Picking The Right Fan For Your Home

Discover Five Important Facts

A ceiling fan is a great way to add a bit of flair to any room, porch, or other outdoor area. But they also go a long way in helping you save money on energy bills and live in a comfortable climate — both in the summer and the winter! When you shop for ceiling fans with Franklin Lighting, you’ll be able to find a unit that fits in your space and accomplishes all of your needs. Shop with us online or visit our showroom to see all of our available options!

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The five important things to think about when choosing a fan are:

  • Air circulation direction
  • Finding the right size
  • Finding the right spot
  • Overall performance
  • Energy savings
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1. Air Circulation

In order to get the most out of your ceiling fan year-round, you will need to change the direction that the blades spin depending on the season. Some fans have a switch on the motor that can change this direction, while other newer fans utilize a remote to change this direction.

Summer

In the warm months, you will want your blades to be turning counterclockwise. In some cases, you may be able to raise the temperature on your air conditioning by up to four degrees and not have a noticeable reduction in comfort. In the spring and fall months where it may still be moderately warm, having a ceiling fan may even allow you to turn off your air conditioning all together! By using fans, you may be able to save on your home’s energy bills by up to 40%!

Winter

Once the colder months start to roll around and you are swapping to your heat instead of air conditioning, you will want your blades to turn clockwise. By running your fan on a low setting and in reverse, it will create air circulation throughout the room and send the warm air that can get trapped at the ceiling all the way throughout the space. Once again, this will save you from cranking the heat up even higher, and it will make your home more comfortable.

2. Choosing The Right Size

Finding the right size fan for each room in your home can get confusing and require a lot of measuring and double-checking, so we’ve come up with this quick cheat sheet to hopefully help simplify the process for you:

  • 29” Blades — Use in rooms up to 50 sq. ft. like bathrooms or hallways
  • 36” Blades — Use in rooms up to 75 sq. ft. like laundry rooms or reading nooks
  • 42” Blades — Use in rooms up to 100 sq. ft. like small bedrooms or kitchens
  • 50” or 52” Blades — Use in rooms up to 400 sq. ft. like standard bedrooms or family rooms
  • 54” or Larger Blades — Use in rooms over 400 sq. ft. like great rooms or master suites

3. Placing Your Fan

Eight-Foot Ceilings

In some rooms that you may want a ceiling fan, you won’t have enough space for a standard fan. That doesn’t mean you can’t get the benefits of air circulation though! There are options for hugger fans that sit much closer to the ceiling than normal, allowing them to have at least seven feet between the blades and the floor.

Higher Than Eight Feet

In rooms with ceilings that are higher than eight feet, you will have no trouble installing a fan. The fixture will be affixed to a rod, and hang about eight or nine feet above the floor. It is important to consider how close the fan is to the floor, because this dictates how much the air will truly circulate around the area. At Franklin Lighting, we offer a variety of different rod lengths that will allow the fan to hang at the perfect height for your space!

If you are mounting your fan on a ceiling that has some slope, simply be sure that you have the proper mounting hardware. Most sloped mounting kits allow you to mount fans at up to 40 degree angles. Just be sure you have at least eight inches of space between the edge of the fan blades and your ceiling before finalizing its spot in the room.

4. Overall Performance

We’ve all been in rooms where a ceiling fan isn’t quite balanced or is just a bit too old and the constant creaking and squeaking become unbearable. A fan should not only look great but operate quietly and efficiently. Fans are labeled by rating their highest speed. This will cover the fan’s:

  • Airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM)
  • Electricity consumption in watts
  • Airflow efficiency

By using these, you can find a fan that will work best for your needs. Usually, the most important factor is the airflow created by the fan. This is what will save you money on energy and create the most comfortable living environment. Some performance guidelines to get you started when searching for fans include:

  • Good airflow is 4000 to 5000 CFM
  • Better airflow is 5000 to 6000 CFM
  • Best airflow is more than 6000 CFM

5. Saving On Energy

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Summer

Did you know that fans don’t actually lower the temperature in a room in the summer? They simply create a wind chill effect that lowers the perceived temperature in the area. This is what allows you to change your thermostat setting by a few degrees and still feel comfortably cool and save money on energy.

Winter

When you are circulating your air into your rooms by running your fans in reverse during the winter months, you will be able to feel the effects of your heating system working much better. This means your heaters won’t have to work as hard to heat the space, once again saving you money on energy!

Find Your New Fans Today With Franklin Lighting

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Shop at Franklin Lighting today to find the ceiling fans that will be perfect for any area of your home. We have a huge selection of sizes and designs in stock! Explore our online catalog or visit our Sarasota showroom to get in-person help.