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Just as soon as temperatures start to rise you’re starting to think about the best ceiling fans on the market, so that you’ll have a pool of options from which to choose one.
After over a century, you will find that they’re a simple, yet charming addition to the home temperature regulation solution.
But, why does the popularity last so long? Well, for starters, charm is a factor. A pretty ceiling fan, or even a designer ceiling fan, can remind them of a sultry summer afternoon.
Image source: Benjamin Moore
It is also pretty practical, as modern ceiling fans make rooms comfortable, and lower the energy bills. By pushing warm air downwards in the winter, and upwards in the summer, it decreases the demand for a heating and air-conditioning system. And the price of operating it?
A few pennies a day. In the summer, you can use the ceiling fan along with an air conditioner, and you can set the thermostat higher without a noticeable difference. For example, a 79-degree room will feel like a 72-degree one, and you can sometimes save up to 30% on the AC bills.
In the winter, the warm air that rises in a room can be re-circulated, and all you need to do is turn on the reverse direction. This ensures your heating system works less.
Image source: Twelve Stones Design
The design has certainly evolved, and you can get a stylish ceiling fan nowadays with ease, from unique ceiling fans, to modern ceiling fans with lights. And, they also come across a variety of price ranges, so you can choose the perfect one for you.
The Best Ceiling Fans
Turbo swirl fan
This is somewhat of an update to the classic design, and is among the best ceiling fans that are budget-friendly. It works good with any kind of décor, and comes with a modern light.
Image source: Lake Home Living
The torsion ceiling fan
With a contemporary style, this is a great option for a bedroom ceiling fan. It is an iconic fan that remains impressive and timeless, and it is voted as the best ceiling fan, year after year.
It complements any modern décor theme, and it blends in seamlessly using a selection of elegant blade styles and premium finishes. The aesthetic comes with three plywood-made blades, which result in a pretty powerful air flow, and yet remain quiet.
Spitfire ceiling fan
A pretty new design, the Spitfire is a pretty good competitor in the list of ceiling fans. The stellar performance makes sure it is a popular pick within modern homes, and the three sleek wooden blades look great, and bring you that rustic touch. It is also completely customizable, and you can mix and match components to create the look you want.
Image source: Natalie Younger Interior Design
Irene 3-blade Hugger ceiling fan
Extremely quiet, and extremely stylish with its modern, industrial design. The inspiration is obvious – the age of aviation, and the wooden blades that are walnut-stained look amazing together, especially in the propeller-like shape.
Ball ceiling fan
Made by Ron Rezek, the ball ceiling fan comes with a minimalist approach to the modern fan design. The sleek design has a pretty understated retro charm, which is both elegant and extremely sleek. Any professional and homeowner who is design-savvy will love it, and it empowers both function and style.
One of the best ceiling cans: Eliza Hugger ceiling fan
Being very elegant, there are three sleek blades with the Eliza Hugger ceiling fan, and the air is moved as efficiently as possible. The blade shape is unique, and results in the highest possible air movement, especially at the outer edge, resulting in less drag and more air velocity.
The rodless style makes it great for rooms that have a low ceiling, and it gives you an amazing combination of utility and minimalist design.
Image source: R.M. Buck Builders
Clarity Max ceiling fan
The 56” blade sweep will guarantee a powerful airflow, and the design will hug your ceiling. There is also a 15W LED kit, and a four-speed control panel which is wall mounted, and also lets you dim the lights.
It is very sleek and has straight, clean lines. The ceiling fan will blend into any modern style space, especially when you factor in the elegant silhouette and the low profile.
Things to be careful around when buying a ceiling fan
Ceiling fan controls
Usually, the fans are mounted at a ceiling box where there used to be a light. The light’s switch is replaced with the fan’s control panel, which lets you control the speeds, and light settings if the fan has lights. This control panel should have a capacitor design, and it should be made by the same manufacturer as the fan, which will eliminate hum and buzz.
If a fan is located at an electrical box, but it isn’t controlled by a wall switch, you can operate it with a pull chain, or a remote control, depending on the fan. There are also solutions such as Casablanca’s Intelli-Touch remote, which are very sophisticated, coming with programmable light and fan settings.
Image source: Emerald Coast Real Estate Photography
It will even adjust fan speeds automatically, to make sure changes in room temperature are well suited, and the fanlight will be turned on and off in an irregular sequence when you’re not at home.
It will even adjust fan speeds automatically, to make sure changes in room temperature are well suited, and the fanlight will be turned on and off in an irregular sequence when you’re not at home.
