Fan

Friday, July 15, 2011

Ceiling Fan Parts - How To Choose The Right Parts For Your Ceiling Fan

If you have an interest in adding an element of elegance and function to a room in your house, one feature that you will automatically look to is the ceiling fan. To better understand the workings of your ceiling fan, however, you should be familiar with the various and essential ceiling fan parts.

This will make future repair and replacement a great deal easier, as well as help you maintain the integrity of this device. Listed below, you'll find five of the essential parts that make your ceiling fan run smoothly.

Blades

The blades of your ceiling fan are the most recognizable part, and luckily, due to the fact that they can wear out and even break, are often easily replaced. Even if your fan is of foreign construction or is simply less common, replacement blades can always be drilled to fit.

Replacement kits, which contain only the blades themselves, can be easily acquired. Similarly, you'll find that the blade arms, which hold the blades on to the turning mechanism, can be found in generic replacement sets, though these are more generalized. If you have an older fan whose appearance you want to preserve, contact the original retailer

Capacitors

The capacitor is the part of your fan that controls the speed and movement and fortunately, it can often easily be replaced as well. Make sure that before you go to buy a new capacitor that you check the rating o the model, due to the fact that your fan should only use a capacitor that spins at the appropriate power.

Motors

The motor, as the power source, might be the part of the fan that is the most difficult to replace. Motors these days are are built to last, though, and it is considered a fairly rare problem if it is the motor itself that fails. Replacement might be necessary if the motor fails, although if you are attached to the ceiling fan itself, you can always check with a specialist.

Pullchain Switches

Pullchain switches are the most common part of a ceiling fan to require repair, most likely due to the fact that they are the part that is most often handled. You'll find that the chain can be pulled out of the socket if yanked too hard, but luckily they are easily taken care of.

When you go to the hardware store to replace the pullchain and socket, make sure you match it up with the fan you have. Find out how many wires are used in your pullchain and how many speeds your fan has, and make sure that the chain you buy is identical.

Mounting Bracket

The mounting bracket is the part of your ceiling fan that holds it to the ceiling, and failure of this part is extremely unlikely. However, water damage or loss during a move can occur, an the mounting bracket can easily be replaced.

If your ceiling fan utilizes a downrod, you'll be able to replace the mounting bracket at just about any hardware store or home center. If you have a different arrangement, you will need to get in contact with the manufacturer.

Mark is the editor Ceiling-fan-wizard.com which Provides you with the best ceiling fan reviews and ratings. To Find More Ceiling Fan Parts ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

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Home Benefits from Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a popular fixture for good reason. Functionally similar to any other kind of electrical fan, ceiling fans have many benefits over their more conventional counterparts.

A ceiling fan is nothing more than an electrical fan that hangs from the ceiling, and optionally includes lighting. Ceiling fans are preferred by many people due to the space savings over the more conventional or portable fans that take up significant floor space.

Air circulation is a primary benefit of a ceiling fan. They are proven to make a room feel at least 4 degrees cooler than without any moving air. When installed over a kitchen dining table, the moving air helps to dissuade flying pests from entering the area.

Colder winter months benefit from a ceiling fan too. The moving air helps distribute the warm air coming from sources like a furnace or heat stove. Moving this heat around the home makes for a more even distribution of warmth.

Air conditioners do a fine job of cooling a home during hot summer months. But the bill for the electricity consumed can be prohibitive. Yet another benefit of ceiling fans is the energy savings on days where the heat isn't so high that a ceiling fan cant make a room feel comfortable.

Indeed, the cost savings in electrical power are significant. Ceiling fans consume power at the rate of only pennies per day, while air conditioning units can consume power at the rate of dollars per day. Clearly, during spring and fall months, or even summer mornings / evenings, and ceiling fan can suffice for comfort in room temperature and wallet.

It is important to note - a ceiling fan run in the winter for warmth distribution needs to run clockwise to draw air up against the ceiling. Since warm air rises, this gives it a chance to get pushed around and mixed with the cooler air floating around below.

So where did this great idea come from?

Two dudes, father and son - James and John Hunter first invented the ceiling fan back in 1886. It was originally powered by water since there was no electrical system that you could simply plug into back then even though electricity had been discovered more than 100 year prior.

In 1903 the Emerson Electric Co incorporated the Hunters ceiling fan design in their products. Later the Hunter Fan company was spun off bearing the name of the original duo. Since then there's been a great deal of evolution in design and technology. Today, there are countless ceiling fan designs offered by the Hunter Fan company.

