Ceiling Fans

There a number of benefits to adding a ceiling fan to your home. First, there's the superior air circulation. Moving air throughout a room helps to give it a fresh feel. Then, when you run a ceiling fan, you don't have to crank up your air conditioner, saving you energy and money. In fact, running a ceiling fan instead of your AC unit can potentially reduce your energy costs by 40 percent.

Then there's the possibility of giving your living space additional lighting. Many ceiling fans come equipped with integrated light kits (or light that can be added) that can be a room's primary or secondary light source.

In addition, ceiling fans can be a focal point in any room. With a full slate of available styles and themes, including durable and beautiful finishes and customizable blade options, a ceiling fan can be the centerpiece in your most cherished room.

Indoor ceiling fans can be used in virtually any room, especially if it's big enough, busy enough, and the ceiling is high enough. Indoor ceiling fans usually come equipped with a downrod to hang from a tall ceiling in a great room, bedroom, or entryway to maximize air movement.

If your space isn't too big, but it could still benefit from some ventilation (like a walk-in closet), a hugger, or flushmount, ceiling fan can be mounted right up at the ceiling, and features a blade span compatible with a smaller space.

Outdoor ceiling fans are aptly designed for use in the elements. Some are rated for damp locations, while others are rated for wet locations—you'll have to decide which is appropriate for your setting. And since outdoor ceiling fans are often used in warm climates, many fixtures feature fun and striking tropical design elements.

In addition to a ceiling fan's inherent energy saving potential, many are also offered in ENERGY STAR-rated versions. The fan motors are far more efficient, and ceiling fans with lights utilize either compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs for added savings. And the good news is that the performance of an ENERGY STAR-rated ceiling fan is not affected.

Ceiling fans also come with their fair share of accessories. In addition to the downrods, light kits, and customizable fan blades mentioned above, many ceiling fan manufacturers include remote or wall controls for their products.

Question: Can a ceiling fan be used in the summer and winter? The answer is absolutely it can. We all know that running a ceiling fan during the warm months helps because the blades move air in the room. Most ceiling fans feature a switch on the motor housing that reverses the blade rotation. So running the ceiling fan motor in reverse during the cooler months will release warmer air trapped up at the ceiling.

If you're ready to take the next step in considering a ceiling fan for your home, be sure check out our ceiling fan buying guide. This buying guide provides more information specific to ceiling fans, like terminology, where to place a ceiling fan and why, and how to size one in specific rooms.

Ceiling fans are amazing fixtures, and there are many good reasons why they're becoming more popular in homes everywhere. Be sure to shop Build.com for a ceiling fan when you're ready.