THE SENSIBLE HOME : Joining the Fan Club Can Save You Money
QUESTION: I want contemporary ceiling paddle fans for my living room and kitchen. They must be efficient and pay back the cost with utility bill savings. How can I tell which designs and features are best?
ANSWER: Although all ceiling fans look basically alike, there are significant quality and structural differences among them. Definitely do not shop for just the lowest priced one. Within a year, it will begin to hum and wobble.
Many new efficient contemporary designer fans have three to six blades. One five-blade model, called Petal, has wraparound petal-shaped blades. Another high output three-blade model has split hi-tech airfoil blades.
Key design features to look for are motor housing material, bearing type, motor size, blade pitch, range of speeds, automatic speed and lighting controls and sound/vibration isolating features.
Die cast or cast iron motor housings are best. This heavier metal, as compared to a thin steel stamping, dissipates heat better, is more durable and provides longer motor life.
A larger, more powerful motor also runs cooler and quieter. Double-shielded, permanently lubricated bearings are most durable and quietest. Look for sound and vibration reducing components between all metal parts.
A steeper pitch angle (or twist) of the blades is better and moves more air at a lower speed. Most better-quality fans have a blade pitch of 13 or 14 degrees, and the pitch is even steeper on larger contemporary three-blade models.
Balance (some blade sets are matched to within one gram of each other) and quality of the blade finish are more important than the blade material. Some of the best quality, most expensive fan blades are made of laminated or solid hardwoods, engineering plastics or fabric covered frames.
For the greatest convenience, select a fan with a hand-held remote speed and lighting control. These are often available only on the highest quality fans. Remote controls are ideal for bedrooms or when relaxing by the TV.
One hand-held remote, Air Design, provides six speeds and programmable preset speed/lighting combinations. A unique sleep setting gradually slows the fan speed as you sleep. The typical pull chain, three-speed settings on most fans are often not adequate for effective, quiet cooling.
Even an expensive fan can pay back its cost in utility bill savings. A properly sized fan allows you to comfortably raise your thermostat setting five degrees. In winter, reverse the fan rotation and set your thermostat lower.
Write for Update Bulletin No. 922, with a buyer’s guide listing the highest quality, most efficient ceiling fan manufacturers; information includes sizes, styles, speed ranges, blade pitch, motor housing materials, bearing types, features and a size selector chart. Please include $2 and a business-size self-addressed, stamped envelope; mail to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.
Letters and questions to Dulley, a Cincinnati-based engineering consultant, may be sent to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.