Casablanca modern fans

Casablanca manufactures the most modern styles of ceiling fans available anywhere. The are beautifully crafted and luxurious ceiling fans. Casablanca fans are not inexpensive. Due to their appeal some of the designs can become collectors items. Don't be surprised if you find these fans costing a pretty penny over other options.

Age has served the ceiling fan well, what with materials and technologies, and all - from water power to electricity, and light weight material blades, the ceiling fan is the most affordable option for temperature comfort going.

Dave Marx wrote Advantages of ceiling fans for http://www.Kitchen-Remodeling-Pictures.com - a free resource for all persons undergoing a remodeling bender.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ceiling Fans

What is the typical ceiling fan warranty?

Unlike other major appliances in your home that offer extended warranties after one or two years of a standard, new appliance warranty, most ceiling fans offer a lifetime or limited lifetime warranty. Ceiling fans are pretty straightforward devices and have a minimum of moving (and thus breakable parts). Read the warranty information carefully and contact the manufacturer or the seller if you have any questions. The limited lifetime warranties are generally for the larger and more expensive components such as the motor and will often prorate the cost of repair or replacement of these parts.

How does the ceiling fan actually lower the temperature in a room?

The cold hard fact is that the ceiling fan does not lower the temperature. What happens is that you get what is called a chilling effect from a ceiling fan. This chilling effect evaporates perspiration and makes the person feel cooler although the actual temperature in the room stays the same. This evaporation makes you think you are cooler - and what you think is what really matters after all. Think about how it feels to be walking outside on a day when the temperature is fairly high. You're most likely warm and somewhat uncomfortable. Suddenly a breeze comes up and you feel cooler. And, it's a pleasant feeling. On the other hand, picture yourself walking from the heat into an air-conditioned building. While you feel different, it's coldness not cooling you feel.

What about the energy saving factor? Since ceiling fans don't actually cool the air, doesn't your air conditioner setting have to stay the same? The answer is definitely not. Because the chilling effect makes you feel cooler, you can adjust the thermostat up and save on air conditioning costs.

Can a ceiling fan help reduce heating costs?

Rotating a fan clockwise in the winter causes trapped, warm air near the dealing to be forced downward. As you know, warm air always rises and the higher the ceiling the more heat is wasted. This is one of the primary reasons that a reversible ceiling fan should always be purchased. Pushing the warm air downward actually increase the heat in the room and can allow you to adjust your thermostat accordingly. While the energy consumption may be reduced by as much as 8% to 12%, the modest savings in your heating bill will soon add up.

Can I use my current dimmer switch to regulate the speed of the ceiling fan?

Unfortunately, standard dimmer switches are not designed for ceiling fans and using them may, in fact, damage the ceiling fan motor. It's a modest investment to install a switch that regulates the speed of the ceiling fan. Some switches also regulate the brightness of the ceiling fan lights. Don't be penny wise and pound-foolish!

Why do ceiling fans that often look the same cost more?

We have become a society where what's outside is often given more consideration than what is inside. Manufacturers often under pressure from large retail outlets have constructed ceiling fans that have the glitz and glamour of their more expensive counterparts. Believe the old adage that you get what you pay for. Some of the reasons cheaper fans look as good as more expensive ones are found internally. Their motors are usually smaller or of inferior quality. On the outside, designers have found a number of ways to use cheap materials to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Resist the temptation to go for what appears to be a great bargain. The ceiling fan you purchase today should be operating smoothly and efficiently ten or more years from now. A cheap unit just won't stand the test of time and you'll. be, in effect, throwing your money away, when you have to replace it with a higher quality unit.

What if my remote control fan does not work after I've installed it?

If your remote controlled fan doesn't work, first check to make sure there is power going to the unit. Check to make sure the control unit is wired correctly. Make sure both the fan pull chain switch and light kit pull chain switch are in their highest setting. Check to see if the code switches in the control unit and hand-held unit are the same.

What if my fan is running slowly?

A faulty capacitor may cause a ceiling fan to run slowly or quit running altogether. There are screws that hold the light kit or switch or housing cap to the bottom of the fan. Remove these screws and take the light kit or housing cap off. Inside the switch housing you will see a small rectangular box. This is the capacitor. Get a replacement from the manufacturer or from where you bought it.

What if my fan does not start?

There are a number of reasons why your fan may not start. First, try checking the main and branch circuit fuses or circuit breakers. Check the wire connections in the ceiling outlet box. (Caution: Make sure the main power is turned off at the circuit breaker or fuse box.) Make sure the forward/reverse switch is firmly in the up or down position. Your fan will not operate if the switch is in the middle. Make sure the shipping stabilizer tabs have been removed from the motor.

