Ceiling fans can help you save energy and be an elegant feature of your home. This article discusses how to take care of your ceiling fan if you already have one, how to fix what typically goes wrong, and what to consider if you are planning on buying one.
This article has four sections:
Benefits
Routine Maintenance
What Typically Goes Wrong
Buying Considerations
BENEFITS
You are probably familiar with the term "wind chill" in the wintertime. It refers to the fact that when the wind is blowing across your skin, the increased evaporation of moisture from your skin makes you feel colder than the actual temperature of the air. Well, this same wind chill effect works in the summertime. When a ceiling fan circulates air in the room, this enables moisture in your skin to evaporate more quickly, and as a result, you feel cooler . . . even though the temperature of the air in the room has not changed.
And if you have air conditioning in your home, a ceiling fan can be a great addition by reducing your electric bill in the spring and summer. When your ceiling fan helps you to feel several degrees cooler, then this is several degrees that you can raise the thermostat on your air conditioner. And since an energy efficient ceiling fan only uses about 100 watts of energy, compared to central AC at 3,500 watts or a room AC unit at 900 watts then for every minute that your ceiling fan is running instead of your air conditioner, you are enjoying significant energy savings.
In addition to saving energy, some people find that having a ceiling fan running adds to both the decor and charm of their home.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Your ceiling fan will perform much better if at least once a year you perform some simple routine maintenance tasks, which involve:
Changing Fan Direction
Inspecting
Cleaning
Lubricating
Changing Fan Direction
Have you noticed that most ceiling fans have a switch on the side of them (or on the remote control unit, if you have one)? The purpose of this switch is to allow you to change the direction that your ceiling fan blades turn.
For cooling effect during the summer you want the fan to blow air straight down, so your ceiling fan needs to run in a counter clockwise direction as you look up at it. The warmer it is, the higher the speed should be. This will force the room air down on you, giving you the wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. During the winter, your fan should run at a low speed in a clockwise direction. This will gently draw the room air up towards the ceiling and force the warm air down and out towards the walls avoiding giving you the wind chill effect.
Just remember: you will want to be sure that your ceiling fan blades are not turning when you change the direction switch.
Inspecting
The spinning and vibration of your ceiling fan create a situation where things will begin to shake loose over time. And as a result, your ceiling fan can start to wobble, and then the next thing you know your ceiling fan starts to wear out faster than it otherwise would. In the worst case, it could even fall down. So even though it means dragging out a ladder, you should climb up and inspect your ceiling fan’s screws, down rod, decorative plate, and light fixture (if it has one) at least once a year.
Cleaning
When you inspect your ceiling fan, you will probably notice how dusty and dirty the edges and top surfaces of the blades will be. A layer of dust can reduce airflow and make your fan work less efficiently, and if it is uneven, then it can contribute to your fan wobbling. When cleaning the blades, be sure not to use any cleaning material that will either mar the finish or saturate the blade surface. Depending on the blade surface, you might consider adding a light coat of polish such as furniture polish. This will not only make the blades look nicer, but it will also slightly improve the efficiency because it helps to cut down on wind resistance.
Lubricating
Regarding lubricating your ceiling fan’s motor, it depends on which brand/model of ceiling fan that you have. Some ceiling fans have maintenance-free double sealed ball bearings that never require oiling. Other ceiling fans have a small "oil hole" above the motor. To find this oil hole, you should ensure that the fan is turned off, stand on something very sturdy, and then check for the oil hole on the top portion of the motor. If it has such an oil hole, then add 4-6 drops of light machine oil (e.g., “3-in-One” oil) to lubricate the motor. However, you should first check with the manufacturer’s guide for your particular model of ceiling fan, as you don’t want to be pouring oil in the wrong place. This could result in oil dripping onto the fan blades and then being slung around the room.
WHAT TYPICALLY GOES WRONG
There are two main problems that can tend to come up with ceiling fans: 1) wobbling; and 2) noise.
Wobbling Fan
Probably the most common problem with a ceiling fan is that over time it begins to “wobble,” i.e. shakes a little side to side as it is spinning. This is usually caused by the weight of the blades not being exactly matched, and then over time, the effect of this imbalance begins to cause the ceiling fan to wobble. The faster your fan spins, the more it wobbles.
The good news is that fixing a wobbling ceiling fan is a fairly easy do-it-yourself task, using what is called a ceiling fan balancing kit.
The other cause of a wobbling ceiling fan is warped blades. If you are unable to stop the wobbling with a balancing kit, then the next step is to remove the blades, and inspect them for warpage. If they are indeed warped, then you will need to replace them.
Noise
There can be several potential causes of a noisy ceiling fan. Sometimes it can be because some part of it has come loose (light fixture, decorative ceiling cover, body screws, blade screws, etc.) And this can be remedied by tightening up the affected pieces. Sometimes noise can be caused by a faulty dimmer switch.
If you only use your fan occasionally, then the noise can be caused by the fan’s bearings needing to be lubricated. If you have already lubricated the bearings, or if your model has self-lubricating bearings, then you can try running your fan for about 24 hours straight to see if this will automatically lubricate the bearings.
BUYER CONSIDERATIONS
The most important thing to keep in mind when considering buying a ceiling fan, is that you get what you pay for. A less expensive model may look nice, but you run the risk of having problems later on with wobbling, noise, short-life, etc.
With this said, here are some factors that you should consider when looking to buy a ceiling fan:
Size
According to the American Lighting Association and EPA, for rooms up to 225 square feet and larger, you should get a fan with a blade span of 50-56 inches. For rooms up to 144 square feet, you should get a fan with blade spans of 42-44 inches. And for smaller rooms of about 64 square feet, you should get a fan with a 32-inch blade span.
Downrods
Downrods should be purchased for your ceiling fan to provide at least seven feet clearance above the floor. And sizing the downrod to give a blade height of eight to nine feet above the floor will provide the most efficient cooling effect.
Motor
Poor motor design can create a number of the problems that are associated with ceiling fans. If the fan has an annoying click, buzz, or hum during operation, the motor is the most likely culprit. An under-sized motor will burn itself out, whereas a motor that is over-sized will be inefficient and waste energy.
Blades
Look for a blade pitch of at least 14 degrees, which is optimal for air movement efficiency. Avoid blades from cheap materials that can absorb moisture over time, and begin to warp or become imbalanced.
Lighting
If you choose a model with a built-in light, then you might want to consider one that uses compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which use less energy and are long-lasting.
Controls
Controls can allow you to have different speeds and change directions. And you can get the standard pull-chain type, or the more convenient remote control versions. #fans #ceilingfans #coolinsummer #ceilingfanmaintenance #ceilingfanoptions #ceilingfandirection #summerenergyefficiency