Ceiling fan 101

[snow_monkey]

Just spent 3 days learning all there is to know about ceiling fans. I was shocked how little most people know about proper selection, installation, and operation. I found that on the low setting a fan consumes close to 100 watts. The benefits far offset the added cost of electricity. The most important part that people do not realize is that the direction of the fan is crucial and is not standardized in the industry. Most fans available today come pre-set to spin clockwise when you look up at the fan. This clockwise motion should force the air down towards the floor and is the proper setting for summer. In the winter you need to reverse the motor so that the air is drawn up and forced down the walls where it is cold. There are detailed sizing charts to pick the appropriate fan for a specific size room. The best source for easy to use information that I found was the Hunter Corporation and they had a very good website.

 

[whitedust]

Room size info is on the display cartons. Most people just want to move air around for cooling. Use of fan when heating can help but some people feel uncomfortable with drafts in colder temps. Hunter makes good fans.

 

[anonomoose]

Snow Monkey....you got to get a LIFE!

Whatcha gunna do next week, study how paint dries??

Now if you can tell me how to avoid life and limb cleaning those suckers that are way...way up there without killing myself....now you have some information I can UUUUZZZZZZ

I have found that fans that are set tight to the ceiling are far less effective in doing their job than one that is on a down shaft. Put some room between the ceiling and the fan and watch it work far better.

It's just keeping the kids from walking into the running fan that is the problem....cause a fan running at eye level is certain to bring problems.

 

[jr37]

Just remember to turn the fan off when painting the ceiling, it's really hard to paint between the blades when it is spinning.

 

[snow_monkey]

Snow Monkey....you got to get a LIFE!

Whatcha gunna do next week, study how paint dries??

Now if you can tell me how to avoid life and limb cleaning those suckers that are way...way up there without killing myself....now you have some information I can UUUUZZZZZZ

I have found that fans that are set tight to the ceiling are far less effective in doing their job than one that is on a down shaft. Put some room between the ceiling and the fan and watch it work far better.

It's just keeping the kids from walking into the running fan that is the problem....cause a fan running at eye level is certain to bring problems.

Not in need of a life. I am anal retentive. To combant my disorder I have learned to finish tasks or they will drive me nuts. Thats why whenever I take on venture I dive in head first! Also goo gone spray works great on those sticky kitchen ceiling fans!

 

[jonesin]

Snow Monkey....you got to get a LIFE!

Whatcha gunna do next week, study how paint dries??

Now if you can tell me how to avoid life and limb cleaning those suckers that are way...way up there without killing myself....now you have some information I can UUUUZZZZZZ

I have found that fans that are set tight to the ceiling are far less effective in doing their job than one that is on a down shaft. Put some room between the ceiling and the fan and watch it work far better.

It's just keeping the kids from walking into the running fan that is the problem....cause a fan running at eye level is certain to bring problems.

LOL!
hint #1, the paint will dry faster with the fan on

 

[snolover55]

If you're looking up at the fan from the floor and it's rotating clockwise, it is drawing the air up and blowing it towards the ceiling, not down towards the floor, unless your fan is different than mine.

 

[snow_monkey]

If you're looking up at the fan from the floor and it's rotating clockwise, it is drawing the air up and blowing it towards the ceiling, not down towards the floor, unless your fan is different than mine.

Most fans are set up clockwise. If the leading edge is turned up it will forcing the air down. When the leading edge of the fan blade has a downward sloping angle it will draw the air up.

They come both ways so it can be confusing.

 

[snolover55]

Strange...every fan I own is the same...when it turns counter-clockwise looking from below, it blows down. The leading edges on mine are all turned up on the left side of the blades. Never saw one different. Guess I learned something today..LOL

 

[racerx]

. If the leading edge is turned up it will forcing the air down. When the leading edge of the fan blade has a downward sloping angle it will draw the air up.

This is the best way to describe vs CW/CCW, but with that being said the wording you have seems like it could be open for interpretation (at least to me).

I look at it this way... if you look at the end of the blade and take a snapshot of the blade:

If the leading edge is higher than the trailing the blades are pushing air down (summer).

