August 2005

Summer Breeze

There's nothing like a nice breeze to make summer days more tolerable.  You can bring summer breezes indoors with an electric ceiling fan.

Besides adding comfort, a ceiling fan can be a big energy saver.  Most only use the same amount of electricity as a 100-watt bulb. The wind chill effect ceiling fans produce means you can run the air conditioner at a higher setting and still feel just as cool.

For every degree you raise the air conditioner's thermostat, you'll cut its energy use three to five percent.

You can also use the fan in the winter to save on the heating bill.  Run the fan in reverse on low speed to push heated air against the ceiling back down to living spaces.

To get the most energy savings, cut the fan off when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not living spaces.

Don't go out and buy just any fan. A little research pays off in getting a fan you'll be happy with for many years.

The fan's motor is its heart. Outside, look for a heavy, die-cast housing. The heavier the housing, the more heat it dissipates. This means the motor runs cooler and lasts longer. A heavy housing is also less susceptible to vibration.

The motor's bearings reduce friction between moving parts. Look for models with lubricated, sealed bearings. Sealed bearings mean they'll be maintenance free for the life of the fan. And lubrication adds to the bearings' lifespan.

Check also for heavy-duty windings, the copper wire inside the motor.  Some better models may have almost half a mile of wire in the windings.

Curved designer blades? Nope, formerly straight blades on an indoor fan put to outdoor use. If you install a ceiling fan outside, get one rated for damp locations. That means it features a sealed motor, rust-resistant finish and all-weather blades.

The fan's blades do the work of moving the air. Some move air better than others.

The angle of the blades, known as pitch, is critical to the fan's performance. Too little pitch means the blades won't move much air.  Look for a 12 to 15 degree blade pitch. A lesser pitch may be a sign that the motor is underpowered and can't easily turn angled blades.

Better fans come with balanced blades packaged together as a matched set.  This almost ensures you won't have to deal with wobble after the fan is installed.  Rubber mounts between the blades and the motor will also help control vibration.

Want to change the fan from your easy chair? New technology enables remote control, as a factory option on some models or an aftermarket add-on that fits most others

That way, not only is the ceiling fan saving energy. You're saving energy too.

Ceiling Fan Sizing

With all the choices in fan size, which is right for you?  This chart lists suggested sizes.

Ceiling Fan Mounting Tips

More Information:  Energy Star

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