In its prime, the ceiling fan was a popular form of relief in climates such as we have in Darwin. The electric ceiling fan was the answer to keeping cool, and for many years, the only answer. That was before the days of the air conditioning unit, which raised the bar for cooling a building.
While air conditioners are popular, the electricity bill and noise put some people off, so the reliable ceiling fan still has its place in many homes.
But as with many practical items around the home, much depends on placement. If you have one fan for the whole room, placing it centrally makes sense. In larger rooms, though, or if people gather in certain areas, it may make sense to have one on each side instead.
As for styles, there is a wide variety out there, so you can use a fan as a feature, whether with a retro, colonial flourish or a modern and perhaps minimalist look, depending on your style preferences.
Optimal Fan Size for Different Room Dimensions
Generally speaking, the bigger the fan, the more effective it is going to be, but it also depends on aesthetics. A huge, slow-moving fan in an industrial or commercial building can be as much a talking point as a practical device. In your home or place of business, something size-appropriate is more suitable. A small room only needs a small fan, and for a larger space, perhaps it would be better to use several small fans, carefully placed to ensure good coverage.
On the other hand, a ceiling fan can be part of your interior design, so get the size and style you feel fits your interior design.
The Rule of Height and Distance for Maximum Airflow
The ideal height for a ceiling fan is 2.4 – 2.9 metres (8 – 9 feet) above the floor, which gives enough clearance above head height but keeps the blades close enough to have some meaningful effect. In a room with a high ceiling, there will need to be a sizeable downrod to bring the blades into the effective zone while maintaining stability.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Fan Installation
Having determined the ideal height and a central position to ensure the whole room – or the most important part of it – gets the benefit, the most common mistakes will be the wiring. As a customer, talk this through with the electrician in advance, to make sure your system is up to the task. If it is not, you could be looking at trip switches going off all the time because a circuit is overloaded.
Because of the sheer difficulty of a ceiling fan’s location, there is complex wiring involved, so most people turn to an electrician instead of attempting to do it themselves.
When to Repair and When to Opt for a Ceiling Fan Replacement
When a ceiling fan develops an alarming wobble or an irritating squeak, it may be time to fit a new one. The motor has a lot of work to do, and the design of the unit that holds the blade in place can be subject to wear and tear that simply defeats it over time. At that point, it’s best to contact a professional like our team at Florance Electrical to see if we can repair it or if a new fan is needed.