7 Things You May Not Know About Ceiling Fans

We’re in the thick of the air conditioning season. So, how about we bust some ceiling fan myths and misconceptions? A video of a fan with blades that conceal on top of the fan when it is turned off sparked my interest in this topic. It appears brilliant, yet it is a foolish idea.

Anyway, here are seven ceiling fan facts that many people appear to be unaware of.

1.  Ceiling fans heat the room

A ceiling fan, yes, is a cooling appliance. (See No. 2 below.) However, it adds heat to the room it is in. Why? Because electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, the majority of which is lost as heat. The infrared image below depicts a ceiling fan motor that is hotter than the room in which it is located. We know where that heat is going according to the second rule of thermodynamics: into the cooling chamber.

No, that’s not a lot of heat, but keep in mind that operating a ceiling fan adds heat to the room rather than cooling it. 

2.  Ceiling fans are cool people

Ceiling fans are only effective for cooling when they move air over the skin. They help to cool our bodies in two ways: evaporative cooling and convective cooling. If the air circulation provided by a ceiling fan does not come into contact with anyone’s skin, it just warms the environment without providing any cooling effect.

3. The efficiency of a fan indicates how successfully it moves air

Every new ceiling fan sold nowadays is labelled with its efficiency. (Efficacy is a rating of efficiency in which the output and input amounts are measured in distinct units.) The amount of airflow produced for the amount of electrical energy expended is the measure of fan efficacy. It measures airflow in cubic feet per minute (cfm) per watt (W) of electrical power. A good fan will provide more than 100 cfm per watt; a bad fan may provide as little as 30 cfm per watt.

Check the label the next time you’re hunting for a ceiling fan.

4.  Bigger is better with ceiling fans

You might detect a connection while checking those labels. The fans with the longest blades have the best efficiency, while those with the smallest blades have the worst. And its why, if you’re interested in airflow, you should avoid little short-blade fans like the one seen above, no matter how lovely they are. But if all you want is something cute, go ahead.

5.  Lower speeds are more efficient

When checking at fan efficacy labels, you’ll see that running the fan on medium produces more cfm per watt than running it on high, and running it on low produces even more than running it on medium. The only logical conclusion is to acquire the largest fan you can fit into the room while leaving adequate clearances and running it at the lowest speed that keeps you comfortable.

6. Ceiling fans are unlikely to save you money if you have air conditioning

If you don’t have any air conditioning, having some form of fan can help you keep your cool. You can stay cool for a reasonable price.

The dynamics change if you have air conditioning in your home. The air blowing over your skin still feels wonderful, as does the air conditioner’s low-temperature, low-humidity air. The statistics do not support the theory that consumers will raise the AC thermostat setting if they feel the breeze from the ceiling fan.

In brief, you must set the thermostat to a higher setting for ceiling fans to save money on your energy expenses. Better yet, when possible, utilise fans instead of air conditioning. 

7.  A ceiling fan can decapitate you

We have no idea there was a myth about this until I watched the Myth Busters movie below. Some people appear to be concerned about having their heads sliced off by a ceiling fan. And it can happen, as you’ll see in the video below… but only if the motor is replaced with a more powerful one (such as a lawn mower motor) and the ceiling fan paddles are replaced with razor-sharp blades.

So unwind! A (regular) ceiling fan will not cut off your head. However, you can use more energy and make your home warmer by utilising one.

Oh, and the fan with nesting blades is a bad concept because it has two flaws: The blades must be short in order to nest together on top of the engine, and they are built for nesting rather than propelling air. It’s fine if you don’t like the aesthetic of a ceiling fan. But why have something like this if it’s not going to move a lot of air?

It could be time to invest in the best designer ceiling fan to simplify your life. When you’re ready to make a decision, shop modern ceiling fans online for the finest shopping experience, optimal comfort, elegant designs, and high-performing smart technologies!