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Buyer’s Guide to Ceiling Fans

Buyer's Guide to Ceiling Fans

Introduction

Ceiling fans can be an extremely rewarding purchase for a homeowner. Not only do ceiling fans save a homeowner money in terms of reduction in heating and air conditioning bills, but ceiling fans can be an essential part of a decorating motif. This guide is intended to be a resource for buyers that provide prospective buyers with elements that can be used to determine costs when looking for this furniture item.

Efficiency

Efficiency is a highly sought after quality for ceiling fans. In hot climates, the efficiency of a ceiling fan can have a large impact on the level of an electric bill over time. A ceiling fan that is a lot more efficient will save more money. Consequently, ceiling fan manufacturers usually charge a little bit more for an "energy efficient" label. Ceiling fans are considered energy efficient if they are able to earn the coveted "Energy Star" sticker. This sticker is given by the government to fans that meet certain energy efficiency criteria. Generally, if you are looking at purchasing an energy efficient ceiling fan, you can probably count on paying more than you might pay for a comparable ceiling fan that is not energy efficient.

Style

The style of a ceiling fan is also a key of price. Many styles feature designs and have special add-ons like high quality wood, colors, or unique shapes for the fan. Generally a style will cost more if it is complex, hard to make, or requires some special process to create. Simple, white industrial fans, will often be the cheapest fans available since the style is easy to mass produce in a cost effective manner. Manufacturers often charge more for fans that are in popular demand - this is generally the law of supply and demand. The popularity of a particular unit can greatly influence the price of the ceiling fan.

Blades

Another to check for is the type of blades that the buyer elects to put on the ceiling fan. Ceiling fan blades vary greatly. They can range anywhere from low quality plastic to expensive treated wood.

Lower quality plastic blades are easy to make and are therefore do not cost as much. However, deep woods often need careful cutting and treatment to ensure that they balance and maintain their appearance over the years. Moreover, the length of the fan blades can have a significant impact on cost. If the fan blades are longer, they require more materials and consequently would cost more, particularly if the blades made out of a more expensive material.

Lights

A key add for ceiling fans are the ceiling fan lights. It makes sense for people to add lights to the bottom of ceiling fans since ceiling fans need to be attached to the ceiling and also require wiring in order to operate effectively. Lights can also effectively light up the area under the ceiling fan.

There are many different kinds of lights that can usually be targeted for a specific area of the room. However, lights often add additional cost to the ceiling fan. Typically each light on the bottom can to the cost of the ceiling fan itself. You may be able to get lights in a package with the ceiling fan at a better price. Moreover the cost of the lights varies, depending on the design, complexity, and materials that the lights are made out of.

Water Rating

Another element that can add costs onto a ceiling fan is the water rating. Ceiling fans that have a high water rating are designed to perform well in dampness. These types of ceiling cans are often used on patios or porches and are often installed in areas that are humid or tropical. Although many of these ceiling fans look simple, they often have parts that are sealed to prevent moisture from getting in. In addition, many of these fans are treated on the outside with water resistant or waterproof solutions. These are generally simple fans with some special water features.

Controls

The final feature that can influence the price of a ceiling fan is the type of control that the ceiling fan has. However, today, many people have ceiling fans with remote controls and buyers have come to expect them more as a must have rather than a nice feature that they would pay more for. There are still advanced features that remote controls can have that can add some cost. Examples are variable speed adjustment or light controls.