Image source: Borges Brooks Builders
Fan blade: sizes and materials
Fans usually come with three to five blades, where four is traditional. The number of blades doesn’t really affect performance, and sometimes, more blades result in less air moved, due to there being less space for them to even grab air. However, more blades may result in a more expensive fan.
There are also a few different lengths with the blades, and it’s measured by the full blade sweep: 30, 42, 44, 46, 50, 52 or 60 inches are the most common ones. Most manufacturers will offer two to three different lengths, and you should know that a longer blade will move more air than a shorter one.
As far as materials go, there are plenty, as well as plenty of finishes. Natural wood, as well as painted blades, are usually made of solid wood, plywood, or veneered constant-density board. Finishes may include but are not limited to, natural, oak, cherry, walnut, bleached oak, faux granite, rosewood etc.
You will find that some blades come with a reversible finish, which means they offer a granite look on one side and a cherry on the other side. To transform the appearance completely, merely turn the blades over.
Image source: Elle Interiors
Other blades may be made of clear, or smoked acrylic as well. There are also blades of washable sailcloth, which are only stretched over a frame, and you can get the fabric in a few different colors. Casablanca, Fasco, and Hunter’s Original Outdoor fans come with these options.
Sizing and location of a fan
If you want to follow a rule of thumb if you have up to 144 sq. feet, go with a 42” fan. Up to 224 sq. feet, use a 44” fan, and up to 400 sq. feet, you’re best with a 52” fan. If you have a room that is more than 18 feet long, opt for two medium-sized fans instead of a single big one.
The best placement is to put it in the middle of the room, as close as possible to the central gathering location. The blade tips should be at least 24” from walls or any sloping ceilings, and if you have fans that are mounted close to a ceiling, they may move less air due to the “cavitational effect”. Some low-profile fans are made to circulate more air than the regular ones.
If the ceiling is taller than 8 feet, the fan is best hanged from a drop rod, so you can put it lower and have it be more effective. The distance is best determined by the height, but you shouldn’t hang it lower than 7 feet from your floor.
Image source: Cravotta Interiors
All ceiling fans require a lot of support. The weight and centrifugal strength will put a lot of strain on the hangers, and therefore you should have them mounted to boxes that are securely fixed to the ceiling or a hanger that is meant for a fan.
Determining the quality of a ceiling fan
A ceiling fan may cost anywhere between $39,95, to a few hundred dollars, and it depends on the quality. A high-quality fan will move air effectively and quietly, things you won’t find under $100. The parts are made of high-quality materials, and are well designed, coming with attractive finishes that last longer.
The motors come with a couple of speeds, and the warranty is usually at least 10 years.
Even though you will find ratings according to the CFM of air they move, this isn’t very relevant, because these ratings aren’t really based on universally accepted ratings, and you will seldom use your fan at full speed.
The movement of air is determined by the length, pitch, and number of blades, as well as their distance from the ceiling and RPMs. A weak motor can spin a few short blades pretty quickly if the blades have a minimum pitch of 10 degrees, but it will be noisier than a fan that has longer blades, at a 14-degree pitch, which moves more slowly.
Image source: Loftus Design
You will find that some of the cheaper fans have China-made motors. They have high return rates, and they’re pretty unreliable. A low-end fan will lack quality in both design and construction, and even at low speeds, you’ll find that they hum and wobble a lot.
A good motor should have bearings that are sealed and require no lubrication, which usually runs quietly for up to 12 years. The best measure you can use is the reputation and warranty of the company, and you should make sure it’s listed by the Underwriters Laboratories or an equally competent testing agency.
How will a modern fan save energy?
Even though usually related to warmer months, they help control temperature all year round. In the colder months, they result in even circulation of warm air and maximize the efficiency of your home heating system. The winter thermostat temperatures may go down a few degrees and reduce the overall energy consumption.
Image source: Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
And, when you use a fan with an AC system in the summer, it gives you a wind chill that lets you use a higher temperature setting on the AC, and still get the desired cooling effect.
The fan’s energy efficiency has to do with the motor and light source. A DC motor will consume up to 70% less power than a regular motor, and they also come with a smaller, low-profile form. An LED light source will use less wattage and reduce energy consumption even further.
Determining the efficacy of a fan is easier than ever – the packaging and specs come with an energy usage label, which shows airflow, measured in CFM, electricity measured in Watts, without the light source, and the air flow efficiency, measured in CFM/Watts.
A higher airflow efficiency number results in a more efficient fan. And, the larger the blade diameter, the higher the number is.
Image source: Witt Construction
Ending thoughts on the best ceiling fans you can get
Even if you do have a pretty good AC system in your home, adding fans can always help. You can control the temperature by room, they’re much more energy efficient, and you will save a pretty penny on your monthly electricity bill as well.
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