Outdoors or indoors?

Although outdoor and indoor fans look the same, they’re actually built for different environments. Outdoor fans are designed to handle conditions like heat, wind and humidity, while most indoor fans would just rust if installed outside. Some indoor fans, however, are also designed for special conditions, such as humidity. If the fan is going to be installed in a room where there will be moisture, such as a bathroom, look for a UL-Damp rated fan. This rating means the blades will not warp.

Room size

In order for a ceiling fan to properly circulate air in a room, the blade span has to be large enough to handle the room’s size. Once you know where you’ll be installing the ceiling fan, the next step is to measure that space and determine the appropriate blade span to match.

Rooms up to 75 sq. ft. = 29 to 36-inch blade span
Rooms up to 175 sq. ft. = 42 to 48-inch blade span
Rooms up to 350 sq. ft. = 52 to 56-inch blade span
Rooms more than 350 sq. ft. = 60-inch or larger blade span

Ceiling height

It is best to hang up ceiling fans so the fan blades are about 8 feet above the floor. Most fans have more than one mounting option, which allows you to install yours at the proper height.

Flushmount: These fans have no extra attachments and are designed for low ceilings.
Downrod mount: If you have a ceiling that is higher than eight feet, use a downrod mount.
Angle mount: This type of mount should be used for angled or sloped ceilings.

Now that you’ve factored in space considerations, you can start to think about fun details like design and lighting! Stay tuned for our next article’s tips on buying a ceiling fan to match your preferences.