Choosing Your Ceiling Fans By Sharon Mcneece

One of the easiest ways to add style and comfort to a room is with a ceiling fan. After over 100 years on the market, the ceiling fan has progressed in design and functionality, and there are thousands of makes and models to choose from.

First examine the room where you will be putting the ceiling fan taking measurements of floor space and room height. If your room is smaller you will want a fan with a small blade, to avoid the appearance of an overcrowded room. A standard size fan for a bedroom is a 36-inch blade fan, while most family rooms would do better with a model that has 48 or 56 inch blades.  Fans that sit farther from the ceiling provide more air flow, but rooms with short ceilings may require ceiling-hugger models to accommodate the space.

If you are replacing a lamp in a room with a ceiling fan you will want to make sure that the ceiling fan has a light fixture or comes with a kit to add a light fixture that is of comparable brightness to your current light. An additional important feature is being able to reverse the airflow of the fan in the winter, which pushes the warm air down into the room.

It is also a good idea to check the fan blades. The more blades on the fan, the more air movement can be moved at lower speeds, resulting in less noise. Blades should also be evenly weighted, and made of particleboard, not wood as it will warp over time. The pitch of the blade should be between 12 and 14.

How your fan will be controlled is depends on what kind of model you get. Many fans have controllers that replace your light switch which can modify the fan speed as well as control the lights. Other models are controlled only by a pull chain or with a remote control.

Choose a dealer that has a large selection and can offer you a range of choices. Ceiling fans can run from less than fifty dollars to more than three hundred depending on the model, so make sure you have a clear idea of what you want before you visit the dealer. You can also browse online for different makes and models to get an idea before heading to the store.