Hunter Douglas Ceiling Fan Article
Ceiling Fans and You
When it comes to temperature control in the home, the main ingredient is the ability to control air flow. This, and personal experience as well, are the reasons why Mona Pearson, proprietor of a home furnishings supplier located in Birmingham, believes in ceiling fans. According to reports, her customers agree that ceiling mounted and rod extended fans can make a big difference in keeping a room cool when it's hot outside. According to Mona, it's all very simple: It's just simple high school physics.
When your ceiling fan rotates anticlockwise there are two effects: The air is cooled, and it is forced downward. This makes use of air's natural tendency to rise to the ceiling, above the fan, when it is hot, and to remain closer to the floor when it is cooler. The ceiling fan pushes that warmer air down into the room, into the colder air closer to the ground. The result is quite pleasant.
In the winter a simple switch in the fan mechanism causes the blades to rotate in the opposite direction, clockwise. In this case, air from below the fan is pushed up toward the ceiling, so the hot air is pushed around the room, and there is no cooling effect. The same mechanism that keeps a room cool in the warmer months now helps circulate warm air.
Modern air conditioning is great; there is no doubt about it. But people living in the South still love their ceiling fans. We are going to examine some of the several changes that these fans have undergone over the years; new styles, and new technology to save energy.
Melissa Birdsong, who is the store director of trend and design at Lowes, knows as much about these advances in style and technology as anyone. Her comments provide much insight into what kinds of things people usually look for when buying a fan. According to Melissa, the three main things that separate the most popular models are: First, people love fans with light kits. If there isn't a light kit attached to the fan already, customers often buy a separate light fixture that can be attached to the fan during installation. This practice of adding lighting fixtures that didn't come with the fan originally makes room for much variety; customers are able to add a personal touch to their home design.
The second main criterion is remote controlled speed, lights, and blade direction.
Finally, customers in the ceiling fan market look for the right kind of design. There are fans with a classical, antique look, like antique brass, bronze nickel or pewter. Then there are fans with a more modern appearance, some made with stainless steel, with white or multi-colored paint.
