo. Using a smartphone application with ceiling fans is also possible with products like the Honeywell Carmel 48-Inch Ceiling Fan. Since people carry their smartphones/phablets everywhere, they will always have control of the fan.
Materials
Drag is a common phenomenon where the spinning of the blades is concerned. Of course, it is caused by the friction between the air and the fan blades. If the fan blades aren’t strong enough, they would be broken or be bent by the pressure exerted.
Similarly, the product is likely to have a short lifespan if the materials used to make it are inferior in quality. The Minka-Aire F843-DK Ceiling Fan is made solely out of steel; hence it wouldn’t be surprising for it to last more than a few years.
Lights
Some ceiling fans come with a light and a remote with the example of the Honeywell Carmel 48-Inch Ceiling Fan. The incorporation of lights could work to your advantage, especially if your fan is installed in a central position.
That being said, even the quality of the light can affect your experience. The incorporation of LEDs is often preferred, given their long lifespans and energy efficiency. The minimal heat produced may also be easily swept away by the motion of the fan.
Remember that not all ceiling fans come with lights. If the prospective purchase doesn’t, do you have a plan to cater for lighting? Will the lights you already have posed a problem for the installation? For better results, answer these questions before deciding to pick option A or B on from the ceiling fan options you want to buy.
Energy use
There is no doubt that buyers are trying to cut down on costs by using a fan instead of the usual HVAC system. However, how much energy you save also matters. Some will use up more energy to power the motors. Of course, those with lights in their designs also need to power them. Remember that minimal energy use is ideal as you compare the benefits of different ceiling fans.
Noise level
A fan with an audible motor being installed in the bedroom would make it impossible to sleep for some. In other rooms, in the house, the hum produced may be downright annoying. A quiet fan is best. You get all the benefits without any annoying noises.
Warranty
Also, getting a fan that breaks down within a month of use wouldn’t do you any good. Worse is if a warranty does not cover you for repairs. In cases like this, you regret the purchase, and that might even put you off from buying another ceiling fan.
Someone else would get a replacement or their fan repaired for free by the manufacturer. For this reason, a lot of people look for warranties in most of their purchases. They also pay attention to the wording of these guarantees to know what components of their investment are covered. You should do something similar while selecting a fan.
