Ceiling fans put spin on cooling

Foothills summer heat is often difficult and costly as home air conditioners run around the clock. But beating the heat and reducing the high cost of energy can be as simple as installing a ceiling fan.
While this type of fan doesn't reduce the temperature in the house, it moves the air around thus making the room feel more comfortable. A ceiling fan can also make a room warmer in the winter months when it is run in the reverse direction.
The fan actually helps the room maintain a steady temperature because it circulates the hot air near the ceiling with the cold air near the ground.
A wide variety of ceiling fans are available throughout Placer County in many specialty lighting stores as well as home improvement establishments such as Home Depot, EXPO Design Center and Lowe's.
According to Peter Kapellas at EXPO in Roseville, there is a variety of ceiling fan styles from which to choose depending on the décor of a room. Every fan Kapellas sells has the reverse air function, most have lights and some even have remote controls.
"Everyone wants something different," Kapellas said. "Some want the fan to be the focal point of the room while other people just want a basic fan to help keep the room cool."
At EXPO Design Center, fans with a tropical look featuring bamboo style blades and one that has a mountain lodge/log cabin flair have been popular sellers, Kapellas said. In addition, fans with sleek contemporary lines exhibiting various types of metal have also been a hit with Placer County residents.
When trying to decide the size of fan, Kapellas recommends considering the size of the room the fan will be occupying. If purchasing a fan for a small bathroom, a blade span of 34 inches might be appropriate where a large area such as a family room likely will require something more expansive.
"The pitch of the blade also determines how much air is being circulated. If the blades are flat, you won't feel as much air," Kapellas said.
The number of blades can also make a difference. For instance, a fan with three blades pushes more air than fans with four or five. The air doesn't have a chance to fill in the space as much as the three-blade versions do.
The more money spent on a fan does not necessarily mean it will work better. The best indicators of a well-made ceiling fan are whether they stay stable at any speed and are able to run without noise.
Once that criteria has been met, the more money spent on fans is often due to extra style and design, Kapellas said. Accessories such as chains, pulls, fan oil, blade cleaners and remote controls can also increase the price of a fan.
Among the most popular styles of fans sold at Lowe's in Roseville, according to sales associate Skip Laird, are fans that can run outdoors. Outdoor fans do not require any special motors but the blades need to be made of plastic in order to withstand extreme weather.
"We even have outdoor floor lamps that match the fans," Laird said.
At Lowe's, Laird said 90 percent of the fans sold are 52 inches in diameter.
Fans purchased from Lowe's start at $19. In addition to the dozens in stock, custom orders from several catalogs can also be accommodated.
Susan Belknap can be reached at sbelknap@surewest.net.