Ceiling fans are gaining in popularity as home fixtures, because they’re sustainable and cheap to run, and can make a big difference to your perceived comfort at home. But ceiling fans are expensive and, if your house doesn’t already have them, you’re probably wondering if it’s really worth it to install ceiling fans.
Yes, it is! Ceiling fans can keep you comfortable in warm or cold weather. They cost just pennies a day to operate. You can use them outdoors on covered porches and patios.
When you use ceiling fans for cooling, you don’t have to keep your doors and windows tightly closed – you can open them up for some fresh air. Modern ceiling fans have all kinds of great features, including LED light fixtures and smart connectivity. And there are lots of designs available to complement your home decor.
Ceiling Fans Will Keep You Comfortable Year-Round
Ceiling fans don’t actually change the temperature of a room. They just make it feel cooler by circulating air, creating a breeze that takes advantage of your body’s natural evaporative mechanism to make you feel cooler. Running a ceiling fan in the summer can make it feel as many as four degrees cooler in the room. But did you know that fans can also help you feel warmer in the winter?
Warm air rises, and when you heat your house in the winter, a lot of the warmth actually hovers near the ceiling, where you can’t feel it. It will escape through the roof of your house, especially if you have poor attic insulation. In the winter, you can reverse the direction of your fan blades to spin clockwise. This will push warm air back down from the ceiling into the lower half of the room, where you can benefit from it. You can find the switch to reverse your fan blades on the side of the motor housing.
Ceiling Fans Will Save You Money
Most ceiling fans operate on 55 to 100 watts, so they don’t use much electricity. You can run a ceiling fan for an entire day for about $0.14. Whether you switch over completely from using air conditioning or just turn your thermostat up a little in the summer, that can amount to a huge cost savings. You could spend just a few dollars a month to keep your house comfortable.
You Can Install Ceiling Fans Indoors or Outdoors
You can install a ceiling fan in any room of your house or even on your outdoor covered patio or porch. Outside, a ceiling fan may be your only option for cooling things down. The breeze can also keep bugs away.
If you’re going to install a ceiling fan outdoors, make sure you buy one that’s rated for outdoor use. If you’re installing a fan inside in a room with moisture and humidity, like a kitchen or bath, you need to get one that’s damp-rated. If you’re near the sea, buy a marine-rated fan so it will hold up the salty sea winds.
You’ll Be Able to Open Your Windows
Running an air conditioner can keep your home at a steady temperature, but it makes it hard to air the place out and get fresh air. When you use a ceiling fan instead, you don’t need to keep your windows closed. Open them up, get a fresh breeze blowing through your house, and give your cat something to get excited about.
Ceiling Fans Are Stylish
It’s time to retire your grandma’s old fan with the rattan blades. Today’s ceiling fans come in a wide range of designs and styles to suit every homeowner. No matter what your decorating style is, you can find a fan that fits. Going for a traditional farmhouse vibe? Choose a ceiling fan with a rustic look. Need something for your beach house? Choose a palm-leaf fan for a coastal theme.
Modern Ceiling Fans Have Great Features
Today’s ceiling fans have a lot more features than old-fashioned models with just a pull chain. For one thing, you can get fans with bright LED light fixtures built into them so you don’t have to sacrifice ambient lighting for comfort. You can also buy smart fans that you can control from your smartphone, fans with wireless wall controls that are easy to install and use, or fans with remote controls. No more fumbling for that pull chain!
If you’re looking for a way to cut your heating and cooling costs while still staying nice and comfortable, you need to install ceiling fans. The initial investment in equipment and labor is worth the payoff of increased comfort and lower utility bills.