If the leading edge is lowerthan the trailing then it is pushing air up to the celing (winter)

 

[snow_monkey]

This is the best way to describe vs CW/CCW, but with that being said the wording you have seems like it could be open for interpretation (at least to me).

I look at it this way... if you look at the end of the blade and take a snapshot of the blade:

If the leading edge is higher than the trailing the blades are pushing air down (summer).

If the leading edge is lowerthan the trailing then it is pushing air up to the celing (winter)

You got it!

 

[lenny]

Just spent 3 days learning all there is to know about ceiling fans. I was shocked how little most people know about proper selection, installation, and operation. I found that on the low setting a fan consumes close to 100 watts. The benefits far offset the added cost of electricity. The most important part that people do not realize is that the direction of the fan is crucial and is not standardized in the industry. Most fans available today come pre-set to spin clockwise when you look up at the fan. This clockwise motion should force the air down towards the floor and is the proper setting for summer. In the winter you need to reverse the motor so that the air is drawn up and forced down the walls where it is cold. There are detailed sizing charts to pick the appropriate fan for a specific size room. The best source for easy to use information that I found was the Hunter Corporation and they had a very good website.

100 watts on low? that's not good. I'm gonna check into this, thanks for the info

 

[mjkaliszak]

How about a way to install a directional switch at floor level ? You would think that the fan Manu's would have installed that design option. ??? I have to climb a ladder to get to mine.

I think I have had excellent luck with " Hunter ". The one in our living room has ran almost constantly for 10+ years. My brother has some Casablanca fans, they are also high quality but come with a whopping price tag. He had a warranty issue this past summer ( he lives in Alabama ) so he pulled the fan and had to drive it to Nashville for an authorized service center. I'm thinking his fans were $700 + 6-7 years ago. That would be the benefit of Hunter, they do have good customer service ( I heard ) but are cheap enough to just replace should something go wrong.

Just my .02

 

[doomsman]

How about a way to install a directional switch at floor level

This works well.

 

[snow_monkey]

How about a way to install a directional switch at floor level

This works well.

Godda go up there to scrape the bugs out a couple times a year anyway!

 

[yamadooed]

How about a way to install a directional switch at floor level ? You would think that the fan Manu's would have installed that design option. ??? I have to climb a ladder to get to mine.

I think I have had excellent luck with " Hunter ". The one in our living room has ran almost constantly for 10+ years. My brother has some Casablanca fans, they are also high quality but come with a whopping price tag. He had a warranty issue this past summer ( he lives in Alabama ) so he pulled the fan and had to drive it to Nashville for an authorized service center. I'm thinking his fans were $700 + 6-7 years ago. That would be the benefit of Hunter, they do have good customer service ( I heard ) but are cheap enough to just replace should something go wrong.

Just my .02

You can buy a Hunter remote model where you can turn the lights on/off dim, Fan direction/speed control all independent from each other.

Cassablanca is a division of Hunter which general was there upscale Foo-Foo models...

 

[anonomoose]

100 watts on low? that's not good. I'm gonna check into this, thanks for the info

Some of the bigger fans do use up to 100 watts, while the smaller ones can run on half that amount of juice.

Take a page out of Nash's book, and run them at "off peak" electric times, and save a bundle. Many electric companies have a substantial savings to the consumer by using normal electrical appliances in the off peak hours, yet few people even know what those are or when they exist.

(My Mother never does laundry until after 7pm...bless her heart)

Take the time to learn and you will save more than worrying about the 100 watts or half that of smaller motors.

Also the money spent on a more expensive unit which can actually shut down the amount of power used rather than spin off juice in dissipated heat, can save a fair amount of juice over the long life of the motor.

Here is a typical chart: http://www.otpco.com/SaveEnergyMoney/applianceEnergyUsage.asp

Gives a good comparison of typical appliances and savings over peak and non-peak times. Check it out.

 

[whitedust]

Now have solar attic fans green no meter spin.

 

[lenny]

I have 4 smaller hunter fans in my bedrooms and when it's warm at night the run on low. I had always thought they wouldn't use many watts so by checking into it seems they are likely running 50 watts or less ands I can be happy about that. The rooms are smaller and the pitch on the blades is not much so they are fairly efficient.