Install a ceiling fan in the center of the room at least 7 feet above the floor 8 – 9 feet for optimal airflow. Ceiling fans, which can help warm you in winter as well as cool you in summer, are easy to install. They also cost much less to operate than air conditioning. Ceiling fans comes in a variety of styles and finishes.
Prices ranged from $45 to $270. Most of the ceiling fans performed similarly on low speed. When choosing strength look at the cubic feet per minute numbers on the box to get an idea of how well the ceiling fan moves air. A higher number means more air movement. Fan with the most airflow also made the most noise.
The 52-inch fans are the most popular size that works best in rooms that are 225 to 400 square feet. For a smaller fan 42 to 44-inch works best in rooms 144 to 225 square feet.
If you have any doubt about your ability to wire the fan, hire a licensed electrician to do the job. A ceiling fan requires 7 feet of clearance between the fan blades and the floor.
One person can install a ceiling fan. However, the motor weights about 40 pounds, so a helper might come in handy for some parts of the installation.
7 Steps on how to install a ceiling fan
1. Before you begin working, turn off power to the fan circuit at the service panel.
2. Take down the light fixture that the fan is to replace, then feed the wire from the electrical box through the fan ceiling plate and fasten it to the box with screws.
3. Consult the manufacture's wiring directions, which vary according to the number of switches controlling the fan.
4. Make the connections with the wire nuts, and then press the wires into the electrical box.
5. Unlock the fan and slip the canopy over the ceiling plate. Secure the canopy with the screws provided, and attach the fan blades. If your fan has a light fixture.
6. Connect its wire to the fan's lighting wires in the switch housing. Usually black to black and white-to-white.
7. Fasten the fixture to the fan with the screws supplied, and add light bulbs.
Maintaining a ceiling fan
Wobbling fans blades reduce a ceiling fan’s efficiency and shorten the life of the fixture. Balancing blades is a simple process that takes just a few minutes. To balance the blades, shut the fixture off and tighten the screws holding the blades to the blade brackets. Purchase a blade balancing kit at a hardware store and follow its direction for checking the blades.
