Home > Choosing and Installing a Ceiling Fan Choosing and Installing a Ceiling Fan Choosing a ceiling fan is not an everyday chore, so most people who call us up looking for a ceiling fan are really in the dark as to what to look for. Don’t worry – we’ve been there ourselves, so we know how worrisome it can be when making such an important purchase and that’s why we’ve compiled a few tips to ease your ceiling fan search. Before selecting the style or brand of the ceiling fan you’d like, get through the nuts and bolts process first. Consider where you want to put a fan and how big that space is. Look for areas of the home that get hotter than others. This may include a sunroom, windowless room, or kitchen. But keep in mind that ceiling fans are good for the winter, too. You can place a fan near a woodstove or fireplace and it will spread warm air throughout your home more efficiently. Getting the Right Size Wherever you need a ceiling fan, here is a quick guideline to determine which size ceiling fan is best for your space: 30” ceiling fans: 8’ x 10’ rooms, or approximately 80 square feet (typically small bedrooms, walk-in closets, and small kitchens) 42” ceiling fans: 12’ x 12’ rooms, or about 144 square feet (typically medium bedrooms, kitchens, mid-size recreation areas) 52” ceiling fans: 18’ x 20’ rooms, or 360 square feet (large bedrooms, family rooms, large rooms, large dining rooms) Height Now that you’ve figured out the appropriate size, you might need to make an adjustment according to the height of your ceiling. The ideal height for a ceiling fan is about 8 feet above the ground. It is very important, however, that your ceiling fan does not go any lower than 7 feet. This is for obvious reasons, as there are many accidents that can result from a ceiling fan that is mounted too low. That is why we suggest mounting your fan at least 8 feet above the ground. If you have a very high ceiling, such as 9 feet or above, you will need an extended downrod to adjust; having a fan too high will result in poor air circulation. Also, it is very important that your fan’s blades are not less than 18 inches from an adjacent wall. Motor Nobody likes a noisy fan. Even if the cool air is like a glass of cold water on a hot day, a hammer-like racket will give you a splitting headache after a while. That’s why we recommend getting a fan with a sealed, maintenance-free motor with precision steel bearings. Luckily, you won’t have to pay much more for this as there are quality fans with excellent quiet motors. Fan Blades Fan blades determine the amount of air being circulated throughout the room. It is best to have your fan blade brackets positioned to hold the blade at a 12-15 degree angle for optimal circulation. If the fan blades are at less than a 12 degree angle, air will not circulate well and you’ll end up wasting energy. The greater the angle of the blade the more air circulation you will have in your room. The key here is to make sure that the area you are putting your fan in will allow you to install your fan blades at the appropriate angle. Lights For many people, this is one of the fun aspects of choosing a fan as there are not a lot of technical aspects to consider unless you have very specific interior design needs. There are many fans with extraordinarily beautiful glass shades that can really add drama and style to your room. You can also purchase light kits to further customize your lighting design. Design Well, this is completely up to you. But now that you got all the “little things” out of the way, you can get creative and really add a unique fixture to your home that complements and enhances your home’s beauty! Lastly, Fernando Pages Ruiz, the president of Brighton Construction in Nebraska, has installed ceiling fans for over 20 years. He offers these 6 tips: 1. If the fan has a one-piece canopy, don’t forget to slip the canopy onto the downrod before hanging the fan or you’ll have to take down the whole thing and start over. 2. If the fan is suspended by means of a threaded downrod and ball assembly, as most are, don’t forget to tighten the locking bolt securely, or the fan will fall from the ceiling. 3. If a fan motor comes wrapped in plastic, keep this protective covering in place until you’ve finished handling the motor. 4. Always attach the blades to the fan after mounting the motor to the ceiling, never before. 5. Choose light kits that tie into the fan by means of a wiring harness rather than individual wire nuts. 6. Install light bulbs that are specially designed for ceiling fans because their vibration-resisting filaments will last twice as long as standard bulbs. Height Now that you’ve figured out the appropriate size, you might need to make an adjustment according to the height of your ceiling. The ideal height for a ceiling fan is about 8 feet above the ground. It is very important, however, that your ceiling fan does not go any lower than 7 feet. This is for obvious reasons, as there are many accidents that can result from a ceiling fan that is mounted too low. That is why we suggest mounting your fan at least 8 feet above the ground. If you have a very high ceiling, such as 9 feet or above, you will need an extended downrod to adjust; having a fan too high will result in poor air circulation. Also, it is very important that your fan’s blades are not less than 18 inches from an adjacent wall. Motor Nobody likes a noisy fan. Even if the cool air is like a glass of cold water on a hot day, a hammer-like racket will give you a splitting headache after a while. That’s why we recommend getting a fan with a sealed, maintenance-free motor with precision steel bearings. Luckily, you won’t have to pay much more for this as there are quality fans with excellent quiet motors. Fan Blades Fan blades determine the amount of air being circulated throughout the room. It is best to have your fan blade brackets positioned to hold the blade at a 12-15 degree angle for optimal circulation. If the fan blades are at less than a 12 degree angle, air will not circulate well and you’ll end up wasting energy. The greater the angle of the blade the more air circulation you will have in your room. The key here is to make sure that the area you are putting your fan in will allow you to install your fan blades at the appropriate angle. Lights For many people, this is one of the fun aspects of choosing a fan as there are not a lot of technical aspects to consider unless you have very specific interior design needs. There are many fans with extraordinarily beautiful glass shades that can really add drama and style to your room. You can also purchase light kits to further customize your lighting design. Design Well, this is completely up to you. But now that you got all the “little things” out of the way, you can get creative and really add a unique fixture to your home that complements and enhances your home’s beauty! Lastly, Fernando Pages Ruiz, the president of Brighton Construction in Nebraska, has installed ceiling fans for over 20 years. He offers these 6 tips: 1. If the fan has a one-piece canopy, don’t forget to slip the canopy onto the downrod before hanging the fan or you’ll have to take down the whole thing and start over. 2. If the fan is suspended by means of a threaded downrod and ball assembly, as most are, don’t forget to tighten the locking bolt securely, or the fan will fall from the ceiling. 3. If a fan motor comes wrapped in plastic, keep this protective covering in place until you’ve finished handling the motor. 4. Always attach the blades to the fan after mounting the motor to the ceiling, never before. 5. Choose light kits that tie into the fan by means of a wiring harness rather than individual wire nuts. 6. Install light bulbs that are specially designed for ceiling fans because their vibration-resisting filaments will last twice as long as standard bulbs.