What do I do about a wobbling fan?

First, check to see that the screws attaching the blades to the motor unit are all tight. If this doesn't solve the problem, use a yardstick and place it vertically against one of the blades. Slowly rotate the blades by hand to see if they are all at the same angle. If any are not, gently adjust the blade up or down. If this doesn't solve the problem, the fan blades do not all weigh the same. Most manufacturers will include weight-adjusting clips that fasten on the top of the blades. Use a trial and error approach to see which blades need more weight. Start by attaching the clips closer to the motor. If the wobble doesn't stop, move the blades further towards the end of the blade. You may need to do this with more than one blade.

If the manufacturer didn't include these clips, they can be purchased at any lighting store or at most home centers or hardware stores. If you have trouble finding these clips you will need to improvise with such things as masking tape with a coin, etc.

LightnBreezy.com is a well-known source for Westinghouse ceiling fans LightnBreezy.com features hundreds of products to choose from. To order your discount ceiling fans visit us at LightnBreezy.com.

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Hunter Ceiling Fans - The Leading Ceiling Fan Company For Over 120 Years

The Hunter Fan Company has been known for it's performance and detailed craftsmanship since 1886. It was then that John and James Hunter, a father and son team, developed the first water-driven ceiling fan in New York.

Some seventeen years later the Hunter fan was one of the very first products that was able to run on electricity. It was unrealized that the Hunter fans would become a legend and would set the world's standard for fan precision craftsmanship and quality. These fans were soon making their way to the Far East, India, Africa and all over the United States.

Today, Hunter comes in a variety of new collections that meets and exceeds the tradition of excellence where they are known for. Their products are known worldwide for their beauty and are built to last a for generations.

There are models for every room sort of room. Great rooms, large rooms, small rooms, kids rooms. They also offer fans for outdoors and low ceilings.

You can also choose from a wide selection of accessories to accent and customize all of it's collections. This allows your choices to be unlimited in style and design features to truly be a one of a kind.

When shopping for ceiling fans, style, design, motor power, reliability, speed adjustments and remote control all enter into the equation. All of these variables need to be considered before making a decision of what you will chose for you home.

The style and design of a fan will be your most important decision to make. Hunter ceiling fans come in a very wide variety of styles and designs for you to choose from. A few of the best sellers from their collection include The Brunswick, Palermo, Sea Air, Dimensions, The Auberge, Dreamland, The Brookline and several more Hunter collections to chose from.

Motor power must also be considered carefully. Motor speed, in conjunction with the fan design, will have an impact on the noise that is emitted, as well as how the ceiling fan itself operates. The motor will have everything to do with how quickly and coolly the air in the area will circulate and also how quiet the operation is with the motor.

The motors that go into Hunter ceiling fans are energy efficient and provide quiet smooth running for every model they sell.

"Quiet for Life" is Hunter's trademark. The exclusive motor technology ensures all of their fans are quiet and wobble free. This is Hunter's pledge to you.

All of the Hunter ceiling fans are speed adjustable to every environmental condition. Whether it is the hottest summer or the coldest winter variable speed adjustment with a Hunter fan is included with every model they offer. With Hunter's exclusive remote controls, this makes speed adjustments even easier!

Many of the Hunter's fans have been stamped with the Energy Star symbol, which means those products have met the Energy Star guidelines for efficiency rating.

Hunter's line of fans come with a solid guarantee and warranty that is the strongest in the industry. All of their models come ready for the easiest of installation for the homeowner with complete instructions to mounting their units.

They also provide a good customer service support for all of their products online or by reaching them through their toll free number.

To Find More Hunter Ceiling Fans ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

Mark is the editor Ceiling-fan-wizard.com which Provides you with the best ceiling fan reviews and ratings. To Find More Hunter Ceiling Fans ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

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Basic Ceiling Fan Maintenance

Maintaining a ceiling fan is a relatively easy proposition in comparison to maintaining other home appliances. The proper installation of a ceiling fan will make the maintenance of your fan easier in the long run.

When you receive your fan, a complete set of installation instructions will (or should) be included. In reviewing a number of these instruction manuals, I have found that most are very complete and detailed and include graphics to help the installer relate to the written description of the steps necessary to get the job done right.

The major issue in self-installation is connecting the wiring correctly. Besides the safety issues involved, wiring (for the inexperienced) can appear to be a complicated process. If you have any doubts about your ability to do this part of the job, listen to that little voice in your head and give serious consideration to finding someone you know who has expertise in this area or hire a licensed, bonded and qualified electrician to do the job.

