Ceiling fans

Because of the slight breeze it creates, a fan makes a room more comfortable at higher temperatures during the summer-the room's thermostat can be set 5 to 7 degrees higher. And in the winter, a fan recirculates rising warm air that would otherwise collect and give off its heat at the ceiling.

A fan's main components include an electric motor with a housing, blades and irons to hold them in place, a downrod or other mounting device and trim pieces. Many fans are designed to receive remote control receivers or decorative fitters that hold lamps beneath the blades. Some fans have a wall-mounted or remote control. Most fans have from three to five blades made from solid wood, plywood or veneered composite board and given any of several finishes. Their lengths produce a fan that's from 30 to 60 inches in diameter.

The amount of air a fan moves is a factor of its construction and placement. The number, length and pitch of the blades are important, as is the fan's distance from the ceiling and the revolutions per minute (rpms) delivered by the motor.

BUYING GUIDE FOR CEILING FANS

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Electric meter / / Electrical service / / Elecrtic panel & circuit breakers / / When lights go out / / Main panel & subpanels / / GFCI breakers / / Receptacles / / Switches / / 3-way switches / / Smoke detectors / / Central air conditioning units / / Thermostats / / Ventilation / /

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