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Ceiling Fan Buying Guide: Choosing The Proper Ceiling Fan Size

Shopping for ceiling fans is uncharted territory for a lot of homeowners. You may have a particular style in mind that blends well with your overall home decor, you may even have a great recommendation to follow as far as brand names that produce quality products that operate silently and have earned a reputation for energy efficiency. But you may have not carefully considered how size may be a prime influencing factor on your impending purchase. In this article, we will educate you on how to choose the right ceiling fan size for your home.

Does Ceiling Fan Size Matter?

When it comes down to choosing the perfect ceiling fan for your home, the answer to the question of whether size matters is a resounding "YES!" There is one golden rule to keeping in mind: A fan can only be as effective as its "reach." Contrary to a lot of people's beliefs, ceiling fans do not have a direct effect in lowering high temperatures. Instead these devices stir up a cool breeze by gently rotating air around the room. And you can bet your bottom dollar that "reach" is critically important in whether your fan works effectively.

Industry standards dictate that sizes are determined by measuring width straight across from blade tip to blade tip. It is not a problem in choosing a device that is too large (unless there is no room for the blades to actually rotate properly). However, when you choose a fan that is too small, you run the risk of not circulating air properly throughout the room. The end result is unnecessary discomfort, which can be completely avoided by properly doing your homework.

Ceiling Fan Size Vs Room Size

Nowadays these lighting and cooling devices comes in almost every size imagineable, limited only to the vision of the actual designer. However, here is a general rule of thumb to help guide your selection process:

* 32": Effective for rooms up to 80 square feet in size
* 42": Effective for rooms between 80-120 square feet in size
* 44": Effective for rooms between 120-144 square feet in size
* 52"+: Effective for rooms over 144 square feet in size

In case you still haven't gotten your ruler or tape measure out, there are a few other points of consideration you will want to keep in mind as you shop for the right ceiling fan for your home:

* Choosing an appropriate size will ensure greater energy efficiency
* Mounting fans in outdoor areas require UL wet or damp listed fans
* Multi-speed and wall controls help to make your room more comfortable

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