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| | | Proper use of a ceiling fan creates a welcome breeze on a hot summer day, either compensating for a lack of air conditioning or cutting a/c costs. Depending on its styling a ceiling fan can give a room feeling of old-time elegance, a sense of the tropics, a bit of whimsy or a touch of streamlined technology. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Prices start at $20 -$90 for a basic one- or two-speed ceiling fan that works off a pull chain or wall switch, usually with a straightforward design and a standardized (if unexciting) light fixture.
- Expect to pay $200 -$600 for a better-designed ceiling fan in a range of styles from Victorian to tropical to modernistic. The blades may be pewter, brushed nickel, brass, wood, bamboo, wicker or a combination of materials; they can be shaped to resemble everything from surfboards to jet engines. Fans in this price range may include remote controls; multiple or variable speeds; aerodynamic (and more energy efficient) blades; and upscale lighting fixtures.
- High-end ceiling fans start around $700 -$2,200 for models with everything from antique brass, copper or stone accents to air filters, recessed lights, carved wooden blades, silk blades framed with fiberglass rods, etched or Tiffany-style glass and more. The uniquely designed glass light fixtures are sometimes sold separately from the fan and can add $1,000 -$1,200 per light (with 1-3 lights per fan).
- Prices can go as high as $3,000 -$12,000 or more for a system of 2-6 ceiling fans mounted in a row along a rod, with multiple motors and variable-speed controls, adding a striking architectural feature to an upscale home's high-ceilinged "great" room.
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| What should be included: | - Ceiling fans are designed to cool a room by moving the air around; models with the Energy Star rating do that in the most efficient manner. The US Department of Energy describes important standard components, options for fan accessories such as lights or controls and how to choose the right size and mounting for a particular room.
- The best indoor fans run both counterclockwise, to create a cool breeze in the summer, and clockwise, to push down rising heat in winter. Expensive fans have bigger motors to move more air without a lot of noise. Blade length averages 29-54 inches, but can be 84 inches or more. And the steeper the pitch of the blades, the more air they move. A typical blade has a 14-16 degree pitch, but the pitch of high-end models can be 20-22 degrees. Fans at the low end of the price range tend to come with 10-15 year warranties; higher-end models often have 50-year or lifetime guarantees.
- Better Homes & Gardens lists detailed instructions for installing a ceiling fan, and ThisOldHouse.com explains how to use a fan properly to reduce air conditioning costs.
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| Additional costs: | - Professional installation can add $50 -$200 or much more to the total price, depending on the complexity of the job and such factors as attic or wall access and the state of the home's existing wiring. Electrical contractors generally charge $30 -$70 an hour, depending on location, training and experience.
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| Shopping for a ceiling fan: | - ThisOldHouse.com explains what to keep in mind when buying a ceiling fan.
- Major manufacturers include Hunter, Emerson, Casablanca and Fanimation.
- Lowe's sells a range of ceiling fans and offers installation services. Most stores that sell ceiling fans provide referrals to installation contractors.
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Article updated July 2007 |
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