When it comes to ceiling fans, the general guideline is to buy large ones for large rooms and tiny ones for small rooms, regardless of the type of ceiling fan. While it may sound like a cliché, choosing the right ceiling fan size offers maximum comfort and performance.
Ceiling fans have numerous benefits. They are a low-cost, energy-efficient way to improve the comfort and style of any room. When looking for the ideal ceiling fan to match your home, one critical factor to consider is its size.
The proper size ceiling fan will keep you cool, but it will also save you money. Compared to air conditioners, ceiling fans cost pennies to run, allowing you to save money on electricity bills. However, before choosing the perfect fan, you must first understand how to scale a ceiling fan for your space.
A small ceiling fan will have to work extra hard to cool the room in a large room, causing the motor to burn out rapidly. A large ceiling fan in a tiny room will generate massive airflow, making the room unsafe. Pick a ceiling fan that is relative to the size of the room.
While there are many factors to consider when shopping for a ceiling fan, the most important element is its size. Your ceiling fan’s size should be directly proportional to the room you will install it. You want a fan that will last but isn’t too big.
This guide will discuss the various factors to consider when shopping for the best ceiling fan for a 10 by 12 ft (120 sq ft) room.
Ceiling Fan for a 10×12 Room
When looking for an ideal ceiling fan for your room, you’ll come across four common sizes: small, medium, large, and great. A 10×12 room is classified as a small room because it is less than 144 square feet. These rooms necessitate a small ceiling fan with a blade span of less than 42″ and a CFM rating of 1,000-3,000.
The amount of air that a fan per minute can move is measured in CMF or cubic feet per minute. When looking for a fan in your preferred CFM range, the blade span can give you an idea of the fan’s CFM range. A wider range can be accounted for by blade shape and motor type.
Small rooms are difficult to keep cool and can rapidly become stuffy. A small ceiling fan can improve visual appeal, make rooms appear larger, and enhance lighting. Small ceiling fans are ideal for nooks, stairwells, hallways, laundry rooms, half or full bathrooms, walk-in closets, dens, home offices, and other small rooms in your home.
How Low Should the Ceiling Fan Hang?
The bottom of the fan must be at least seven feet off the floor to meet building codes; eight to nine feet will make for optimal circulation. You can use fans with downrods to achieve the proper height for higher ceilings. The greater the distance between the blades and the ceiling, the better the airflow and circulation. Ideally, you should aim for at least 12 inches.
Low Ceilings
Flushmount “hugger” fans are ideal for rooms with eight feet or lower ceilings. As the name implies, these fans “hug” the ceiling to achieve a low profile. These flush-mount fans are designed without downrods to achieve their low height.
Average and High Ceilings
A ceiling fan with a downrod is the best choice for hanging a fan at the proper height in a space with a ceiling nine feet or higher. A downrod, which can be three to 72 inches long, is what suspends the ceiling fan from the canopy. This is preferable because more space between the ceiling and the fan blades means better air circulation.
Fans will usually appear with one or two downrods of varying lengths. If more length is required to achieve the desired hanging height, extra downrods in different sizes can be purchased.
Choose a fan with a 6″ downrod for a space with a 9-foot ceiling. Add 6″ to the fan’s downrod for every foot of height for ceilings taller than nine feet: 10-foot ceiling, 12-inch downrod; 11-foot ceiling, 18-inch downrod; and so forth.
Can You Fix a Ceiling Fan On a Sloped Ceiling?
Apart from hugger fans, most ceiling fan canopies (the piece covering the junction box and attaches to the ceiling) can accommodate some slope—typically up to 30 degrees. An additional longer downrod may be required to ensure adequate blade clearance. Manufacturers offer sloped-ceiling adaptors, also known as angle mounts, for steeper slopes or where sloped ceiling setup is explicitly prohibited.
Is a Junction Box or a Special Ceiling Required to Mount My Fan?
Yes, ceiling fans must be mounted to junction boxes labeled “For Use With Ceiling Fans” because they are in motion and can weigh up to 50 pounds. The boxes should be moored to a ceiling joist, and a licensed electrician should install them.
Investing in a Ceiling Fan With a Light Kit
Begin by assessing how much light is already present in the room. Is it a light-filled room with many windows, or do your glass doors let in natural light? How many lamps have already been installed? Do they have enough lighting? You must consider these essential factors when deciding whether your fan requires a light kit.
A ceiling fan with a light kit or a light may be the best option if you want more control over the amount of light in a room without turning on five individual lamps. Fan light kits offer a lot of even light, which is great for all rooms. Many light kits are also compatible with a remote or wall dimmer, making it as simple as pressing a button to adjust the light intensity.
How to Operate a Ceiling Fan
A fan can be controlled using one of three methods: a handheld remote, a pull chain, or wall control.
Remote
Handheld remotes are the most convenient type of fan control because they allow you to control the fan from anywhere in the room.
Pull Chain
This is located directly on the fan and allows you to easily turn on and off the fan (and the light, if there is one) and control the speed.
Wall Switch
Wall controls are as convenient for operating ceiling fans as a light switch is for operating a lamp. When placed near a doorway, the likelihood of overlooking to turn off the ceiling fan when leaving a room is significantly reduced.
In some cases, a wall switch and remote control combo, or remote control you can wall-mount, can provide the best of both worlds.