A fan that is not correctly installed will no doubt cause you some maintenance grief. Incorrectly installed ceiling fans are more prone to wobble or vibrate and require maintenance to correct these problems. Most of the time, correcting a wobbling or vibrating fan is fairly simple and straightforward but on occasion it can become a time-consuming and frustrating job. So, a word to the wise: Get the installation done properly and your maintenance problems will be few and far between.

Assuming you have reversible blade ceiling fans, a good time to schedule minor maintenance is when you are ready to reverse the ceiling fan from winter warming to summer cooling. In the summer the blades should move the air upward where warm air in the house is trapped. In the winter the blades should move the air downward, forcing the warm air near the ceiling down into the living area.

When you are ready to change the rotation to the summer setting, schedule some time for maintenance. Using a stepladder, wash the top of the blades. While you're up there, check the decorative plate that rests against the ceiling. It should be firmly attached to the ceiling. If it's not, you have a bit of a job in store. It will more than likely be necessary to remove the blades and motor housing to get at the decorative plate. Make sure that it's tight against the ceiling before putting the fan back together.

Be sure not to use any cleaning material that will either mar the finish or saturate the blade surface if it is constructed with porous material such as wood. You don't need to soak the cleaning cloth since your goal is not to clean the surface of the blade but rather to remove the dust that has accumulated there during the winter months. A layer of dust can reduce airflow and make your fan work less efficiently.

Depending on the blade surface, consider a light coat of polish such as furniture polish. This will not only make the blade look better, it will also slightly improve the efficiency because it cuts down on resistance

While you are up there, check each of the mounting screws to make sure that they are tight. If you've begun to hear a mild ticking noise as the fan rotates, chances are that the culprit(s) are loosened screws. In the extreme, loose screws can result in a blade wobble or the fan itself beginning to vibrate.

Some homeowners make it a point to clean the surfaces of the fan blades on a weekly basis. While for many, this may be overkill; any dust that has collected on the top of the blades will reduce the airflow and therefore the ceiling fan's efficiency. A paper towel or cloth can be used to give the blades a quick 1-2-3. Again, be careful not to overdo it. A heavy hand can often push one or more blades out of the correct pitch, causing a wobble.

Some homeowners getaway without ever having a fan wobble problem. Unfortunately, enough homeowners end up having this problem that it's worth mentioning some corrective measures you can take to fix a fan that wobbles.

A wobble is always the result of some type of difference in one or more of the blades. The first things to check are the screws that attach the blades to the motor housing. There are usually three per blade and all should be tight. If you find one or more loose screws, tighten them and then run the fan to see if this solves the problem.

If the wobble persists, find a straightedge and, with the fan off, place it vertically against the edge of one of the blades. Rotate the blades slowly; checking to make sure each blade touches the straightedge. If you find one or more blades that don't, gently bend them up or down until they touch the straightedge. This done, all the blades should have an equal pitch (or angle as it's sometimes called). Start the fan again and see if the problem is solved.

If you still have a wobble, you have a little more involved job ahead of you. The basic problem is that one or more of your blades weigh more or less than the others, accounting for the wobble. Fortunately, there's a solution called a balancing kit that is designed to correct this problem.

Purchase a balancing kit at the store where you purchased the fan, a home center or at a large hardware store. The kits are also available on-line.

The instructions often vary from balancing kit to balancing kit but they all are designed to get you the right end result: A wobble-free fan. Follow the instructions carefully and don't take any short cuts no matter what your own personal logic dictates.

The kits include balancing clips which are weights designed to even the weight of the blades. Done properly, the balancing clip(s) placement will solve your wobble problem.

Although working through the balancing kit steps is somewhat tedious and time consuming, most of the problems causing a fan to wobble don't reach this stage and can be corrected by following one of the first two procedures.

With the proper care and maintenance, your ceiling fans will give you years and years of carefree comfort.

LightnBreezy.com is a well-known source for ceiling fans. LightnBreezy.com features hundreds of products to choose from. To order your discount ceiling fans, visit us at LightnBreezy.com.

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Energy Star Ceiling Fans - Saving Money, Quiet Motors And Top Efficiency!

There are many reasons to install ceiling fans in your home, not the least of which is the money you will save on your home's heating and cooling bills. Energy efficient fans are one of the best things you can put in your home. They keep your home cool and use far less energy than an air conditioner.

About Energy Star

Energy Star is a program that was started by the US government that was designed to promote consumer products that are energy efficient. It has an easily recognized logo.

