Ceiling Fan Blades: How To Understand What Your Room Needs

Choosing A Perfect Ceiling Fan

If you need to cool your room down but you don’t have the luxury of air conditioning, ceiling fans can be an effective alternative. However, if you are installing a ceiling fan, you need to ensure that you choose the right blades. Otherwise, it won’t do the best job of cooling down your space. The size of the fan needs to be appropriate to the size of the room. You also have other issues to consider such as the length of the blades, number of blades, and materials. Let’s look closely at these factors below.

How Do I Know What Size Ceiling Fan To Buy?

The size of your ceiling fan should depend on the room dimensions. If you know the square footage of the room, you should be able to determine how big a ceiling fan you require. Either too small or too big and you have a problem as your fan will not circulate the air effectively. You measure a ceiling fan’s size by measuring from the tip of one blade to the tip of another straight across from it. If your fan doesn’t have an even number of blades, you can measure from the tip of one to the center, before doubling this measurement.

Below is a rough guide to choosing the correct ceiling fan size for the space available:

Room Size                           Fan Size
Less than 50 sq ft               29” or less
Up to 75 sq ft                      36”
Up to 100 sq ft                    42”
Up to 225 sq ft                    52”
Up to 400 sq ft                   56”

So, the smallest size of the ceiling fan will only be suitable for a hallway or walk-in closet, ranging all the way up to a large living room or master bedroom for the biggest.

How Many Blades On A Ceiling Fan Is Best?

Another point to consider is the number of ceiling fan blades. As technology has developed, this has become less of an important issue as modern fans work with equal efficiency. With older models, it used to be that five or six-blade fans were more efficient than three or four, but this is no longer so. So, if you find yourself asking ‘do 3 blade fans work as well as 5 blades?’, the answer is generally yes. The number of blades is more of a stylistic issue than a practical one.

Which Material Of Ceiling Fan Should I Choose?

Another central point to consider is the material of the ceiling blade fans. Here is a brief overview of how this issue affects the performance of the ceiling fan.

• MDF – MDF blades are the least expensive. Compressed together with sawdust, wood remnants, and a hardening material, a laminate provides the finished look. While the blades may look stylish, they also tend to not be as durable, and they can easily start to droop if there is moisture in the air. However, in a dry, indoor setting, they can work effectively.
• Plastic – Affordable and easy to manufacture, ABS plastic is used in a lot of ceiling fans. Moldable and pliable, plastic can also be shaped to resemble real wood, which is an important style concern for many.
• Wood – Wood is an effective material for both indoor and outdoor ceiling fans. Natural wood is a more expensive material, but if you have the budget, it creates a nice finish. Most are made from balsa wood, which has a number of positive properties including being sturdy, lightweight, and aerodynamic. Visually, they look striking.
• Metal – Metal fans are sturdy and are useful in numerous different settings. However, the risk of rusting is always a factor. You often see metal fans in portable, wall, ceiling, and oscillating fan modes. A protective case is usually present due to safety concerns.

What Other Points Do I Need To Consider?

As well as the ceiling fan size and materials, you also need to choose the right features for your needs. A few that are worth considering include fan speed, noise level, light intensity, and control options. An easy-to-use ceiling fan is likely to be used more often, and therefore will often represent a better return on investment.

When you choose your ceiling fan, you should also keep installation firmly in mind. Your fan needs to be sufficiently far away from floors, walls, and ceilings to have the maximum air circulation effect. If you have a particularly long room, you may need multiple fans. Price should also play a factor in your decision-making, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a more expensive fan will work more efficiently. Professionally installation is always recommended as this is a matter of safety, as well as a guarantee of warranty. Bear in mind that ceiling fans can be extremely heavy, so proper installation requires a steady and experienced hand!

Source:

1. Ceiling Fan Inspection – InterNACHI®