Ceiling fans are not like air conditioners and they don’t remove the humidity from the air or lower temperatures. But you can save money and energy by using a ceiling fan and turning off your air conditioning when possible, or at least turning the thermostat up a few degrees and let the ceiling fan do the rest. Ceiling fans come in a variety of sizes, finishes, and styles. The three-speed, 52-inch diameter ceiling fan is the most popular. More expensive fans often don’t deliver better performance but have fancier finishes on the motor cover.

Here are some key points to understand: • Save energy. The recommended temperature is 78° during summertime, but some people like it cooler. Using a ceiling fan costs little to run and can make your room feel 4° F cooler. Besides, fans don’t cool the room, they cool you, so you can just turn them off before leaving the house. • Blade shape is important. You can get the idea of how well a certain ceiling fan moves the air by looking at cubic feet per minute numbers on its box. A higher number usually means better air movement, but a small difference in numbers really doesn’t matter. For example, tests show almost the same results for fans rated at 5,000 and 5,600 cfm. In addition, think twice before buying a fan with blades that have surface texture, such as bumps and ridges; they often make noise (compared to fans with small, smooth blades). •  Wobble. Modern fans come with balancing kits – weights that you should attach to the fan blades to make a difference in blade weight and remove the wobble. This is a simple process, but it also requires time and effort.

Energy Star.Energy Star is a designation for a product that meets certain energy efficiency guidelines. Ceiling fans that have met the requirements can deliver exceptional benefitswhile using less energy. They move air up to 20% more efficiently than other models. The Energy Star ceiling fans with light kits are 50% more efficient than conventional fans and can save you a lot on utility bills.

Choose Your Style.From ornate to traditional, ceiling fans can have a retro-feeling or add a modern twist. Basic fan blades usually come in a paddle shape, but you can also find leaf and oval shapes, as well as blades with different textures. Motor-cover finishes include pewter, bronze, and brass. Popular blade finishes include oak, maple, cherry, and blades painted in different colors.

Installation Requirements.It’s advised to install a ceiling fan in the center of the room 7 to 9 feet above the floor, to attain perfect airflow. Some basic tips include placing the fan not closer than 24 inches from drapes and walls. Manufacturers can also have specific requirements for certain models. If you want to use your fan as a lantern, be sure your electrical box can handle the weight of the ceiling fan. If you don’t know, call an electrician or read the instructions.

Wet/Damp Rating.If the fan is to be placed in a porch, choose the wet rating. These fans have rust-resistant housing, moisture-resistant motors, all-weather blades, and hardware made of stainless steel.

You can get a light kit for ceiling fans in three different ways: included with the fan when you purchase it, integrated into the fan, or bought separately. These light kits are often sold as universal, so they can be used on many different models. Besides, ceiling fans are also light kit adaptable. However, sometimes the compatibility is only between ceiling fans and light kits of the same brand or the same size.

If you want a fan with lighting, be sure to find an Energy Star approved light kit. The Energy Star lighting is long lasting and efficient, so you won’t have to change bulbs very often. Light kits come in several common options: stemmed or branched kits that have globes and can point up or down, anduplight kits that point towards the ceiling and should be placed on top of the housing to cast a soft light.

Almost all Energy Star approved ceiling fans with lighting options use bowl lighting that can be attached directly to the housing of the fan or below the fan. Shade and bowl designs range from crystal, alabaster, and tiffany to clear. The price depends on the glass design, the size, and features.

Lightbulbs.  Not all LEDs and CFLs can be used in ceiling fans. If your fan has bowl lighting, you should get bulbs that are intended for an enclosed fixture. If your ceiling fan has globes or cans for bulbs, you should find bulbs specifically designed for ceiling fans. Don’t forget that lighting will increase your energy bills. Halogens are less efficient than CFLs and CFLs are less efficient than LEDs. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out due to their low energy efficiency.

MATCH THE FAN TO A CERTAIN AREA

A ceiling fan should fit the overall design of the room. The style you choose should not interfere with the feeling of the room but add to its décor, just like furniture and accessories, but on the ceiling. If you have a large room, you may need more than one ceiling fan.

Connect With Color. There are so many fancolor choices that you can easily find the one that coordinates with other furnishings in your room. It will help create unity and balance in your room. For example, thewood color of fan blades can be the same as the floor color. Metal finishes can match the cabinet hardware, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, or kitchen faucets.

Blend In.Fans are quite big and a bit clunky to conceal. If you want yours to be less visible, choose a simple style and color that can blend with the ceiling. A flush-mounted ceiling fan will blend even better.

KEEP IT CLEAN

It’s recommended to clean all ceiling fans once a season because dirty blades can’t move air as efficiently as clean ones. A pollen or dust covered ceiling fan will fling the particles everywhere as it’s whirring away. And if you have a ceiling fan in the kitchen, cooking grease will become a dust magnet. So keep your ceiling fans clean, especially if you use them often. Doing so requires a little effort, a ladder, and an all-purpose cleaner.

Cover TheFurniture And The Floor.  Spread old sheets or drop cloths over the furniture and on the floor that’s near or directly under the fan. A good tip is to cover an area twice as wide as your fan. Position the ladder so you can easily see the top of the fan blades. Remove the globes and wash them in the sink.

Dust Before Washing.  Start by removing dust with a duster or a cloth. Then moisten a sponge or a cloth with the all-purpose cleaner – don’t spray it on the fan – and wash every blade. You don’t need to apply heavy pressure because it will only bend the blades and your fan will no longer work properly. Damp blades will attract more dust, so dry thoroughly.

SpecialTools.  There is a special tool –a U-shaped, long handled brush – which you can find in home centers and hardware stores. With this tool, you can clean both sides of the blade at once. If you don’t have a tool at home, you can get an old pillowcase instead; slip it over the blades and pull back to remove dirt and dust. If you hate cleaning your ceiling fan, try car wax to prevent dust from sticking.