Thinking about investing in a new ceiling fan but unsure what model, size or design to buy? Our ceiling fan buying guide answers all your burning questions, as well as offers tips and tricks for what to look for when purchasing your next ceiling fan.

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What are the Benefits of a Ceiling Fan?

Below, we've outlined just a few of the reasons a ceiling fan could work for your home:

Healthy, Clean Airflow

Ceiling fans effectively circulate air around a room, thereby keeping the air in your home from getting stale and continuously refreshing a space.

Energy-Efficient & Budget-Friendly

During hot summer days, running an air conditioner all day can be expensive. Ceiling fans use much less electricity than air conditioners, making them a more environmentally-friendly, cost-efficient option. Adding a ceiling fan to your home also means that when you do choose to run your AC, you can run it for shorter periods of time and less often, while still being able to circulate cooled air.

Regulate Temperatures Across Seasons

In the early summer and autumn, it's often not warm enough for an air conditioner, however your home could still benefit from a cooling mechanism. Ceiling fans are a perfect option for circulating air and cooling your home without chilling it to an uncomfortable degree. The same can be applied to cold winter nights. Running your ceiling fan in reverse (actually clockwise) during the winter pushes the hot air in a downward, filling the room with warmth much sooner. This allows you to run your home's heating system for shorter periods of time.

Aesthetically Pleasing

From sleek and modern to ornate and traditional, there is a fan that will blend seamlessly into your home.

Ambiance

Some fans are designed with integrated lights and others are designed to retrofit universal light kits. Depending on the design of the fan, the light can be underneath the blades (which allows maximum light output from the light source) or above the fan (which creates a desired environment). Ceiling fans with lights allow you to use just the light, just the fan, both together or neither.

Easy to Operate

Many fans are designed and developed with easy-to-use remotes or pull chains that can be adapted for light dimmers. This gives you flexibility and the option to adjust the lighting to your preference.

Types of Ceiling Fans

Originally conceived to circulate air and cool a room, today's ceiling fans can also reflect a room's style. Ceiling fans are available in many styles, including outdoor versions, with various features.

Hanging Propeller: The majority of residential ceiling fans are this style, which resembles a plane's propeller hanging from a pole attached to the ceiling.

Directional: These fans can be turned at an angle to ventilate a specific area, as opposed to a hanging propeller model which is meant to ventilate an entire room.

Rotational: A combination of directional and hanging propeller fans, rotational models have multiple sets (here there are two) of blades that spin independently of each other. The sets are connected to a hanging pole which rotates the sets of blades on a vertical axis, while they are spinning independently.

Indoor Fans vs. Outdoor Fans: What's the difference?

Indoor: Any fan can be installed indoors.

Outdoor: Fans specifically made for outdoor use are manufactured to withstand temperature changes and humidity. These fans will have a UL damp or wet rating, meaning that they are suitable for damp and/or wet locations. Outdoor ceiling fans should be at least 130cm in diameter in order to have the capacity to move enough air around to cool the space.

Ceiling Fan Styles

Ceiling fans come in many styles, colours and shapes to complement any room's decor. Though there are nearly as many ceiling fan styles as decorating schemes, we break down the four main styles.

Contemporary: Clean lines and a monochromatic colour scheme typify contemporary style fans that would pair well with modern, contemporary or industrial decor.

Traditional: Fitting a room with traditional decor and furniture, traditional fans often have ornate detailing.

Palm Leaf: Named for the shape of a palm leaf, these fans have a tropical, coastal feel. The blades can be made of wood, bamboo, palm fronds and more.

Ceiling Fan Features

Lights: A ceiling fan can do double duty when it's combined with lighting. If your ceiling fan of choice doesn't include lighting, do a little investigating. The same company may sell a lighting kit that will fit your fan. There are three common styles of lighting:

• Dome lighting resembles an upside down dome placed where the blades meet at the middle of the fan.
• Branched lighting on a ceiling fan looks like two or more tiny spotlights attached to the middle of the fan. Often these lights can be adjusted to light a specific part of the room.
• Dimmer lights are another option. The dimmer function can be incorporated into the fan's wall or remote control.

Efficiency: Energy-efficient fans must have an EU Energy Star rating, which is a certification given by the U.S. government. EU Energy Star rated fans are not any more expensive than non-energy-efficient fans, but they will save you on energy bills.

Motor: The motor on your ceiling fan will determine how powerful and energy efficient it will be. There are two kinds of motors:

• Alternating Current (AC motor): This is a standard motor which uses an alternating current to power the fan.
• Direct Current (DC motor): This is a more advanced motor that is designed to be up to 70 percent more efficient and quiet than standard motors. Fans with this type of motor often cost more.

Controls Conventionally, ceiling fans come with pull cords for on-off operation. However, recent models also use wall-installed or handheld remote controls to make operating a ceiling fan easier. Wall controls turn fans and lights on and off, dim the lights, or adjust the fan speed easily when you enter or leave a room. You can adjust the fan and lights from the comfort of your favourite chair with a remote control.

Fan Blade Span

When selecting a ceiling fan size, consider the size of the room it will be placed in. In the chart below, we provide recommendations for ceiling fan blade span based on the square metre measurements of a room. It is important to note that traditional ceiling fans are measured by the diameter of the fan from blade tip to blade tip (from the end of one blade to the end of the opposite blade). The most common fans range from 125 to 140cm in diameter.

Blade Pitch

Blade pitch is the angle at which the blades of a ceiling fan tilt. The angle affects how much air a ceiling fan will circulate in a room. The ideal blade pitch is between 12 and 15 degrees.

How to Mount a Ceiling Fan

Positioning and mounting your ceiling fan correctly is key to reaping its benefits. Check out our Measuring and Mounting a Ceiling Fan Made Easy With This Guide for more expert advice on how to install and start enjoying yours.

Tip: Make sure you're getting the most out of your cooling systems with:

• Do You Know Which Direction Your Ceiling Fan Should Be Spinning?
• Beat the Heat With a Portable Fan This Summer
• Too Hot to Sleep? Here's How to Stay Cool at Night