A ceiling fan can be a great way to cut down on energy costs during the summer. Installing a fan will allow you to run your air-conditioning unit much less, even on the hottest days. To make sure you select a ceiling fan that will properly cool a room in your home, you need to determine the size of ceiling fan you need. The proper size will vary based on the size of the room and height of the room's ceiling.
Instructions
1. Measure the lengths of the walls in the room where you will be putting the fan.
2. Decide on the proper fan blade diameter based on the measured length and width. Guidelines from Electrical-Online recommend a fan diameter of 52 to 54 inches for rooms where the length and width are both over 12 feet. For a 10- by 12-foot room, a diameter of 44 inches is recommended. A 10- by 10-foot room will require a fan of 42 inches, and smaller rooms require only a 32- to 36-inch fan.
3. Measure the height of the ceiling in the room where the fan will be. In case of vaulted ceilings, measure in the center of the room at the point where you are installing the fan.
4. Determine the length of ceiling-fan mount you will need based on the height of the ceiling. For ceilings 9 feet in height of less, a flush mounting is recommended. For higher ceilings, a down rod will be necessary to mount the fan at the proper height. For a 12-foot ceiling, an 18-inch down rod is recommended, while a 16-foot ceiling will require a down rod 72 inches in length.
Tags: