Ceiling Fans: Useful in All Seasons

By Frank G. Ross

Keeping cool during warm weather becomes a priority for most of us.  A ceiling fan is a great addition to a room, looks stylish, and is much more energy-efficient than air conditioning.  Central air conditioning keeps a whole house cool, but sometimes just a small space needs to be cooled and a fan is ideal in that situation.  Keep in mind that a ceiling fan just moves the air around, but lots of times, that's all you need to really make a space more comfortable.

It even helps during the winter, by circulating heat that stagnates at the ceiling. Just use the reversing switch to change the direction of the fan blades, and set it on the slowest speed. This will gently push the warm air down from the ceiling without stirring up a chilly breeze.

The popularity of fans means there are a variety of styles and sizes available in a wide range of prices.  Consider your needs and compare brands and features before selecting a fan.

Also keep in mind the location where you plan to install the fan.  Some ceilings need to be braced to support the additional weight of a ceiling fan.  The unit itself must be securely anchored to an electrical box (called a "Junction Box") that can handle the weight of the unit, as well as the motion of the fan when it is operating and its highest speed. Fully-assembled ceiling fans can weigh anywhere from 20-30 pounds or more!  For homeowners not familiar with working on electrical wiring, an electrician might be needed to install a circuit box in the ceiling where the fan is to hang if one is not already in place.  A stable installation directly in the ceiling is preferred to a swag chain on a ceiling hook.

Usually a fan is hung in the middle of a room for best air circulation. But for safety reasons, a fan should not hang directly over a bed.  Recently I was disturbed late in the evening by a noise in my son’s bedroom.  Upon investigation I found that the fan had fallen from the ceiling.  Fortunately it was not installed over the bed and fell to the floor instead of on the bed where my son was sleeping.   When daylight came I was able to see that one of the screws securing the fixture to the ceiling had broken in half.  Vibration must have caused the screw to shear off even though the fan was balanced and didn’t appear to vibrate excessively.  Even when care is taken to properly install and maintain fixtures, accidents can happen.

In the course of a home inspection I test all ceiling fans and note whether they are operational or not.  I will also add a comment if I observe that a fan is extremely noise or vibrates excessively.  Minor vibration is common and generally easily remedied by balancing the blades.

As with any do it yourself project, think safety first when installing or adjusting ceiling fans.  If you are not skilled in doing electrical wiring, then by all means secure the services of a trained professional.  And once the fan is in place be careful not to allow long objects such as fishing poles, ladders, or lumber to hit the rotating fan blades.

Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and a member in good standing with the Utah Better Business Bureau.  Readers may contact Mr. Ross at (435) 867-6400 or frank.ross@pillartopost.com