A ceiling fan can be the centerpiece of your home or office, and it can also help save you money on your energy bills. But not all fans are created equal.
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Best Ceiling Fans According to Consumer Reports
Check out some of the best ceiling fans you can buy:
Honeywell Carmel 48-Inch Ceiling Fan with Integrated Light Kit
Honeywell’s Carmel fan is a great choice if you’re looking for a highly rated unit with an integrated light. It has three 40-watt LED bulbs that are more than enough to light up a medium-size room!
With nearly 2,000 five-star ratings and excellent reviews from users, it’s touted as quiet, versatile, and affordable.
Harbor Breeze Fans
The Harbor Breeze Mazon 44-inch is a brushed nickel ceiling fan that fits in any room and uses only one 18-watt bulb for energy-efficient lighting.
This ceiling fan is best suited for smaller rooms that are less than 100 square feet in size. This model provides 2,069 cubic feet of airflow to maintain a comfortable level of temperature throughout the room.
Hunter Fans Low-Profile
This fan has a low profile and is designed for rooms that are not so roomy. It’s easy to install and comes with everything you need to get it working in your home.
According to consumer reports, this fan is quiet and provides good air circulation. It comes with a remote control for your convenience and has three speeds to choose from.
Minka-Aire Light Wave Ceiling Fan
The fan comes in three different sizes and five colors: a nondescript matte black, as well as rich koa and teak finishes. It also has good airflow, with the largest model — at 65 inches wide— circulating over 5700 cubic feet per minute.
Maverick 60-Inch Ceiling Fan
Consumers praise this fan for its energy efficiency, stylish design made of hand-carved wooden blades, and easy upkeep.
This fan is damp rated for exposure to humidity, so it can be placed in rooms that are protected from direct rain or snow but still get some moisture.
Here’s what to look for when shopping for a ceiling fan:
Blade Size
The size of a fan’s blade is usually measured in inches from tip to tip.
For rooms that are 220 to 400 square feet, 50-inch (give or take a few inches) fans are the most popular choice.
For rooms that are 145 to 220 square feet, choose a fan with blades 42- to 44-inches in diameter. If your room size is close to the cutoff point between two sizes of fans, go with the larger one. Use it at its slower speed—which will be quieter than a faster setting would be.
Blade sweep is a measure of the distance a fan’s blade travels in one revolution. The higher the sweep, the more air it moves. Look for fans with high sweep ratings—at least 150 degrees. However, note that many ceiling fans have multiple speeds and can move air just as well at a slower speed as they do on their highest setting.
Energy Efficiency
To save energy and money, look for a fan that has an Energy Star label. The EPA’s Energy Star program rates ceiling fans based on their energy efficiency, noise level, and how much airflow they deliver.
Fans with higher ratings are more efficient than those with lower ones. You can also find information about the fan’s electrical usage in its manual or online listing; some models use as little as 7 watts of electricity when operating at full speed.
Installation Requirements
Most ceiling fans come with installation instructions. If your fan doesn’t have these, check the manufacturer’s website for more information. You should keep the blades at least 24 inches from a wall and drapes. You’ll also need to know how high off the ground is to install the fan.
You want a fan that will fit into the space where it will be installed and match the look of other fixtures in your room.
Wet/Damp Rating
A ceiling fan’s wet/damp rating indicates its ability to resist water damage, which could lead to rust and other problems.
If you’re installing a ceiling fan in your bathroom or outdoors, make sure that the fan has a UL rating for use in wet/damp environments.
If the fan is being used in a damp room, look for one with a UL “damp” rating. It will be installed outdoors on a porch—where it can get wet—go for a fan with a UL “wet” rating.
Airflow
The airflow from a ceiling fan is not as strong as that from an air conditioner or a window fan, but it’s still a good way to cool your home. It’s also cheaper than using an air conditioner and can help lower your utility bills. It is measured by the number of cubic feet per minute (CFM) the fan can move.
The higher the CFM, the stronger the airflow. You should also consider whether your ceiling fan has a reversible motor or not. This means that it can push air down from above as well as pull air up from below. This will help circulate air in your home more efficiently.
Controls
Some ceiling fans include remote controls for turning them on and off. A remote control is useful for speed adjustments without getting up.
Conclusion
The best ceiling fan is one that can keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and provide a nice breeze on all other occasions. A good ceiling fan should also be quiet, easy to install and clean, and have a stylish design that fits well with your home’s decor.
Your ceiling fan should be large enough to cool an entire room but not so large that it looks bulky in the space. If you have a large room and are looking for a fan that will cool the space efficiently, you may want to consider one with a high CFM rating.
