THE SPITFIRE- by Fanimation
With the dog days of summer upon us, now is the perfect time to assess your ceiling fan needs. Although many of us live in an air conditioned world, it’s hard to beat the soft breeze of a ceiling fan on a hot summer night. Enjoyable in any season, ceiling fans are an energy efficient way to keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter months, which make them a crowd favorite. But, with so many different factors to consider within each home and particular space, how does one determine the appropriate size fan for their room? Here are a few guidelines to help you through the fan selection process…
LOCATION-
You know what they say…location, location, location. The most important place to start when embarking on your fan search is considering the type of space it will be in. This determines what you will be requiring from it in regards to air movement, lighting options, and its overall functionality in your space. Is your fan located in a dry, indoor space? Or, will it be exposed to humidity and other damp or wet elements? Knowing this information will help our consultants determine exactly what type of motor and size of fan will best suit your needs.
PHOTO CRED:- Kichler
SIZE & SCALE-
The size of your room is one of the biggest deciding factors in selecting the proper span, or blade sweep of your fan, and there are some general guidelines that are easy to follow:
- An extra small space of 90 sq. ft. or less = 15″-42″ blade sweep
- A small room size of 90 to 100 sq. ft. = 44″-46″ blade sweep
- An standard room size of 100 to 150 sq. ft. = 52″-54″ blade sweep
- A large room size of 150 sq. ft. or more = 56″-72″ blade sweep
The ceiling height of your space is another important and qualifying element in fan size selection. The taller the ceiling, the more air there is for your fan to circulate. If your ceiling is vaulted or taller than 8′ or 9′, you may consider upgrading the size of your fan to accommodate this additional vertical space. If you have an extremely large space, or a room that is particularly long, having more than one ceiling fan may the best application. This informative video below, from Kichler, serves as a great tool in this sizing process:
CEILING HEIGHT VS. HANGING HEIGHT-
Most ceiling fans come equipped to be installed on a standard 8′ or 9′ ceiling. If you have higher ceilings or vaulted rooms, you’ll require a longer downrod to suspend the fan so that it provides a 9′ or 10′ clearance from the floor to the underside of the fan blades for optimal air movement. If mounting on a sloped or vaulted ceiling, we will need to use a little basic geometry to calculate the downrod length needed for your fan by first determining the ceiling pitch with a rise/run formula. Depending upon the degree of slope in your ceiling (or angle as shown in the chart below), your fan may require the use of a sloped ceiling adapter. These diagrams from Fanimation give us a clear guideline to the above rules.
DIAGRAM CREDIT: Fanimation
THE DETAILS-
Style and performance are equally important when selecting a ceiling fan, and we believe that one should not be sacrificed for the other. The information above should serve as a general guideline during your fan selection process, but the look and overall scale of your fan comes down to your personal preference. Larger diameter fans can go in smaller or more standard-sized rooms if that is the desired look. Our sales team can help you find the ceiling fan right for your space, based upon the identifying features important to you. So…are you ready? Head into the showroom to check out some of the latest ceiling fan designs, and let us help you achieve fan perfection.
PHOTO CRED: Fanimation, Kichler Lighting
