In the normal course of seasonal change -- as summer changes to fall and winter to spring, as the darkness shifts to light and the shuttered confines of home are slowly opened --it's common for us to hope that the transition will be smooth, unruffled by the extremes of Arctic cold or equatorial heat. We look forward to storing our parkas, snow blowers, salt and sand and once again expose our skin to the elements.
This spring, however, has been like Goldilocks and her porridge -- one day it's too hot, the next day it's too cold and the following isn't comfortable either. Temperatures have waffled here with the frequency of the Bengals' choice for quarterback.
One way to help ease and minimize this seasonal malfeasance, in addition to lowering energy consumption, is to install a ceiling fan that can cool a room, circulate heat, provide light and/or be used as a decorating accent.
To begin with, the size of the fan should be governed by the room's size. In a small room, a three-paddled fan perhaps 30 inches in diameter might be all that's needed. A larger room with vaulted ceilings might require a fan with five blades and 50 inches in diameter or greater.
Next you need to consider the overall length of the fan or its distance from the ceiling. A ceiling hugger is mounted close to the ceiling, which is appropriate for rooms with low ceilings. For larger rooms with more height, fans can be mounted on extension poles that come in a variety of lengths, typically 6 to 12 inches in length.
It's wise to invest a few extra dollars for a fan with a reversible motor, something I've found extremely useful during this time of seasonal vagaries. When it's cold, operating the fan in a counterclockwise direction can help circulate down warm air trapped at the top of a room; in the summer, it can be reversed to pull air up toward the ceiling and out the windows.
A feature that's becoming more common is a variable speed motor that regulates the speed of the air being moved. Simpler models have pull chains directly attached to the motor which turn it on and off in addition to regulating the speed, while more complex and expensive models have wall-mounted controls allowing the fan speed to be regulated with more accuracy -- they're advantageous in rooms with high or vaulted ceilings.
Another option is a light kit included on some fans or added later. Styles and size vary and can be anywhere from one bulb to five mounted on individual arms. In general, lighter weight fans can be mounted directly to standard ceiling boxes while heavier ones might require special reinforced braces for support.
Finally, as you're shopping and comparing, you might find two fans that seem identical except they're made by different manufacturers and vary dramatically in cost. Forget asking the ear-impaled, droopy-eyed 17-year-old sales associate -- he won't have a clue, since manufacturers seem to go to great lengths to conceal this information.
After some research, I finally found the answer to this mysterious secret. Paddle fan blades are pitched just like an airplane propeller. More pitch equals more air movement. Because of this increased resistance on the motor, forcing it to work harder, a more durable motor is required to churn more air, thus increasing the cost. The extrain cost can be justified, however, since most manufacturers extend the warranty, which can vary from a year to a lifetime guarantee.
Your ceiling fan choice depends on your budget and whether you intend to stay or move in the next few years. So if you're a little too warm or a little too cold, a paddle fan might help make you feel just right.
This Week's Tip:
Buying a property that's difficult to re-sell. Walk through the house and note all its potential drawbacks. Is it too close to a major highway, with all the attendant traffic noise? Is it too close to a freight rail line? Those are the things that will come back to haunt you, no matter how cute the house itself is, when you try to sell it later.
STEVEN J. LOWENSTEIN, a native of Cincinnati, is a Realtor with Coletta & Associates Realtors. He's a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and holds a Master's degree from North Texas State University.