History

This program was started in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency with help by John S Hoffman. It was designed to be a means of reducing the consumption of energy and the emissions of green house gases by the power plants. It start out as a voluntary program that was used to label products that were considered to be energy efficient and has been extended to office equipment, home electronics, lighting and major appliances. It is even applied to some homes and commercial buildings.

Purpose of Energy efficient brand

The Energy Star program has been used to promote the saving of energy and the reduction of green house gases. There are many incentives to using Energy efficient products, not the least of which is the money you will save on utility bills. The environmental benefits are nothing to sneeze at either.

Kits

One of the best ways to make sure that you have Energy efficient fans in your home is to buy the Energy Star rated lighting kit and install it on your fans. This can save you money in that you can retrofit your already installed fans instead of having to go out and shop for new fans. The energy star kit has been proven to cut the amount of energy used by your ceiling fan in half.

Choosing

Choosing the right fans for your home is very important and you should always make sure that the fans you buy are energy efficient ceiling fans. These fans are better for the environment and better for your pocket book. The fan is just as effective as a non-Energy efficient fan, but you have the added bonus of helping the environment and saving money.

Ceiling fans in general can help save money on the heating and cooling costs of your home. Energy Star fans, however, not only keep your home's temperature regulated, they also save you money and cut down on the amount of energy your home uses by quite a bit. When you are shopping for your fan, in addition to looking at cost and style, you should make sure that you are looking for the Energy Star logo. If you have fans already installed in your home, you can buy Energy efficient kits to turn them into energy star ceiling fans.

To Find More Energy Star Ceiling Fans, ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

Mark is the editor Ceiling-fan-wizard.com which Provides you with the best ceiling fan reviews and ratings. To Find More Energy Star Ceiling Fans, ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Stay Cool and Use Less Energy This Summer With a Ceiling Fan

For most people, owning a vacation home does not always mean it comes equipped with all the amenities and creature comforts of a primary home. Second homes for many are rustic modest summer cabins where the carefree days of summer are enjoyed. In general, this is all that is required but there are exceptions such as temperatures rising into triple digit heights. Taking cover from the noon sun offers no respite if the cabin is not equipped with something as basic as a ceiling fan. I can vouch for this first hand as our mountain home was enjoyable throughout the year, until July. When the thermometer hit 106 degrees, an emergency trip was made to the local lighting store to purchase two ceiling fans.

Choosing the Right Ceiling Fan for your Needs

Looking online or in your local lighting store you've probably found the choices in fans to be extensive. What's the difference, you ask? It's a summer home, let's get the cheapest fan possible. Right? Maybe not. You should make sure that the fan you're choosing has enough power, pitch and blade diameter to substantially move the air around the room because that's really all a ceiling fan can do. A fan doesn't actually cool the air, it just creates wind chill that aids in cooling as you perspire.

Top of the line fans will have a 14 - 15 degree pitch as opposed to a low end fan that has about 10. 12 degrees is adequate. As for blade diameter, for a large room you'll want something with at least 52 inches. A really large room may need more and visa versa if the room is smaller.

Last, the power and speed options. Obviously, if you're only using the fan during the summer, then the highest speed the ceiling fan is capable of will be your main focus. But if this is for all season use, a very slow speed is important, too. This allows you to circulate air in the room during the winter months without creating a breeze, to assist in warming the room throughout.

Ceiling Fan Installation

Installing your new fan can be straight forward provided there is easy access to connect into the power source and ample strength for support in the actual spot you plan to hang the fan. Given that best case scenario it's probably safe to say you'll run into at least one small problem during your installation.

We have open beam ceilings in our summer home, no attic and no power source in the ceiling. This meant extending power out to the beam using wire mold which we later painted to match the beam's color. Strength for support was thankfully not an issue but the process of getting into the walls, connecting into the existing power source and tacking up all the wire mold took some time. And all of this needed to be done by an electrician.

Energy Saving

The great thing about ceiling fans is that besides using far less energy than running an air conditioner or swamp cooler, they can also be used in conjunction with AC to help lower energy use. Basically, if you run a ceiling fan you can set your AC thermostat much higher (78 - 84) and the breeze created by the fan will keep you just as cool. Remember to turn off the fan when you're not in the room as it only cools people, not the room. And if you can avoid using AC entirely, you'll be happy to know that ceiling fans use about 90% less energy than standard air conditioning, which again, is all you really all need in a summer home.

Nicole Martins, a senior editor at Chandeliers-and-Home-Lighting.com, writes regularly about home decor and garden design. You can read more about discount ceiling fans at: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/ceiling-fans.htm

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